Tafsir Ibn Abbas: At-Tawba, Ayah 118

At-Tawba · Ayah 118 · View Ayah
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

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Ibn Abbas Commentary

(And to the three also (did He turn in mercy) who were left behind) He also turned in mercy to the three who stayed behind: Ka'b Ibn Malik and his two Companions: (when the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, and their own souls were straitened for them) their hearts became straitened because of the delay in the acceptance of their repentance (till they bethought) until they knew and became certain (them that there is no refuge from Allah) that there is no safety from Allah (save towards Him) save in repenting to Him for failing to join in the Battle of Tabuk. (Then turned He unto them in mercy) He pardoned and forgave them (that they (too) might turn (repentant unto Him)) for failing to join in the Battle of Tabuk. (Lo! Allah! He is the Relenting) the Forgiving, (the Merciful) towards he who repents.

Other Scholars on This Ayah

Tafsir

79%46%63%Al-JalalaynIbn AbbasIbn Kathir
Scholars offer complementary perspectives

And He relented to the three who were left behind formerly denied His relenting to them for the same reason as those mentioned above when the earth was straitened for them for all its breadth that is despite its vastness so they could find no place wherein to feel secure and their souls that is their hearts were straitened for them because of the anxiety and their sense of alienation resulting from the delay of God’s relenting to them with mercy such that they their souls could not find happiness or solace; until they thought they were certain that read the softened an there is no refuge from God except in Him. Then He turned relenting to them He made them successful in finding repentance that they might also turn in repentance. Truly God is the Relenting the Merciful.

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