كَيْفَ وَإِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوا۟ فِيكُمْ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ يُرْضُونَكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ 8
Translations
How [can there be a treaty] while, if they gain dominance over you, they do not observe concerning you any pact of kinship or covenant of protection? They satisfy you with their mouths, but their hearts refuse [compliance], and most of them are defiantly disobedient.
Transliteration
Kayfa wa-in yadhharū ʿalaykum lā yarqubū fīkum illā wa-lā dhimmah. Yurdūnakum bi-afwāhihim wa-taʾbā qulūbuhum wa-akthāruhum fāsiqūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrisy and untrustworthiness of those who make treaties with Muslims while harboring hostile intentions. Ibn Kathir explains that if these people gain power over the Muslims, they will disregard all bonds of kinship and covenant, showing no mercy or honor. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that their words of peace mask their true enmity—they please you with their tongues while their hearts reject Islam and refuse to maintain the covenant, and most of them are transgressors (fāsiqūn) who violate their oaths.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah (revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah), which addresses the breaking of treaties by certain Arab and Jewish tribes who made agreements with the Muslim state but betrayed them. The specific context relates to tribes like Banu Thaqīf and others who violated their covenants with the Prophet ﷺ, making this a warning about the nature of those whose faith is insincere and whose loyalty cannot be trusted.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays the trust.' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Additionally, the ayah relates to the hadith about covenant-breakers facing divine punishment on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must be vigilant in recognizing hypocrisy and should not be deceived by mere words when actions contradict them; true trustworthiness requires alignment between one's words, heart, and deeds, reflecting the Islamic principle of integrity in all dealings.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allāh. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.