Surah Taubah >> Currently viewing Surah Taubah Ayat 12 (9:12)

Surah Taubah Ayat 12 in Arabic Text

وَإِن نَّكَثُوٓاْ أَيۡمَٰنَهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ عَهۡدِهِمۡ وَطَعَنُواْ فِي دِينِكُمۡ فَقَٰتِلُوٓاْ أَئِمَّةَ ٱلۡكُفۡرِ إِنَّهُمۡ لَآ أَيۡمَٰنَ لَهُمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَنتَهُونَ,
Wa in nakasooo aimaanahum mim ba’di ‘ahdihim wa ta’anoo fee deenikum faqaatilooo a’immatal kufri innahum laaa aimaana lahum la’allahum yantahoon

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 12

Sahih International
And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths [sacred] to them; [fight them that] they might cease.

Yusuf Ali
But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and taunt you for your Faith,- fight ye the chiefs of Unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them: that thus they may be restrained.

Abul Ala Maududi
But if they break their pledges after making them and attack your faith, make war on the leaders of unbelief that they may desist, for they have no regard for their pledged words.

Muhsin Khan
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).

Pickthall
And if they break their pledges after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the heads of disbelief – Lo! they have no binding oaths – in order that they may desist.

Dr. Ghali
And in case they breach their oaths after their covenant, and discredit your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief; surely they have no (binding) oaths, that possibly they would refrain.

Abdel Haleem
But if they break their oath after having made an agreement with you, if they revile your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief- oaths mean nothing to them- so that they may stop.

Muhammad Junagarhi
اگر یہ لوگ عہدوپیمان کے بعد بھی اپنی قسموں کو توڑ دیں اور تمہارے دین میں طعنہ زنی کریں تو تم بھی ان سرداران کفر سے بھڑ جاؤ۔ ان کی قسمیں کوئی چیز نہیں، ممکن ہے کہ اس طرح وه بھی باز آجائیں

Quran 9 Verse 12 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Taubah ayat 12, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(9:12) But if they break their pledges after making them and attack your faith, make war on the leaders of unbelief that they may desist, for they have no regard for their pledged words.[15]


15. In the context, the words, oaths, and compacts mean the compact of the acceptance of Islam. Therefore, the question of making a new compact with them does not arise. As regards the old pacts, they had already broken all of them. It is on account of this that the declaration of immunity (from obligations) by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) has been clearly made. It has also been stated that such people are not worthy of any treaty and they can only be let off if they repent of their disbelief and shirk and establish Salat and pay Zakat dues. This verse states clearly how the renegades should be treated. As a matter of fact, this verse forestalled the mischief of apostasy that broke out a year and a half after its revelation and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) followed the guidance given in this verse to crush it.

Ibn-Kathir

12. But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion with disapproval and criticism, then fight (you) against the leaders of disbelief — for surely, their oaths are nothing to them — so that they may stop (evil actions).


Allah says, if the idolators with whom you conducted peace treaties for an appointed term break

﴿أَيْمَـنِهِمْ﴾

(their oaths) meaning, terms of their treaties, and covenants

﴿وَطَعَنُواْ فِى دِينِكُمْ﴾

(and attack your religion…) with disapproval and criticism, it is because of this that one who curses the Messenger, peace be upon him, or attacks the religion of Islam by way of criticism and disapproval, they are to be fought. This is why Allah said afterwards,

﴿فَقَـتِلُواْ أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ أَيْمَـنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ﴾

(then fight (you) against the leaders of disbelief — for surely, their oaths are nothing to them — so that they may stop.) so that they may refrain from the disbelief, rebellion and the transgression they indulge in. Qatadah and others said that the leaders of disbelief were Abu Jahl, `Utbah and Shaybah, Umayyah bin Khalaf, and he went on to mention several others. Al-A`mash narrated from Zayd bin Wahb from Hudhayfah; “The people of this Ayah were never fought again.” A similar statement was reported from `Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him. However, this Ayah is general, even though the specific reason behind revealing it was the idolators of Quraysh. So this Ayah generally applies to them and others as well, Allah knows best. Al-Walid bin Muslim said that Safwan bin `Amr narrated that `Abdur-Rahman bin Jubayr bin Nufayr said that when Abu Bakr sent an army to Ash-Sham, he advised them, “You will find some people with shaved heads. Therefore, strike the swords upon the parts that contain the devil, for by Allah, it is better to me to kill one of these people than to kill seventy other men. This is because Allah said,

﴿فَقَـتِلُواْ أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ﴾

(then fight (you) against the leaders of disbelief.)” Ibn Abi Hatim collected it.

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surah taubah ayat 12
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