9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَإِنْ
أَحَدٌ مِّنَ
الْمُشْرِكِينَ
اسْتَجَارَكَ ...
9: 6. If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him,
C1253. Even among the enemies of Islam, actively fighting against Islam, there may be individuals who may be in a position to require protection. Full asylum is to be given to them, and opportunities provided for hearing the Word of Allah.
If they accept the Word, they become Muslims and brethren, and no further question arises. If they do not see their way to accept Islam, they will require double protection:
- from the Islamic forces openly fighting against their people, and
- from their own people, as they detached themselves from them.
Both kinds of protection should be ensured for them, and they should be safely escorted to a place where they can be safe. Such persons only err through ignorance, and there may be much good in them.
... فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَلاَمَ اللّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ...
so that he may hear the word of Allah and then escort him to where he can be secure:
C1254. Ma'manah: place or opportunity of being secure from all harm.
...ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦﴾
that is because they are men without knowledge.
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.
9: 8. How (can there be such a league),
C1256. The exceptions having been stated parenthetically in verse 7, the indictment of the general mass of Pagan tribes is now set out briefly but fully and convincingly.
After that kind of behaviour how can treaty be possible with them? The counts are:
1. that whenever they got a slight advantage, they disregarded the ties both of kinship and of covenant as against the Muslims because of their Faith, thus proving doubly treacherous;
2. that they spoke fair words, but had venom in their hearts;
3. that their attitude was one of rebellion against their plighted word;
4. that they disregarded the solemn words of Allah for some miserable worldly gain;
5. that they tried to prevent other people from coming to the Way of Allah.
The first clause is repeated again as the last clause, to emphasize their double treachery, and round off the argument.
... وَإِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ لاَ يَرْقُبُواْ فِيكُمْ إِلاًّ وَلاَ ذِمَّةً...
seeing that if they get an advantage over you, they respect not in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant?
C1257. Among the Arabs the ties of kinship were so strong as to be almost unbreakable. The Pagan Arabs went out of their way to break them in the case of the Muslims, who were kith and kin to them.
Besides the bond of kinship there was the further bond of their plighted oath in the Treaty. They broke that oath because the other parties were Muslims!
...يُرْضُونَكُم بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَى قُلُوبُهُمْ...
With (fair words from) their mouths they entice you, but their hearts are averse from you;
...وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ ﴿٨﴾
and most of them are rebellious and wicked.
Asad’s Version:
9: 6 If one amongst the pagans ask you for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the Word of God; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge.
9: 7 How can there be a league, before God and His Apostle, with the Pagans, except those with whom you made a treaty near the Sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you, stand you true to them: for God do love the righteous.
9: 8 How [can there be such a league] seeing that if they get an advantage over you, they respect not in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With [fair words from] their mouths they entice you, but their hearts are averse from you; and most of them are rebellious and wicked.