9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
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: 7
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.
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. ]]