ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 9
Translations
They have exchanged the signs of Allāh for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
Transliteration
Ishtaraw bi-ayati Allahi thamanan qalilan fa-saddu an sabilihi. Innahum saa'a ma kanu ya'malun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who trade the signs of Allah for a small price and thereby turn people away from His path. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as referring to religious scholars and leaders who suppress or distort divine guidance for worldly gain, whether through bribery, positions, or material benefits. The phrase 'saa'a ma kanu ya'malun' (evil is what they used to do) emphasizes the severe wrongdoing of prioritizing temporary worldly benefit over eternal truth.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tawbah was revealed in the 9th year of Hijra during a period of significant conflict between the early Muslim community and hypocrites and those who broke their covenants. This ayah specifically addresses the hypocrites among the People of the Book and those who possessed knowledge but concealed it for material gain, a recurring theme throughout this surah which deals with broken covenants and treachery.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Whoever conceals knowledge by which Allah's boundaries are made clear, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the destruction that comes when scholars pursue worldly gain.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against the grave sin of prioritizing material wealth and status over truth and divine guidance, particularly for those entrusted with religious knowledge. It teaches that selling one's principles for temporary worldly benefit results in spiritual ruin and divine displeasure, urging believers to safeguard their integrity and use knowledge to guide others toward righteousness rather than personal gain.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ رَٰغِبُونَ
If only they had been satisfied with what Allāh and His Messenger gave them and said, "Sufficient for us is Allāh; Allāh will give us of His bounty, and [so will] His Messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward Allāh," [it would have been better for them].
فَرِحَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَـٰفَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوٓا۟ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَنفِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا ۚ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَفْقَهُونَ
Those who remained behind rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allāh and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allāh and said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Hell is more intense in heat" - if they would but understand.
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُوا۟ ۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, they look at each other, [as if saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they dismiss themselves. Allāh has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَيَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And remove the fury in their [i.e., the believers'] hearts. And Allāh turns in forgiveness to whom He wills; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.