لَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُعْتَدُونَ 10
Translations
They do not observe toward a believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection. And it is they who are the transgressors.
Transliteration
Lā yarqubūn fī mu'min in illā wa lā dhimmah; wa ulā'ika hum al-mu'tadūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who violate covenants and oaths with believers, showing no respect (wara') or honor toward them, nor do they observe the rights of protection (dhimmah) owed to those under Islamic protection. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to the hypocrites and those who betrayed truces with the Prophet ﷺ, particularly regarding the broken covenants of the polytheists of Mecca. Such people are identified as transgressors (al-mu'tadūn) who overstep the bounds of justice and honor.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tawbah was revealed in the 9th hijri year, primarily addressing the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Madinah and the polytheists of Arabia who repeatedly broke treaties with the Prophet ﷺ. This ayah specifically condemns those who violated their covenants and showed no regard for the sanctity of oaths, contributing to the surah's theme of accountability for treachery and broken promises.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whoever breaks a covenant, Allah will break his back,' recorded in various collections. Additionally, Sunan An-Nasa'i records that the Prophet emphasized the sanctity of covenants: 'Whoever makes a covenant with a people should not strengthen it nor weaken it until the covenant expires.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring agreements and showing respect to those we make covenants with—whether believers or others under our protection—is a fundamental Islamic principle, and those who abandon such sacred obligations are among the transgressors. For modern believers, this emphasizes the importance of integrity in contracts, treaties, and interpersonal commitments as a reflection of Islamic character.
Related Ayahs
أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Would you not fight against a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allāh has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةَ ۚ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ ۖ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِۦ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَٱسْتَبْشِرُوا۟ بِبَيْعِكُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَايَعْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Indeed, Allāh has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allāh, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’ān. And who is truer to his covenant than Allāh? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.
وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allāh and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh - for them is a painful punishment.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.