✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Islam has strictly emphasized faithfulness to covenants and agreements made with disbelievers (kuffār).
Maintaining one’s word and upholding treaties is a clear command from the Sharīʿah, demonstrating the justice and integrity of Islam even with those outside the Muslim faith.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهَدًا لَمْ يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ سِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 3166, Kitāb al-Jizyah wa al-Muwādaʿah: Bāb Ithm man Qatala Muʿāhadan bighayri Ḥurm]
“Whoever kills a person under covenant (muʿāhad) shall not even smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be perceived from a distance of forty years.”
Both Ḥudhayfah bin al-Yamān and Abū Ḥusayl رضي الله عنهما were unable to participate in the Battle of Badr because they had given their word to the Quraysh that they would not fight against them.
When they presented this matter before the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
انْصَرِفَا نَفِ لَهُمْ بِعَهْدِهِمْ وَنَسْتَعِينُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِمْ
[Sahih Muslim: 1787; Musnad Ahmad 5/395]
“Return (to Madinah) and fulfill your covenant with them; and we shall seek Allah’s help against them.”
Key Lessons and Rulings
◈ Islam commands Muslims to fulfill every lawful agreement made with non-Muslims.
◈ Betrayal, deceit, or violation of a treaty is a grave sin.
◈ Even in times of war, Muslims are bound to honor their promises.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ himself set the example of loyalty and truthfulness in treaties.
❖ Obligation of Honoring Treaties with Disbelievers
Islam has strictly emphasized faithfulness to covenants and agreements made with disbelievers (kuffār).
Maintaining one’s word and upholding treaties is a clear command from the Sharīʿah, demonstrating the justice and integrity of Islam even with those outside the Muslim faith.
① Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh bin ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهَدًا لَمْ يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ سِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 3166, Kitāb al-Jizyah wa al-Muwādaʿah: Bāb Ithm man Qatala Muʿāhadan bighayri Ḥurm]
“Whoever kills a person under covenant (muʿāhad) shall not even smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be perceived from a distance of forty years.”
② Incident of Ḥudhayfah bin al-Yamān and Abū Ḥusayl رضي الله عنهما
Both Ḥudhayfah bin al-Yamān and Abū Ḥusayl رضي الله عنهما were unable to participate in the Battle of Badr because they had given their word to the Quraysh that they would not fight against them.
When they presented this matter before the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
انْصَرِفَا نَفِ لَهُمْ بِعَهْدِهِمْ وَنَسْتَعِينُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِمْ
[Sahih Muslim: 1787; Musnad Ahmad 5/395]
“Return (to Madinah) and fulfill your covenant with them; and we shall seek Allah’s help against them.”
Key Lessons and Rulings◈ Islam commands Muslims to fulfill every lawful agreement made with non-Muslims.
◈ Betrayal, deceit, or violation of a treaty is a grave sin.
◈ Even in times of war, Muslims are bound to honor their promises.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ himself set the example of loyalty and truthfulness in treaties.
