Juz 10: Al-Anfāl 41 to At-Tawbah 92
Section 12 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
12. Treaty Cancellation with the Polytheists
The opening verses of Surah At-Tawbah mark a decisive turning point in the relationship between the Islamic state and the polytheists of Arabia. After years of treaty violations, betrayal, and continued hostility from various polytheistic tribes, Allah (swt) commands a clear and unambiguous declaration:
بَرَاءَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتُّم مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
“Here is a disavowal (proclaimed) by Allah and His Messenger against the Mushrikīn (polytheists) with whom you have a treaty." [9:1]”
This proclamation of bara'ah (exoneration) was not an arbitrary decision but came after repeated breaches of peace agreements by the polytheists. However, Allah (swt) demonstrates perfect justice by providing a grace period for those with whom treaties existed:
فَسِيحُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللَّهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْزِي الْكَافِرِينَ
“So, move in the land freely for four months, and be aware that you can never frustrate Allah, and that Allah is going to disgrace the disbelievers." [9:2]”
This four-month period served multiple purposes. It allowed the polytheists time to reconsider their position, potentially embrace Islam, or make arrangements to leave the territory peacefully. It demonstrated the Islamic principle of fulfilling covenant obligations even when the other party had shown treachery. The announcement was not meant to be secretive but was publicly proclaimed during the Hajj season to ensure maximum awareness.
After this grace period, new restrictions were implemented regarding the polytheists' access to the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَٰذَا
“O you who believe! The Mushrikūn are impure indeed, so let them not approach Al-Masjid-ul-Harām after this year." [9:28]”
This verse established that polytheists would no longer be permitted to perform their rituals at the Ka'bah, a practice that had included idolatry and immodest acts that contradicted the sacred purpose of the mosque. This prohibition marked the complete purification of the Sacred Mosque and the restoration of the monotheistic worship for which it was originally built by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them).
The often-misunderstood "sword verse" appears in this context:
فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ
“So, when the sacred months expire, kill the Mushrikīn wherever you find them, and catch them and besiege them and sit in ambush for them everywhere." [9:5]”