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
وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَآءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [saying], "Do not shed your [i.e., each other's] blood or evict one another from your homes." Then you acknowledged [this] while you were witnessing.
۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَـٰهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? Allāh said to them, "Die"; then He restored them to life. And Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the people, but most of the people do not show gratitude.
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌۢ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَٱفْعَلُوا۟ مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is." [Moses] said, "[Allāh] says, 'It is a cow which is neither old nor virgin, but median between that,' so do what you are commanded."