لَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُعْتَدُونَ 10
Translations
They do not observe toward a believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection. And it is they who are the transgressors.
Transliteration
Lā yarqubūn fī mu'min in illā wa lā dhimmah; wa ulā'ika hum al-mu'tadūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who violate covenants and oaths with believers, showing no respect (wara') or honor toward them, nor do they observe the rights of protection (dhimmah) owed to those under Islamic protection. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to the hypocrites and those who betrayed truces with the Prophet ﷺ, particularly regarding the broken covenants of the polytheists of Mecca. Such people are identified as transgressors (al-mu'tadūn) who overstep the bounds of justice and honor.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tawbah was revealed in the 9th hijri year, primarily addressing the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Madinah and the polytheists of Arabia who repeatedly broke treaties with the Prophet ﷺ. This ayah specifically condemns those who violated their covenants and showed no regard for the sanctity of oaths, contributing to the surah's theme of accountability for treachery and broken promises.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Whoever breaks a covenant, Allah will break his back,' recorded in various collections. Additionally, Sunan An-Nasa'i records that the Prophet emphasized the sanctity of covenants: 'Whoever makes a covenant with a people should not strengthen it nor weaken it until the covenant expires.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that honoring agreements and showing respect to those we make covenants with—whether believers or others under our protection—is a fundamental Islamic principle, and those who abandon such sacred obligations are among the transgressors. For modern believers, this emphasizes the importance of integrity in contracts, treaties, and interpersonal commitments as a reflection of Islamic character.
Related Ayahs
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allāh [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُوا۟ ۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, they look at each other, [as if saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they dismiss themselves. Allāh has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
۞ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَـٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَئِنْ ءَاتَىٰنَا مِن فَضْلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And among them are those who made a covenant with Allāh, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَيَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And remove the fury in their [i.e., the believers'] hearts. And Allāh turns in forgiveness to whom He wills; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.