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 God doth love the righteous.
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.