سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ

Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 15

The Clans · Medinan · Juz 21 · Page 419

وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسْـُٔولًا ﴿15﴾
And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allâh not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allâh must be answered for.
وَلَقَدْ walaqad And certainly
كَانُوا۟ kānū they had
عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ʿāhadū promised
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
مِن min before
قَبْلُ qablu before
لَا not
يُوَلُّونَ yuwallūna they would turn
ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚ l-adbāra their backs
وَكَانَ wakāna And is
عَهْدُ ʿahdu (the) promise
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (to) Allah
مَسْـُٔولًۭا masūlan to be questioned

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

15-1. It is stated that these hypocrites did not become Muslims until the Battle of Badr. But when the Muslims returned victorious and with spoils of war, not only did they profess Islam, but they also pledged that whenever there was another confrontation with the disbelievers, they would surely fight alongside the Muslims. Here, that very pledge has been reminded to them.

15-2. That is, they will be required to fulfill it, and in case of unfaithfulness, they will be deserving of punishment.