وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ 6
Translations
And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allāh [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.
Transliteration
Wa-in ahad min al-mushrikin istajarka fa-ajirhu hatta yasma'a kalam Allah thumma ablighhu ma'manahu. Dhalika bi-annahum qawm la ya'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands Muslims to grant safe passage (aman) to any polytheist who seeks refuge, allowing them to hear the Word of Allah (the Quran) before safely returning them to their place of security. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this directive emphasizes the Islamic principle of protection for those seeking to learn about Islam, reflecting Allah's mercy and the universal invitation to His message. The reason provided—'for they are a people who do not know'—indicates that ignorance of Islam justifies offering them the opportunity to hear the truth before any conflict resumes.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period within Surah At-Tawbah, which addresses the rules of engagement with polytheists after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. It comes in a context discussing the treatment of mushrikin (polytheists), balancing military directives with humanitarian principles. This reflects the Islamic approach of combining firmness in faith with openness to inviting others to Islam.
Related Hadiths
The principle is exemplified in the Seerah (biography) of the Prophet, such as when the Prophet granted safe passage to individuals seeking to understand Islam. Related to this is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the treatment of captives and prisoners with justice and humanity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that extending compassion and opportunity to hear the message of Islam is a core Islamic value, even toward those previously in conflict with Muslims. It reminds us that preaching the faith should be done with sincere intention and protection for seekers of truth, reflecting Islam's ultimate goal of guidance rather than mere conquest.
Related Ayahs
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَـٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
Had it been a near [i.e., easy] gain and a moderate trip, they [i.e., the hypocrites] would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars.
لَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving [i.e., fighting] with their wealth and their lives. And Allāh is Knowing of those who fear Him.
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allāh - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
وَإِن نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَئِمَّةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَآ أَيْمَـٰنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ
And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then combat the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths [sacred] to them; [fight them that] they might cease.