Tafsir

At-Tawbah 9:61

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) · Hafiz Ibn Kathir

وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allāh and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh - for them is a painful punishment.

— Saheeh International

Hypocrites annoy the Prophet

Allah says, some hypocrites bother the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by questioning his character, saying,

هُوَ أُذُنٌ

(he is (lending his) ear), to those who say anything about us; he believes whoever talks to him. Therefore, if we went to him and swore, he would believe us. Similar was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah. Allah said,

قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ

(Say: "He listens to what is best for you"), he knows who's saying the truth and who is lying,

يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(he believes in Allah; has faith in the believers), he believes the believers,

وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمْ

(and is a mercy to those of you who believe"), and a proof against the disbelievers,

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

(But those who annoy Allah's Messenger, will have a painful torment.)

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