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
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنَكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ إِنِ ٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْكُفْرَ عَلَى ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever does so among you - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُل لَّا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبَّأَنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ ۚ وَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
They will make excuses to you when you have returned to them. Say, "Make no excuse - never will we believe you. Allāh has already informed us of your news [i.e., affair]. And Allāh will observe your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger; then you will be taken back to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do."
فَرِحَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَـٰفَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوٓا۟ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَنفِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا ۚ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَفْقَهُونَ
Those who remained behind rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allāh and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allāh and said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Hell is more intense in heat" - if they would but understand.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۚ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
Indeed, to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death. And you have not besides Allāh any protector or any helper.