يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَـٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَـٰنٍ يَفْتَرِينَهُۥ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِى مَعْرُوفٍ ۙ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 12
Translations
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allāh, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu idha jaa-aka al-mu'minat yubai'naka ala an la yushrikna billahi shay'an wa la yasriqna wa la yazninah wa la yaqtulna awladahunna wa la ya'teen bi-buhtan yaftareenahu bayna aydihinna wa arjulihinna wa la ya'seenaka fi ma'roof fa-bai'hunnah wastaghfir lahunna allah inna allah ghafurun raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the pledge (bay'ah) of believing women to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), outlining fundamental moral and ethical principles they must uphold: avoiding shirk (polytheism), theft, fornication, infanticide, false accusations, and disobedience in matters of lawfulness. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note this represents the social contract of Islamic belief, with the Prophet commanded to accept their pledge and seek Allah's forgiveness for them, emphasizing Divine mercy and the women's capacity for righteousness. The conditions reflect the core values of Islamic society and the dignity of women as accountable moral agents.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the period of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), this ayah addresses the pledge-taking ceremony when believing women came to formally pledge their allegiance to the Prophet. The historical context involves women's acceptance into the Muslim community and their rights and responsibilities as believers, distinct from the earlier male pledge at Hudaybiyyah.
Related Hadiths
Umm 'Atiyyah reported: 'The Prophet took the pledge of the women with the words: "That you will not associate anything with Allah, will not steal, will not commit fornication, will not kill your children, will not bring false accusations..." (Sahih Bukhari 5286). Additionally, 'Aishah reported that believing women came to pledge allegiance to the Prophet by placing their hands in his hands (Sahih Muslim 1866).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah demonstrates that Islam recognizes women as independent moral agents fully responsible for their choices and entitled to pledge their faith directly, while also highlighting that sincere commitment to Islamic principles requires conscious rejection of major transgressions. The Prophet's instruction to seek forgiveness for the women reminds us that Allah's mercy encompasses all believers who strive against their weaknesses.