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Tafsir Ibn Kathir · At-Tawba
Sūrah 9

At-Tawba

This is a tafsīr in a language other than Arabic as the Quranic Universal Library (QUL, by Tarteel) has it, taken through the open copy of QUL’s data that spa5k/tafsir_api keeps. QUL’s record does not say who wrote or translated it or which printed edition it follows, and states no licence for the text, so the right to show it is not verified. Nobody has compared it with a printed book, and no scholar has reviewed it. Each passage stands beside the verses it comments on, which are the Qur’ān text of Tanzil, shown as it is there. Sabīl did not write or translate any of it.

Text fromQuranic Universal Libraryspa5k/tafsir_apiMITtaken 2026-10-21

Verse 69

كَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَٰلًا وَأَوْلَـٰدًا فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟ بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ كَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُم بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 69

Like those before you: they were mightier than you in power, and more abundant in wealth and children. They had enjoyed their portion (a while), so enjoy your portion (a while) as those before you enjoyed their portion (a while); and you indulged in play and pastime as they indulged in play and pastime. Such are they whose deeds are in vain in this world and in the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers (69)

بِخَلَاقِهِمْ

(their portion), means, [they mocked] their religion, according to Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Allah's statement,

وَخُضْتُمْ كَالَّذِي خَاضُوا

(and you indulged in play and pastime as they indulged in play and pastime), indulged in lies and falsehood,

أُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ

(Such are they whose deeds are in vain), their deeds are annulled; they will not acquire any rewards for them because they are invalid,

فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

(in this world and in the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers.) because they will not acquire any rewards for their actions. Ibn 'Abbas commented, "How similar is this night to the last night,

كَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ

(Like those before you...) These are the Children of Israel, with whom we were compared. The Prophet ﷺ said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَتَّبِعُنَّهُمْ حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ جُحْرَ ضَبَ لَدَخَلْتُمُوهُ

(By He in Whose Hand is my life! You will imitate them, and even if a man of them entered the den of a lizard, you will enter it likewise!)"

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سَنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ شِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ، وَبَاعًا بِبَاعٍ حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلُوا جُحْرَ ضَبٍّ لَدَخَلْتُمُوهُ

قالوا: ومن هم يا رسول الله، أهل الكتاب؟ قال:

فَمَنْ؟

(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will follow the traditions of those who were before you a hand span for a hand-span and forearm's length for forearm's length, and an arm's length for an arm's length. And even if they enter the den of a lizard, you will also enter it.) They asked, "Who, O Allah's Messenger, the People of the Book?" He said, (Who else)?"

This Hadith is similar to another Hadith collected in the Sahih.