ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتَّ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَهُمْ فِى كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَتَّقُونَ 56
Translations
The ones with whom you made a treaty but then they break their pledge every time, and they do not fear Allāh.
Transliteration
Alladhina 'ahadt-tahumma thumma yanquduna 'ahdahum fi kulli marratin wa-hum la yattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who made covenants with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but repeatedly broke their treaties and agreements without any fear of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this specifically addresses the treachery of certain Arab tribes, particularly referencing the Jews of Medina and hypocritical groups who violated their pledges of peace and alliance. The phrase 'in every instance' (fi kulli marratin) emphasizes the habitual and deliberate nature of their betrayal, while 'they do not fear Allah' (wa-hum la yattaqun) indicates their complete disregard for divine accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and in the context of the Quraysh's and certain Jewish tribes' repeated violations of agreements with the Muslim community. The surah addresses the ethics of warfare and the consequences of treachery, particularly in relation to those tribes who consistently broke their oaths despite multiple opportunities to honor their commitments.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'There are four characteristics; whoever has all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he leaves it: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he breaks it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he quarrels, he abuses.' (Sahih Bukhari 33 and Sahih Muslim 58)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring covenants and agreements is a fundamental moral and religious obligation, and that breaking oaths—especially those made in Allah's name—is a severe sin indicating spiritual corruption. For modern believers, this serves as a reminder to maintain integrity in all contracts and commitments, understanding that Allah witnesses all agreements and holds transgressors accountable.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِ ۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَـٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are steadfast], they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And obey Allāh and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَآءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And you did not kill them, but it was Allāh who killed them. And you threw not, [O Muḥammad], when you threw, but it was Allāh who threw that He might test the believers with a good test. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
وَلَوْ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Had Allāh known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would [still] have turned away, while they were refusing.