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
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ
And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakāh will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا۟ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people."
وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَآ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَـٰبَنِىَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allāh has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims."