At-Tawba 9:4 · The Repentance · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"As for those who have honoured the treaty you made with them and who have not supported anyone against you: fulfil your agreement with them to the end of their term. God loves those who are mindful of Him."

Pickthall (classic)+

"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), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him)."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"(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 any one against you. So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

Existing Peace Treaties remained valid until the End of Their Term

This is an exception regulating the longest extent of time for those who have a general treaty - with out time mentioned - to four months. They would have four months to travel the lands in search of sanctuary for themselves wherever they wish. Those whose treaty mentioned a specifec limited term, then the longest it would extend was to the point of its agreed upon termination date. Hadiths in this regard preceeded. So anyone who had a treaty with Allah's Messenger ﷺ, it lasted until its specific termination date. However, those in this category were required to refrain from breaking the terms of the agreement with Muslims and from helping non-Muslims against Muslims. This is the type whose peace agreement with Muslims was carried out to its end. Allah encouraged honoring such peace treaties, saying,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ

(Surely, Allah loves those who have Taqwa) 9:4, who keep their promises.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

Отречение от любых обязательств перед многобожниками касалось их всех, кроме тех, кто заключил с мусульманами мирный договор и исправно выполнял свои обязательства, кто не вынуждал мусульман расторгнуть договор, не расторгал его самостоятельно и не помогал тем, кто сражался против мусульман. Мусульманам было велено соблюдать договоры с такими многобожниками до истечения обусловленного срока, каким бы продолжительным он ни был, потому что ислам не позволяет предавать союзников, а, напротив, велит выполнять обязательства. Воистину, Аллах любит богобоязненных праведников, которые выполняют то, что им велено, и остерегаются многобожия, предательства и прочих грехов.