Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

15. “And indeed they had made a covenant with Allah before that, that they would not turn their backs (to the enemy) and covenants with Allah shall be questioned of.”

To make agreement is not so important, it is loyalty which is important. We must not take the covenant of Allah (s.w.t.) inconsiderable, because we will surely be questioned and reprimanded.

This holy verse summons the hypocrites to judgment.

It says:

“And indeed they had made a covenant with Allah before that, that they would not turn their backs (to the enemy)…”

They had formerly made a covenant to fulfil their promise in defending Monotheism, Islam, and the Prophet (S). Do they not know that the covenant with Allah, the Aware, will be questioned and they are responsible before it?

The holy verse continues saying:

“…and covenants with Allah shall be questioned of.”

Some commentators have said this covenant is the same promise that the tribe of ‘Bani Harithah’ had made with Allah and the Prophet (S) on the Day of the Battle of ’Uhud.

At the time when they decided to return back from the battle field and were regretful, they made a covenant that they would never approach those affairs, but the same persons thought to breach their promise in the Battle of ’Ahzab.¹

Some other commentators also believe that it refers to the covenant that they made with the Prophet (S) in the Battle of Badr, or in ‘Aqabah, before the Prophet’s migration. ’Alusi has cited this meaning in Ruh-ul-Bayan. But it seems that the above verse has a vast meaning which encompasses both these covenants and other covenants and promises.

In principle, everybody who embraces Islam and pays allegiance with the Prophet (S) has made this covenant with him that he should defend Islam and the Qur’an so seriously that he gives his life.

The emphasis on covenant here is for this reason that even the Arabs of the Age of Ignorance used to respect the act of promise and covenant, then how is it possible that after believing in Islam someone breaches his covenant?