إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّم مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنقُصُوكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَمْ يُظَـٰهِرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا فَأَتِمُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 4
Translations
Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you; so complete for them their treaty until their term [has ended]. Indeed, Allāh loves the righteous [who fear Him].
Transliteration
Illa alladhina 'ahadtum min al-mushrikeen thumma lam yanqusukum shay'an wa lam yuzahiru 'alaykum ahadan fa-atimmu ilayhim 'ahdahum ila mudatihim. Inna Allaha yuhibbu al-muttaqeen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah exempts from the command to renounce treaties with polytheists those who honored their covenants with the Muslims, neither betrayed them nor aided their enemies. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse demonstrates Islam's commitment to honoring agreements even with non-believers, reflecting divine approval for those who fulfill contracts faithfully. The Muslims are commanded to fulfill such treaties completely until their expiration, with the closing phrase indicating that Allah loves the pious—those who maintain integrity in their dealings.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah (Tawbah period), this ayah follows the general command regarding broken treaties with polytheists (9:1-3). It was revealed when the Prophet and Muslims were in a position of strength and reconsidering their covenant relationships. The context addresses the Hudaybiyyah Treaty and similar agreements, establishing that trustworthiness and honor transcend religious boundaries when the other party acts in good faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whoever kills a mu'ahad (non-Muslim under treaty) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 3166). Additionally, the Hudaybiyyah Treaty itself exemplifies this principle, where the Prophet honored agreements even during apparent disadvantage (Sahih Bukhari 2731).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring commitments is a cardinal Islamic principle applicable even to non-Muslims, demonstrating that integrity in contracts strengthens societies and reflects piety. For contemporary believers, it emphasizes that keeping one's word and fulfilling agreements—whether personal, commercial, or diplomatic—is an act of worship and a marker of true God-consciousness.
Related Ayahs
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhājireen and the Anṣār and those who followed them with good conduct - Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ رَٰغِبُونَ
If only they had been satisfied with what Allāh and His Messenger gave them and said, "Sufficient for us is Allāh; Allāh will give us of His bounty, and [so will] His Messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward Allāh," [it would have been better for them].
بَرَآءَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّم مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
[This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allāh and His Messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists.