• The Idolaters’ repeated violation of the covenants

• The frequent violation entitling the enemy to punishment

• Amnesty and protection to be given to those who repent and amend.

At-Tawbah (Al-Bara’at) Verses 7 – 16

كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ عَهْدٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ رَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّمْ عِندَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ فَمَا ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوا۟ لَهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

“How can there be a covenant for the idolaters with God and with His Apostle except (for) those with whom ye made a covenant at the Sacred Mosque? So long as they stand faithful to you, then be ye too faithful to them; Verily God loveth those who guard themselves (against evil).” (9:7)

كَيْفَ وَإِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوا۟ فِيكُمْ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً يُرْضُونَكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ

“How (can there be any alliance!) while they overcome you they regard not in you any tie nor of any covenant; They allure you with (the sweet words of) their mouths while their hearts are averse (from you), and most of them are transgressors.” (9:8)

ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦٓ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

“They have bartered the signs of God for a small price, so they turn others away from His way; Verily evil is what they do.” (9:9)

لَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُعْتَدُونَ

“They pay not regard in the case of a believer, to any tie nor to any covenant; and these are they who transgress the limits.” (9:10)

فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

“But if repent they and establish regular prayer and give away the regular charity, then they are your brethren in faith1; and We explain the signs for the people who know.” (9:11)

وَإِن نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَئِمَّةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ إِنَّهُمْ لَآ أَيْمَـٰنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ

“And if they violate their oaths after their covenant and revile your religion, then fight the leaders of infidelity, Verily there is no oath2for them, so that they may desist.” (9:12)

أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

“What! will ye not fight the people who violated their oaths and aimed at the expulsion of the Apostle, and they attacked you first; What! do ye fear them? whereas God is the most deserving that ye should fear Him, if ye are believers.” (9:13)

قَـٰتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِينَ

“Fight them, that God may chastise3them by your hands and put them to shame, and help you (to victory) over them and heal4the (injured) breast5of a believer people.” (9:14)

وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

“And removeth He the rage of the hearts; And God turneth (merciful) unto whomsoever He pleaseth; and Verily God is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (9:15)

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تُتْرَكُوا۟ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

“Or think ye (O’ believers!) that ye will be left away while God yet knoweth6not those of you who strove and did not take any one as an intervener besides God, and His Apostle and the believers, And verily God is fully aware of what all ye do.” (9:16)

Commentary

Verses 7 – 10

Note the regard Islam gives to promises and the covenants, be they with the polytheists – and the stress laid on piety.

Verse 12

It is reported from Huzaifa that by the word ‘A’immat al-Kufr’, i.e., the Imams or the guides of infidelity are meant the people who would appear to fight one of the divinely commissioned Imams or guides. ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib recited this verse on the occasion of the Battle of ‘Jamal’ (the Camel) and said:

“The Holy Prophet had prophesied to me saying, O’ ‘Ali Thou art of those who would fight the ‘Nakissen’ the violators of the ‘Baith’ (i.e., the allegiance to the Holy Prophet, i.e., those who caused the Battle of Jamal) the ‘Qasiteen’ the transgressors, (i.e., those who effected the battle of Siffin, the ‘Mariqeen’, i.e., the ‘Khawarij’ or those who got out of the faith and caused the Battle of Naharwan.” (M.F.A.).

• 1. Note: mere verbal declaration without the faithful practice of it holds no good.
• 2. Any solemn promise.
• 3. Literally torment, punish.
• 4. Please.
• 5. Heart.
• 6. Prove or show or make manifest.