ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتَّ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَهُمْ فِى كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَتَّقُونَ 56
Translations
The ones with whom you made a treaty but then they break their pledge every time, and they do not fear Allāh.
Transliteration
Alladhina 'ahadt-tahumma thumma yanquduna 'ahdahum fi kulli marratin wa-hum la yattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who made covenants with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but repeatedly broke their treaties and agreements without any fear of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this specifically addresses the treachery of certain Arab tribes, particularly referencing the Jews of Medina and hypocritical groups who violated their pledges of peace and alliance. The phrase 'in every instance' (fi kulli marratin) emphasizes the habitual and deliberate nature of their betrayal, while 'they do not fear Allah' (wa-hum la yattaqun) indicates their complete disregard for divine accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and in the context of the Quraysh's and certain Jewish tribes' repeated violations of agreements with the Muslim community. The surah addresses the ethics of warfare and the consequences of treachery, particularly in relation to those tribes who consistently broke their oaths despite multiple opportunities to honor their commitments.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'There are four characteristics; whoever has all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he leaves it: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he breaks it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he quarrels, he abuses.' (Sahih Bukhari 33 and Sahih Muslim 58)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring covenants and agreements is a fundamental moral and religious obligation, and that breaking oaths—especially those made in Allah's name—is a severe sin indicating spiritual corruption. For modern believers, this serves as a reminder to maintain integrity in all contracts and commitments, understanding that Allah witnesses all agreements and holds transgressors accountable.