who are al-araab in verse 9:97

[nabeelkhan]

salaam

who do you think the word 'al-araab' refers to in the verse 9:97.
"The Arabs (al-arabu) are the worst in rejection and hypocrisy, and more likely not to know the limits of what God has sent upon His messenger".

is it true that it does not refer to Al-Badawi or Badawiyun, rather the majority of Arab population.

[Ismail]

Salaam.

According to Wikipedia:

"Inside Saudi Arabia the Bedouin remained the majority of the population during the first half of the 20th century. However, due to change of lifestyle their number has decreased dramatically."

The word Al A'rab is mentioned in ten places in Al Qur'an:

(9:90, 97, 98, 99, 101, 120),  (33:20), (48:11, 16), (49:14)

According to Lane's Lexicon, Al A'rab are people of pasture lands and beyond, outside towns and villages, and cultivated lands.

This aspect of the A'rab, and their English nomenclature Bedouin, is evident from the Arabic root letters BDV in (12:100) & (33:20).

Regards,
A. Ismail Sait.

[Saba]

Salaam Nabeel. Br Joseph also has the following to say to a similar q as yours. Saba 

http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=538

'A'rabi' as a term means 'Arab' people irrespective of where they dwell. They could be urban or rural dwellers. It refers to the general Arab people during the Prophetic ministry.

The term for 'Bedouin' is known to the Quran as 'baduna' (33:20).

If one notes the phrase 'baduna fi'Arabi' in verse 33:20, i.e. Bedouins / desert dwellers / nomads of the desert among the 'A'rabi', one can clearly see that 'A'rabi' here would not mean 'Bedouin' as the word 'baduna' has already been used to describe them.

I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.

[Ismail]

Salaam.

(1)  In 9:97, it is said that Al A'raab are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy....

In 9:99, it is said that among Al A'raab, there are those who believe in Allah, and the Last Day....

Both these cannot be applied to our times because it is specified that all this relates to the time of Prophet Muhammed:

Sura 9 mostly deals with the great tention between the Believers on the one hand, and, the Hypocrites and hardened Disbelievers on the other.

If you read on at least from verse 90, it will be clear that it is all related to a specific period.

(2)  In the first verse Al A'raab are mentioned without mentioning an exception. But it is clear from the context, and from subsequent verses that it is not without exceptions.

(3)  Similar language is found in another context:

In 5:51, the Believers are asked not to befriend Al Yahood and Al Nasaaraa....

But, in view of the above verse, we cannot overlook verses like 5:82, 9:66, 3:110-115, 60:7-8.

(4)  That Al A'raab are a class by themselves (whether majority or minority), is evident from 9:101, where Al A'raab are mentioned as a separate category from Ahlil Medina.

That Al A'raab used to be roam the deserts, is evident from 33:20, wherein a party is accused of being untrustworthy, and, among their tendencies is mentioned:

"They think that Al Ahzab (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and that if Al Ahzab should come (again), they would wish they were wandering the deserts along with, (or in or among) Al A'raab......"

Regards,
A. Ismail Sait.