Surah At-Tawbah (The Repentance)

At-Tawbah is the ninth chapter of the Quran, a Medinan surah of 129 ayahs revealed late in the Medinan period. It is distinctive as the only surah that does not open with the customary opening formula of mercy, a feature scholars have long discussed. Its subject matter centers on the community's relationships with those outside it: the annulment of treaties with polytheists who had broken their agreements, the conduct of the hypocrites (the munafiqun) within Medina, and the circumstances surrounding the expedition to Tabuk. The surah addresses the obligations and sincerity of faith, distinguishing genuine believers from those who hesitated or stayed behind. It is widely noted for a passage setting out the recognized categories of recipients for zakat (obligatory charity). The chapter closes on themes of repentance and mercy, including the well-known account of three companions who remained behind and were later forgiven.