At-Tawba (The Repentance)

11. “But if they repent and perform the prayer and pay the alms (zakāt), then they are your brethren in faith; and We explain the signs for the people who know.”

In the former verses of this Surah, Allah’s commandment was: “…But if they repent and perform the prayer and pay the alms, then leave their way free to them...” (verse 5 ), while in this verse, He instructs that not only you should not bother them, but also do forget the past and treat them as if they are your brothers. The verse says: “But if they repent and perform the prayer and pay the alms (zakāt), then they are your brethren in faith; and We explain the signs for the people who know.”

Explanations

1. In confronting them, observe the style of graduality and proceed step by step. At first, there is the lack of opposition: “…then leave their way free to them…” and then: “…they are your brethren in faith…”.

2 . A true repentance is accompanied with action:

“…they repent and perform the prayer…”

3. Those who do not perform the prayer and do not pay the alms are not our brethren in faith, as the verse says:

“…if… perform… and pay… then they are your brethren in faith...”

4. The basis of a Muslim’s relations, and love and enmity, is the religion, as in the verse next to the above mentioned verse, it is said:

“…if they break their oaths… then fight…”

5. The condition of entering into the circle of ‘brethren in faith’ is prayer and alms.

6 . You should have a brotherly treatment with a repenter.

“…if they repent… then they are your brethren…”

7. Those who were deserving death formerly, now, under the light of repentance, prayer, and alms are equal in rights with Muslims.

“…then they are your brethren in faith...”