وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا عَـٰهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا۟ ٱلْأَيْمَـٰنَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ 91
Translations
And fulfill the covenant of Allāh when you have taken it, [O believers], and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allāh, over you, a security [i.e., witness]. Indeed, Allāh knows what you do.
Transliteration
Wa awfu bi'ahdi Allah idha 'ahadtum wa la tanqudu al-aymana ba'da tawkidiha wa qad ja'altum Allah 'alaikum kafilan. Inna Allah ya'lamu ma taf'alun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to fulfill their covenants with Allah and prohibits breaking oaths after they have been sworn with solemnity and reinforcement. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'you have made Allah a guarantor/witness over you' emphasizes that Allah's knowledge and testimony makes covenant-breaking a grave matter, as it amounts to betraying trust placed before the Almighty Himself.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah An-Nahl's broader discussion of ethical and moral obligations in the Meccan context. It addresses the fundamental principle of covenant-keeping ('ahd) which is central to the Islamic worldview, emphasizing the seriousness of promises made before Allah, particularly in the context of dealings between Muslims and their observance of religious duties.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Also relevant is the hadith: 'Whoever swears an oath and then sees something better than it, let him expiate his oath and do the better deed' (Sahih Muslim 1645), which addresses the gravity with which oaths should be treated.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are reminded that every promise made—whether to Allah or to others in Allah's name—carries profound spiritual weight and divine accountability. In modern life, this teaches us to approach commitments with utmost seriousness, whether in business, personal relationships, or religious practice, knowing that Allah witnesses all our actions.
Related Ayahs
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.
وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not exchange the covenant of Allāh for a small price. Indeed, what is with Allāh is best for you, if only you could know.
وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْـَٔرُونَ
And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allāh. Then when adversity touches you, to Him you cry for help.
۞ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوكًا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَـٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوُۥنَ ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allāh presents an example: a slave [who is] owned and unable to do a thing and he to whom We have provided from Us good provision, so he spends from it secretly and publicly. Can they be equal? Praise to Allāh! But most of them do not know.