وَإِن نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَئِمَّةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَآ أَيْمَـٰنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ 12
Translations
And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then combat the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths [sacred] to them; [fight them that] they might cease.
Transliteration
Wa-in nakathū aymānahum min ba'di 'ahdihim wa-ṭa'anū fī dīnikum faqātilū a'immata al-kufr; innahum lā aymāna lahum la'allahum yantahūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the believers' obligation to fight those who break their covenants with Allah and His Messenger and mock the believers' religion, specifically targeting the leaders of disbelief. Ibn Kathir explains that the phrase "leaders of disbelief" (a'immat al-kufr) refers to those who spearhead opposition to Islam, and breaking oaths combined with attacking the faith itself is grounds for military engagement. Al-Tabari notes that such people are described as having no sanctity or trustworthiness ('aymān) because they have abandoned all religious bonds, making them unworthy of protection under treaties.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9), which addresses the final rulings on treaties with polytheists and hypocrites during the later Medinan period. The broader context involves the treachery of Arab tribes who had made treaties with the Prophet Muhammad but repeatedly violated them and actively worked against Islam, particularly after the Conquest of Makkah. This ayah specifically addresses the principle of when defensive warfare becomes justified against covenant-breakers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him' (Sahih Bukhari 6922), which relates to the severity of breaking faith with Islam. Additionally, the hadith about the Prophet's treaties with the tribes of Arabia illustrates the historical context where such violations occurred and justified military responses.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Islam values treaties and oaths, those who deliberately violate sacred agreements while simultaneously attacking the faith itself forfeit certain protections, reminding believers that defense of religion is a serious obligation when peaceful coexistence becomes impossible through deliberate aggression and treachery.