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
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْدَى ٱلْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦٓ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ
Say, "Do you await for us except one of the two best things [i.e., martyrdom or victory] while we await for you that Allāh will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting."
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى قُرْبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.
يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَٰنٍ وَجَنَّـٰتٍ لَّهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُّقِيمٌ
Their Lord gives them good tidings of mercy from Him and approval and of gardens for them wherein is enduring pleasure.
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allāh is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.