Repentance
At-Tawbah
التوبہ
Surah At-Tawbah for kids content
THE MOSQUE OF HARM
107There are also those 'hypocrites' who set up a mosque 'only' to cause harm, promote disbelief, divide the believers, and as a base for those who had fought
against Allah and His Messenger in the past.
They will definitely swear, 'We had nothing but good intentions,' but Allah is a witness that they are truly liars.
108Do not ever pray in such a place 'O Prophet'.
Certainly, a mosque founded on faithfulness from the first day deserves your salah.
In it are people who love to be purified.
And Allah loves those who purify themselves.
109Which is better: those who established their building on true faith and pleasure of Allah, or those who did so on the edge of a crumbling cliff that
collapses with them into the Fire of Hell?
And Allah does not guide those doing wrong.
110This building that they set up will continue to cause doubts in their hearts until their hearts are torn apart.
And Allah has perfect knowledge and wisdom.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مَسۡجِدٗا ضِرَارٗا وَكُفۡرٗا وَتَفۡرِيقَۢا بَيۡنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَإِرۡصَادٗا لِّمَنۡ حَارَبَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُۚ وَلَيَحۡلِفُنَّ إِنۡ أَرَدۡنَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ إِنَّهُمۡ لَكَٰذِبُونَ107
لَا تَقُمۡ فِيهِ أَبَدٗاۚ لَّمَسۡجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ مِنۡ أَوَّلِ يَوۡمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٞ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُواْۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُطَّهِّرِينَ108
أَفَمَنۡ أَسَّسَ بُنۡيَٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ تَقۡوَىٰ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٍ خَيۡرٌ أَم مَّنۡ أَسَّسَ بُنۡيَٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٖ فَٱنۡهَارَ بِهِۦ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ109
لَا يَزَالُ بُنۡيَٰنُهُمُ ٱلَّذِي بَنَوۡاْ رِيبَةٗ فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡ إِلَّآ أَن تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ110
A GREAT DEAL
111Indeed, Allah has bought from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Jannah.
They fight in the cause of Allah, killing or getting killed.
This is a true promise He made in the Tawrah, the Injeel, and the Quran.
And who can keep a promise better than Allah?
So be happy with the deal you have made with Him.
This is truly the biggest success.
112'The believers are those' who always repent, worship and praise 'their Lord', fast, bow and kneel down 'in salah', encourage good and forbid evil, and who keep up
the rules set by Allah.
And give good news to the believers.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱشۡتَرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَأَمۡوَٰلَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةَۚ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَقۡتُلُونَ وَيُقۡتَلُونَۖ وَعۡدًا عَلَيۡهِ حَقّٗا فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلِ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِۚ وَمَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِعَهۡدِهِۦ مِنَ ٱللَّهِۚ فَٱسۡتَبۡشِرُواْ بِبَيۡعِكُمُ ٱلَّذِي بَايَعۡتُم بِهِۦۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ111
ٱلتَّٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلۡعَٰبِدُونَ ٱلۡحَٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّٰجِدُونَ ٱلۡأٓمِرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَٱلۡحَٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ112
PRAYING FOR IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
113It is not right for the Prophet and the believers to pray for the idol-worshippers to be forgiven—even if they are close relatives—after they realize that such people
are heading for Hell.
114As for Ibrahim's prayer for his father's forgiveness, it was just because of a promise he had made to him.
But once he realized that his father was an enemy of Allah, he broke ties with him.
Indeed, Ibrahim was good-hearted and patient.
115However, Allah would never consider a people misguided after He has guided them, until He makes clear to them what they must avoid.
Surely Allah has 'full' knowledge of everything.
116Indeed, the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah.
He gives life and causes death.
And you do not have any protector or helper other than Allah.
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَلَوۡ كَانُوٓاْ أُوْلِي قُرۡبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ113
وَمَا كَانَ ٱسۡتِغۡفَارُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوۡعِدَةٖ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوّٞ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنۡهُۚ إِنَّ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٞ114
وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوۡمَۢا بَعۡدَ إِذۡ هَدَىٰهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُم مَّا يَتَّقُونَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ115
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۚ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا نَصِير116
BACKGROUND STORY
- •
Verses 118-119 refer to three companions—Ka'b ibn Malik, Murarah ibn Ar-Rabi', and Hilal ibn Umaiyah—who did not join the Prophet in the Tabuk campaign, despite having no valid
excuse.
