وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ 6
Translations
And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allāh [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.
Transliteration
Wa-in ahad min al-mushrikin istajarka fa-ajirhu hatta yasma'a kalam Allah thumma ablighhu ma'manahu. Dhalika bi-annahum qawm la ya'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands Muslims to grant safe passage (aman) to any polytheist who seeks refuge, allowing them to hear the Word of Allah (the Quran) before safely returning them to their place of security. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this directive emphasizes the Islamic principle of protection for those seeking to learn about Islam, reflecting Allah's mercy and the universal invitation to His message. The reason provided—'for they are a people who do not know'—indicates that ignorance of Islam justifies offering them the opportunity to hear the truth before any conflict resumes.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period within Surah At-Tawbah, which addresses the rules of engagement with polytheists after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. It comes in a context discussing the treatment of mushrikin (polytheists), balancing military directives with humanitarian principles. This reflects the Islamic approach of combining firmness in faith with openness to inviting others to Islam.
Related Hadiths
The principle is exemplified in the Seerah (biography) of the Prophet, such as when the Prophet granted safe passage to individuals seeking to understand Islam. Related to this is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the treatment of captives and prisoners with justice and humanity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that extending compassion and opportunity to hear the message of Islam is a core Islamic value, even toward those previously in conflict with Muslims. It reminds us that preaching the faith should be done with sincere intention and protection for seekers of truth, reflecting Islam's ultimate goal of guidance rather than mere conquest.
Related Ayahs
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muḥammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allāh forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger, and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا۟ فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
O you who have believed, fight against those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allāh is with the righteous.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَـٰرِهُونَ
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allāh and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ
It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allāh dislike it.