وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ 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 118
Translations
And [He also forgave] the three who were left alone [i.e., boycotted, regretting their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined [i.e., anguished] them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allāh except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allāh is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa 'ala ath-thalaathati alladhina khullifoo hatta idha daqat 'alayhimu al-ardu bima rahubat wa daqat 'alayhim anfusuhum wa zannoo an la maljaa mina Allah illa ilayh thumma taba 'alayhim liyatubu. Inna Allah huwa at-tawwabu ar-raheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the three Companions (identified as Ka'b ibn Malik, Hilal ibn Umayyah, and Murarah ibn Rabi'ah) who remained behind during the Tabuk expedition without valid excuse. Their repentance narrative exemplifies Allah's mercy toward sincere servants: despite their initial transgression, they experienced profound spiritual anguish—the earth closing in upon them despite its vastness, and their souls constricting—until they recognized that no refuge existed except in turning to Allah. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah's acceptance of their repentance came only after they genuinely felt remorse and hopelessness, demonstrating that true tawbah (repentance) requires complete submission and awareness of one's dependence on divine mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah (9 AH), which addresses those who made excuses for not participating in the Tabuk expedition—a critical military campaign during the Prophet's lifetime. The specific incident involves three sincere Companions who lagged behind without legitimate excuse, experienced profound isolation and regret, and eventually confessed their fault. The Prophet initially prohibited speaking with them, creating a period of public disapproval that intensified their spiritual distress before divine revelation confirmed Allah's acceptance of their repentance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record the detailed account of Ka'b ibn Malik's repentance. Ka'b himself narrated: 'When the Prophet turned away from us, by Allah, no one was as disliked to us as the messenger of Allah.' This hadith demonstrates the profound psychological impact of the Prophet's disapproval and validates the intense emotional struggle described in this ayah. Additionally, the hadith collection in At-Tirmidhi records related accounts of this incident showing the three companions' sincere repentance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine repentance requires both sincere remorse and the realization that Allah alone is one's ultimate refuge—material circumstances and social standing cannot protect us from spiritual accountability. For modern believers, it emphasizes that no sin is too great for Allah's forgiveness when accompanied by authentic intention to reform, and that the psychological and spiritual distress one experiences may itself be a mercy that guides the soul back toward divine obedience.
Related Ayahs
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allāh [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.
۞ أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ ٱلْحَآجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَجَـٰهَدَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوُۥنَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Have you made the providing of water for the pilgrim and the maintenance of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām equal to [the deeds of] one who believes in Allāh and the Last Day and strives in the cause of Allāh? They are not equal in the sight of Allāh. And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort [i.e., guilt] when they are sincere to Allāh and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
رَضُوا۟ بِأَن يَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَوَالِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
They were satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and their hearts were sealed over, so they do not understand.