- •
Ka'b ibn Malik explained that he kept delaying his preparations, saying 'I'll do it tomorrow,' until it was too late.
He felt immense regret for staying behind with the hypocrites and the helpless.
- •
When the Prophet returned, these three men came and apologized, telling the truth without making up false excuses like others had.
They hoped their honesty would lead to forgiveness.
- •
To teach them a lesson, the Prophet ordered the community to cut off all interaction with them.
The three men endured an extremely difficult time as everyone ignored them, and they prayed to Allah for forgiveness.
- •
After 50 days, these two verses were revealed, declaring that Allah had forgiven them.
(Recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim)
- •
This story teaches us two main lessons: 1) We should not delay good deeds, as 'Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today,' and 2) We
must always tell the truth, even if it is against ourselves.
SIDE STORY
- •
One day, young Imam Abdul-Qadir Al-Jilani was traveling from Makkah to Baghdad with a caravan to seek knowledge.
His mother gave him 40 gold coins (dinars), which she had sewn into his shirt, and advised him to always tell the truth.
- •
On their journey, thieves attacked the caravan and took everyone's money.
They ignored Abdul-Qadir, thinking he was too young to have anything of value.
However, when a thief casually asked if he had anything, Abdul-Qadir truthfully replied, 'Yes, 40 dinars.
'
- •
Shocked by his honesty, the thief took him to their leader.
Abdul-Qadir showed them where the money was hidden.
When asked why he was so honest, he replied, 'Because I have promised my mother to always tell the truth.
'
- •
The leader of the thieves was so moved by Abdul-Qadir's honesty that he said, 'We should be ashamed of ourselves, because a young man like you honors his
mom, but we have failed to honor Allah.
'
- •
The leader then ordered all the stolen items to be returned to the caravan and declared that he and his men had quit stealing.
SIDE STORY
- •
There were three college students who procrastinated on studying for their final exam until the very last night.
- •
Realizing they hadn't studied at all, they decided to lie to their professor to get more time.
They told him they had to take a friend to the emergency room and then got a flat tire, so they had to push the car back, leaving
them no time to study.
- •
The professor, suspicious of their story, agreed to let them take the exam a few days later, which made the students happy as they thought they had successfully
tricked him.
- •
On the day of the exam, the professor placed each student in a separate room and gave them a paper with four questions, all worth 25 marks each.
The questions were: 1.
What is the name of your friend that you took to the hospital?
2.
What was wrong with him?
3.
Which hospital did you take him to?
4.
Which tire burst?
SIDE STORY
- •
You've probably heard the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
' A boy tending sheep on a mountain decided to prank his townspeople by shouting, 'Wolf!
The wolf is attacking my sheep!
'
- •
The people rushed to help, only to find he was lying.
They angrily warned him not to cry for help without a real wolf.
He repeated the prank a few times, losing everyone's trust.
- •
One day, wolves actually attacked his flock.
He cried for help, but no one came, thinking it was another false alarm.
He ended up losing all his sheep.
- •
When he complained to the village elder, he was told, 'Nobody believes a liar, even if he's telling the truth.
'
ALLAH'S MERCY TO THE FAITHFUL
117Allah has certainly shown mercy to the Prophet, as well as the Emigrants and the Helpers—who stood by him during that difficult time—after the hearts of some of
them had almost lost motivation.
He then accepted their repentance.
He is truly Kind and Merciful to them.
118Also, 'Allah has shown mercy to' the three who had stayed behind.
They felt 'so guilty' that the huge earth shrank in front of them and their souls were distressed.
They realized that nothing could shield them from Allah except Allah Himself.
Then He showed them mercy so they could repent.
Indeed, Allah is willing to accept repentance and is full of mercy.
119O believers!
Always keep Allah in mind and be with the truthful.
