سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 8
كَيْفَ وَإِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوا۟ فِيكُمْ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ يُرْضُونَكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
How (can there be such a covenant with them) that when you are overpowered by them, they regard not the ties, either of kinship or of covenant with you? With (good words from) their mouths they please you, but their hearts are averse to you, and most of them are Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
كَيْفَ
kayfa
How
وَإِن
wa-in
while, if
يَظْهَرُوا۟
yaẓharū
they gain dominance
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
over you
لَا
lā
they do not regard (the ties)
يَرْقُبُوا۟
yarqubū
they do not regard (the ties)
فِيكُمْ
fīkum
with you
إِلًّۭا
illan
(of) kinship
وَلَا
walā
and not
ذِمَّةًۭ ۚ
dhimmatan
covenant of protection
يُرْضُونَكُم
yur'ḍūnakum
They satisfy you
بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ
bi-afwāhihim
with their mouths
وَتَأْبَىٰ
watabā
but refuse
قُلُوبُهُمْ
qulūbuhum
their hearts
وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ
wa-aktharuhum
and most of them
فَـٰسِقُونَ
fāsiqūna
(are) defiantly disobedient
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.
How (can there be a covenant) when, if they gain dominance over you, they would not respect any kinship or covenant with you? They please you with their words, but their hearts [8] do not accept them, and most of them are covenant-breakers.
[8] Since now they no longer have control over the Muslims and the Muslims have become a force to be reckoned with, they are compelled to make treaties. But even then, they try to please you with verbal claims. Otherwise, their hearts are not content with this covenant even for a moment, and they remain in wait for a suitable opportunity to break the covenant. Then, when such an opportunity arises for them, they neither remember their covenant nor care for kinship. How can Allah and His Messenger have a covenant with such a treacherous and deceitful people?
[8] Since now they no longer have control over the Muslims and the Muslims have become a force to be reckoned with, they are compelled to make treaties. But even then, they try to please you with verbal claims. Otherwise, their hearts are not content with this covenant even for a moment, and they remain in wait for a suitable opportunity to break the covenant. Then, when such an opportunity arises for them, they neither remember their covenant nor care for kinship. How can Allah and His Messenger have a covenant with such a treacherous and deceitful people?
