أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُۥ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 100
Translations
Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But, [in fact], most of them do not believe.
Transliteration
Aw kullama AAahadoo AAahdan nabathahu fareequn minhum bal aktharuhum la yu'minoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the broken covenants of the Children of Israel, stating that whenever they made an agreement with Allah and His Messenger, a group among them would violate and cast it aside. The phrase 'but rather, most of them do not believe' emphasizes that their covenant-breaking stems from a fundamental lack of faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a characteristic pattern of the disbelieving faction among the Jews, demonstrating how disbelief manifests in treachery and broken promises.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage discussing the behavior of the Jews and hypocrites toward the Prophet Muhammad and their covenants with Allah. It comes in the context of Allah reminding the believers of how previous communities violated their sacred agreements, serving as a warning against similar conduct. The ayah reflects the historical tensions between the Muslim community and certain Jewish groups in Medina who repeatedly broke treaties.
Related Hadiths
The concept of covenant-breaking is referenced in various hadiths about the importance of fulfilling oaths and contracts. Related to this is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) listed the signs of a hypocrite, including the breaking of promises: 'If he promises, he breaks his promise.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith is inseparable from honoring one's commitments and covenants; breaking promises is a sign of spiritual weakness and disbelief. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder to be scrupulous in keeping agreements—whether with Allah through obedience or with others through honest dealings—as covenant-keeping is a hallmark of genuine believers.
Related Ayahs
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـٰسِكَكُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا ۗ فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍ
And when you have completed your rites, remember Allāh like your [previous] remembrance of your fathers or with [much] greater remembrance. And among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world," and he will have in the Hereafter no share.
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ
And establish prayer and give zakāh and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ
Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مَّا عَرَفُوا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And when there came to them a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] from Allāh confirming that which was with them - although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved - but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allāh will be upon the disbelievers.