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلۡمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ ٱلۡعُسۡرَةِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمۡ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ117
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ وَضَاقَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَنفُسُهُمۡ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَن لَّا مَلۡجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيۡهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ لِيَتُوبُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ118
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ119
REWARD FOR MARCHING
120It was not right for 'some of the people of Madinah and the roaming Arabs around them to avoid marching with the Messenger of Allah or to prefer
their own lives above his life.
That is because whenever they get thirsty, tired, or hungry in the cause of Allah; step into a territory, frustrating the disbelievers; or cause any loss to an
enemy—it goes to their credit as a good deed.
Surely, Allah never wastes the reward of those doing good.
121And whenever they make a donation, small or large, or cross a valley 'in Allah's cause'—it also goes to their credit, so that Allah will reward them according
to the best of their deeds.
122However, it is not necessary for the believers to march all at once.
Only some members from each group should march, leaving the rest to gain religious knowledge and later teach those members when they return, so they too can guard
against evil.
مَا كَانَ لِأَهۡلِ ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُواْ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرۡغَبُواْ بِأَنفُسِهِمۡ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ لَا يُصِيبُهُمۡ ظَمَأٞ وَلَا نَصَبٞ وَلَا مَخۡمَصَةٞ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَُٔونَ مَوۡطِئٗا يَغِيظُ ٱلۡكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنۡ عَدُوّٖ نَّيۡلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٞ صَٰلِحٌۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ120
وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةٗ صَغِيرَةٗ وَلَا كَبِيرَةٗ وَلَا يَقۡطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمۡ لِيَجۡزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ121
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُواْ كَآفَّةٗۚ فَلَوۡلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرۡقَةٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ طَآئِفَةٞ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِي ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُواْ قَوۡمَهُمۡ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَحۡذَرُونَ122
WARNING TO TROUBLEMAKERS
123O believers!
Fight the disbelievers around you and let them see that you are tough.
And know that Allah is with those who keep Him in mind.
124Whenever a surah is revealed, some of them ask 'mockingly', 'Which of you has increased in faith by this?
' As for the believers, it has increased them in faith and they are happy.
125But as for those 'hypocrites' with sickness in their hearts, it has increased them only in evil upon their evil, and they die as disbelievers.
126Don't they see that they fail the test again and again every year?
Yet they do not repent or learn a lesson.
127Whenever a surah is revealed, they look at each other, 'saying, 'Is anyone watching you?
' Then they slip away.
It is Allah Who has turned their hearts away, because they are a people who do not really understand.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قَٰتِلُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡكُفَّارِ وَلۡيَجِدُواْ فِيكُمۡ غِلۡظَةٗۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ123
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتۡ سُورَةٞ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمۡ زَادَتۡهُ هَٰذِهِۦٓ إِيمَٰنٗاۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فَزَادَتۡهُمۡ إِيمَٰنٗا وَهُمۡ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ124
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٞ فَزَادَتۡهُمۡ رِجۡسًا إِلَىٰ رِجۡسِهِمۡ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ كَٰفِرُونَ125
أَوَلَا يَرَوۡنَ أَنَّهُمۡ يُفۡتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٖ مَّرَّةً أَوۡ مَرَّتَيۡنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُونَ126
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتۡ سُورَةٞ نَّظَرَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ هَلۡ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنۡ أَحَدٖ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُواْۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَوۡمٞ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ127
MESSAGE TO ALL
128Indeed, a messenger has come to you from among yourselves.
He feels bad for your suffering and deeply cares about you.
He is kind and merciful to the believers.
129If they still turn away, then say, 'O Prophet,' 'Allah is enough for me.
There is no god 'that deserves worship' except Him.
In Him I put my trust.
And He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
'
لَقَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولٞ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيۡهِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ128
فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُلۡ حَسۡبِيَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ129
How to study Surah At-Tawbah with children
Use this children's lesson as a guided path: read the short explanation, look at the Arabic verse, listen to related recitation, and return to the full surah when your child is ready for more detail.
Parents can review one section at a time, ask the child to repeat the main idea, and then continue with the next part or a nearby surah. This keeps the lesson connected with Quran reading, audio, and daily practice.