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
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allāh has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَٱرْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ
Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allāh and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] - Allāh has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allāh is with us." And Allāh sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allāh - that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.