فَسِيحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْزِى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 2
Translations
So travel freely, [O disbelievers], throughout the land [during] four months but know that you cannot cause failure to Allāh and that Allāh will disgrace the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Fasīḥū fī al-arḍi arbaʿata ashhurin waʿlamū annakum ghayru muʿjizī allāhi wa anna allāha mukhzī al-kāfirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah grants the polytheists (mushrikūn) of Arabia a four-month grace period to travel freely in the land before the enforcement of the prohibition on their entry into the Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was a merciful warning allowing them time to prepare, repent, or depart peacefully. The verse concludes with a stern warning that they cannot escape Allah's power (muʿjizī = able to escape/thwart), and that Allah will humiliate the disbelievers—either through military defeat or eternal punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's opening proclamation, revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah after the expedition of Tabūk. It relates to the declaration of immunity (barāʿah) from polytheists and their contracts, marking the final stage before the complete prohibition of polytheists from the sacred precincts of Mecca. The four-month period (Shawwāl, Dhū al-Qaʿdah, Dhū al-Ḥijjah, and Muḥarram) allowed safe passage for those wishing to leave or settle their affairs.
Related Hadiths
The principle of giving respite is reflected in Surah At-Tawbah 4-5, where Allah permits those with whom covenants were made to complete their term. The hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the announcement of this proclamation by Abu Bakr and Ali describes the practical implementation of this ayah during the Hajj season.
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah's punishment, though certain and inescapable, comes only after clear warning and opportunity for repentance, demonstrating that divine justice is never arbitrary but always merciful in its deliberateness. For believers, this teaches the importance of maintaining sacred boundaries and recognizing that true honor comes from submission to Allah, not from worldly resistance.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ فِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَإِنْ أُعْطُوا۟ مِنْهَا رَضُوا۟ وَإِن لَّمْ يُعْطَوْا۟ مِنْهَآ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ
And among them are some who criticize you concerning the [distribution of] charities. If they are given from them, they approve; but if they are not given from them, at once they become angry.
ٱلْأَعْرَابُ أَشَدُّ كُفْرًا وَنِفَاقًا وَأَجْدَرُ أَلَّا يَعْلَمُوا۟ حُدُودَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
The bedouins are stronger in disbelief and hypocrisy and more likely not to know the limits of what [laws] Allāh has revealed to His Messenger. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
كَيْفَ وَإِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوا۟ فِيكُمْ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ يُرْضُونَكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
How [can there be a treaty] while, if they gain dominance over you, they do not observe concerning you any pact of kinship or covenant of protection? They satisfy you with their mouths, but their hearts refuse [compliance], and most of them are defiantly disobedient.