سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 12
وَإِن نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَئِمَّةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَآ أَيْمَـٰنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion with disapproval and criticism, then fight (you) the leaders of disbelief (chiefs of Quraish pagans of Makkah) - for surely their oaths are nothing to them - so that they may stop (evil actions).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
نَّكَثُوٓا۟
nakathū
they break
أَيْمَـٰنَهُم
aymānahum
their oaths
مِّنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
عَهْدِهِمْ
ʿahdihim
their treaty
وَطَعَنُوا۟
waṭaʿanū
and defame
فِى
fī
[in]
دِينِكُمْ
dīnikum
your religion
فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟
faqātilū
then fight
أَئِمَّةَ
a-immata
the leaders
ٱلْكُفْرِ ۙ
l-kuf'ri
(of) [the] disbelief
إِنَّهُمْ
innahum
indeed, they
لَآ
lā
no
أَيْمَـٰنَ
aymāna
oaths
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَنتَهُونَ
yantahūna
cease
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
But if they break their oaths after making a covenant and attack your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief [11]—for surely, their oaths mean nothing—so that they may desist.
[11]
The Hostile Activities of the Dhimmis:
Within the meaning of this verse are included those disbelieving and polytheist tribes who, before the declaration of disavowal, used to break their covenants and mock the religion, as well as those who, after the declaration of disavowal, apparently accepted Islam but their hearts were never inclined towards Islam. Rather, they accepted Islam only due to temporary expediency and under the pressure of the Muslims’ dominance, and were waiting for a suitable opportunity so that if they saw any weakness in Islam, they would break their pledge of accepting Islam. During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they did not get such an opportunity, but immediately after his ﷺ passing, they broke this pledge and reverted to disbelief, because they thought that whatever dominance and grandeur Islam had achieved was only due to the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Thus, immediately after his ﷺ passing, such tribes raised the banner of rebellion with full force, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, in accordance with the purport of this verse, suppressed them precisely.
The Punishment for Insulting Prophethood is Death:
Incidentally, from this verse it is also understood that if any dhimmi living under an Islamic government mocks or derides the religion of Islam, their covenant is nullified and it becomes the duty of the Islamic government to suppress them. Also, any dhimmi or any other person who abuses the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or utters any disrespectful words about him ﷺ is liable to be killed, because this is one of the worst forms of mocking the religion.
[11]
The Hostile Activities of the Dhimmis:
Within the meaning of this verse are included those disbelieving and polytheist tribes who, before the declaration of disavowal, used to break their covenants and mock the religion, as well as those who, after the declaration of disavowal, apparently accepted Islam but their hearts were never inclined towards Islam. Rather, they accepted Islam only due to temporary expediency and under the pressure of the Muslims’ dominance, and were waiting for a suitable opportunity so that if they saw any weakness in Islam, they would break their pledge of accepting Islam. During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they did not get such an opportunity, but immediately after his ﷺ passing, they broke this pledge and reverted to disbelief, because they thought that whatever dominance and grandeur Islam had achieved was only due to the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Thus, immediately after his ﷺ passing, such tribes raised the banner of rebellion with full force, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, in accordance with the purport of this verse, suppressed them precisely.
The Punishment for Insulting Prophethood is Death:
Incidentally, from this verse it is also understood that if any dhimmi living under an Islamic government mocks or derides the religion of Islam, their covenant is nullified and it becomes the duty of the Islamic government to suppress them. Also, any dhimmi or any other person who abuses the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or utters any disrespectful words about him ﷺ is liable to be killed, because this is one of the worst forms of mocking the religion.
