Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allâh not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allâh must be answered for.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْwalaqadAnd certainly
كَانُوا۟kānūthey had
عَـٰهَدُوا۟ʿāhadūpromised
ٱللَّهَl-lahaAllah
مِنminbefore
قَبْلُqablubefore
لَاlānot
يُوَلُّونَyuwallūnathey would turn
ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚl-adbāratheir backs
وَكَانَwakānaAnd is
عَهْدُʿahdu(the) promise
ٱللَّهِl-lahi(to) Allah
مَسْـُٔولًۭاmasūlanto be questioned
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
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.