The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِلاَّ
الَّذِينَ
عَاهَدتُّم
مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
ثُمَّ لَمْ
يَنقُصُوكُمْ
شَيْئًا...
9: 4. (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught,
C1249. The sacred duty of fulfilling all obligations of every kind, to Muslims and non Muslims, in public as well as private life, is a cardinal feature of Muslim ethics.
The question what is to be done with those who abuse this principle by failing in their duty but expect the Muslims to do their part is not to be solved (in the case of treaties) by a general denunciation of treaties but by a careful consideration of the cases where there has been fidelity and not treachery.
There we are enjoined to give the strictest fidelity, as it is a part of righteousness and our duty to Allah.
وَلَمْ يُظَاهِرُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا ...
nor aided anyone against you.
... فَأَتِمُّواْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَى مُدَّتِهِمْ...
So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤﴾
for Allah loveth the righteous.
كَيْفَ
يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ
عَهْدٌ عِندَ
اللّهِ وَعِندَ
رَسُولِهِ...
9: 7. How can there be a league before Allah and His Messenger, with the pagans,
...إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتُّمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ...
except those with whom ye made a treaty near the sacred mosque?
C1255. In this section we have the reasons why the treaties with treacherous Pagan foes were denounced.
The clause introducing the exception is a parenthetical clause. The word "Pagans" must be connected with verse 8 which follows. In that verse the word kaifa resumes the clause introduced by the wordkaifa at the beginning of verse 7.
The exceptional Pagan tribes which remained true to their word were the Banu Hamza and the Banu Kinana, who swore their treaty near the Sacred Mosque and faithfully observed it. They were to be given the full benefit of their fidelity even though their kindred tribes were treacherous.
... فَمَا اسْتَقَامُواْ لَكُمْ فَاسْتَقِيمُواْ لَهُمْ...
As long as these stand true to you, stand ye true to them:
...إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٧﴾
For Allah doth love the righteous.
Other versions:
9: 4 [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H]
Asad But exception shall be – from among those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God – [people] with whom you [O believers] have made a covenant and who thereafter have in no wise failed to fulfill their obligations towards you, and neither have aided anyone against you: observe, then, your covenant with them until the end of the term agreed with them [note 5]. Verily, God loves those who are conscious of Him.
Yusuf Ali (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those pagans with whom Ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous.
Pickthall Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfill their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him).
Transliteration Illal lazina 'a_hattum minal musyrikina summa lam yanqusu_kum syai'aw wa lam yuza_hiru_ 'alaikum ahadan fa atimmu_ ilaihim 'ahdahum ila_ muddatihim, innalla_ha yuhibbul muttaqin(a).
9: 7 [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, Tabuk 9H]
Asad …….unless it be those [of them] with whom you [O Believers] have made a covenant in the vicinity of the Inviolable House of Worship? [note 13] …so long as they remain true to you, be true to them: for, verily, God loves those who are conscious of Him.
Yusuf Ali How can there be a league before Allah and His apostle with the pagans except those with whom ye made a treaty near the sacred mosque? As long as these stand true to you stand ye true to them: For Allah doth love the righteous.
Pickthall How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His messenger for the idolaters save those with whom ye made a treaty at the Inviolable Place of Worship? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Lo! Allah love those who keep their duty.
Transliteration Kaifa yaku_nu lil musyrikina 'ahdun 'indalla_hi wa 'inda rasu_lihi illal lazina 'a_hattum 'indal masjidil hara_m(i), famastaqa_mu_ lakum fastaqimu_ lahum, innalla_ha yuhibbul muttaqin(a).
[[ Asad’s note – 12 – Lit., “have a covenant before [or “in the sight of”] God and His Apostle”: i.e., be protected by those who believer in God and His Apostle. The specific reference to the latter meant to stress the fact that he speaks and acts in the name of God
13 – Cf. verse 4 above. The “covevnant” alluded to is the truce-agreement concluded in 6H. at Hudaybiyyah, in the vicinity of Mecca, between the Prophet and the pagan Quraysh……….]
[[ Ruby’s note 9:7 – The statement “God loves those who are conscious of Him” right after the injunction that believers should remain committed to the agreements with the non-believers if the later keep the commitment is to emphasize the injunction. And to imply that it is often difficult to maintain such standard with opponents or adversaries and human emotions and impulses go against such commitments. But nonetheless this is to be carried out and it is easier for those who are conscious of God. ]]