سورة التوبة کے ابتدائی حصے کازمانۂ نزول اور تاریخی پس منظر: تحقیقِ مزید ------------------------------------------------------------------------- More on Revelation And Historical Setting of The First Part of Surat Al-Tawbah

Abstract

The paper builds upon the thesis developed in an earlier paper on this issue and first examines the relationship of the traditions about ‘occasions of revelation’ (asbab al-nuzul) and the internal evidences of a surah about its historical setting and, then, determines some basic principles in this regard. After this, the paper further digs out the vast literature of the tafsir, sirah, hadith and fiqh to further gather internal and external evidences about the historical setting of the revelation of the first part of Surat al-Tawbah. It concludes that this part was revealed in Shawwal, not in Dhu al-HIjjah, of 9 AH, and that is why the ultimatum of four months ended with the end of the Sacred Months. It also identifies the various groups of the Arba pagans for whom various rules were given in this set of verses and concludes that the ultimatum was comprehensive and only those tribes were exempted from it which had treaties of peace for a determinated period of time and did not violate the terms of peace. However, indviduals belonging to all tribes could seek quarter in their individual capacity for buying some time to decide about their fate.

The paper also examines two legal issues about these verses: permissibility of war in the Sacred Months and entrance of non-Muslims to mosques, including the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. On the first issue, it concludes that the prohibition of war in the Sacred Months was waived before the revelation of these verses through the conduct of the Prophet (peace be on him). On the second issue, it concludes that non-Muslims can be allowed to enter any mosque, including the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, and that the prohibition meant preventing them from dominating and occupying the mosques and performing practices which were prohibited in Islamic law.