Quran 9:5 – Why An Option To Repent After End Of Duration?

[Umer]

If the punishment comes in the form of a natural calamity, then naturally there is no question of clemency at the time it strikes. However, in this case, the punishment was delivered through the sword of the Prophet’s (sws) followers. Here too, clemency is not required when someone professes Islam only after seeing the sword above his head. This is because the requirement is not merely verbal admission of faith, but also steadfastness in prayer and zakat—commitments that cannot be proven in the fleeting moment of facing the sword. These must be established beforehand, not at the brink of punishment.

That said, one question does arise: if a person declares faith under the sword, can they be granted clemency on the spot, with the expectation that their sincerity will be proven later through consistency in prayer and zakat? The answer is yes—this may be allowed, not as a binding principle, but as a discretionary option in that moment. The narration in which the Prophet (sws) expressed sorrow when a Companion did not show mercy in such a case reflects the Prophet’s merciful nature. Yet, the Companion was never held accountable, for he had acted in accordance with the law.