سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 6
وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿6﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if anyone of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur’ân), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And if
أَحَدٌۭ
aḥadun
anyone
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
the polytheists
ٱسْتَجَارَكَ
is'tajāraka
seek your protection
فَأَجِرْهُ
fa-ajir'hu
then grant him protection
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يَسْمَعَ
yasmaʿa
he hears
كَلَـٰمَ
kalāma
(the) Words of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) Words of Allah
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
أَبْلِغْهُ
abligh'hu
escort him
مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ
mamanahu
(to) his place of safety
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
بِأَنَّهُمْ
bi-annahum
(is) because they
قَوْمٌۭ
qawmun
(are) a people
لَّا
lā
(who) do not know
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
(who) do not know
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 6) ➊ {وَ اِنْ اَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ اسْتَجَارَكَ … :} That is, after the period of security has passed, if any polytheist, with whom you have no treaty, requests you to grant him protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah. And if he has come to understand Islam or to clear his doubts, then he should be given protection all the more. Now, if he is not willing to accept Islam and wishes to return to his place, then you should escort him to his place, because these people do not know the reality of Islam. It is possible that after hearing the words of Allah and His Messenger, and after seeing their society and morals and character, they may become Muslim. Then, when he reaches his place, it is permissible to kill him like other polytheists, but not before that. This ruling is forever, and any Muslim can grant protection to a disbeliever, even if his status among the Muslims is ordinary, and it is obligatory upon all Muslims to fulfill this protection. On the occasion of the conquest of Makkah, Umm Hani (may Allah be pleased with her) granted protection to a polytheist, then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and related this incident, so he said: "We have granted protection to the one whom you have granted protection, we have given security to the one whom you have given security." [ أبو داوٗد، الجہاد، باب فی أمان المرأ ۃ : ۲۷۶۳۔ بخاری : ۳۵۷ ]
➋ { حَتّٰى يَسْمَعَ كَلٰمَ اللّٰهِ:} From this, it is understood that the main purpose of granting protection to the polytheists is to invite them to the religion, to make them hear the Qur'an, and to introduce them to Islam. Then, if they do not become Muslim, they should be sent away quickly; it should not be that they establish their bases, spy, and harm the Muslims.
➋ { حَتّٰى يَسْمَعَ كَلٰمَ اللّٰهِ:} From this, it is understood that the main purpose of granting protection to the polytheists is to invite them to the religion, to make them hear the Qur'an, and to introduce them to Islam. Then, if they do not become Muslim, they should be sent away quickly; it should not be that they establish their bases, spy, and harm the Muslims.
