أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُۥ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 100
Translations
Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But, [in fact], most of them do not believe.
Transliteration
Aw kullama AAahadoo AAahdan nabathahu fareequn minhum bal aktharuhum la yu'minoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the broken covenants of the Children of Israel, stating that whenever they made an agreement with Allah and His Messenger, a group among them would violate and cast it aside. The phrase 'but rather, most of them do not believe' emphasizes that their covenant-breaking stems from a fundamental lack of faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a characteristic pattern of the disbelieving faction among the Jews, demonstrating how disbelief manifests in treachery and broken promises.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage discussing the behavior of the Jews and hypocrites toward the Prophet Muhammad and their covenants with Allah. It comes in the context of Allah reminding the believers of how previous communities violated their sacred agreements, serving as a warning against similar conduct. The ayah reflects the historical tensions between the Muslim community and certain Jewish groups in Medina who repeatedly broke treaties.
Related Hadiths
The concept of covenant-breaking is referenced in various hadiths about the importance of fulfilling oaths and contracts. Related to this is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) listed the signs of a hypocrite, including the breaking of promises: 'If he promises, he breaks his promise.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith is inseparable from honoring one's commitments and covenants; breaking promises is a sign of spiritual weakness and disbelief. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder to be scrupulous in keeping agreements—whether with Allah through obedience or with others through honest dealings—as covenant-keeping is a hallmark of genuine believers.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So they defeated them by permission of Allāh, and David killed Goliath, and Allāh gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allāh checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the worlds.
كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses [i.e., laws] that you might use reason.