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ʾillā lladhīna ʿāhadtum mina l-mushrikīna thumma lam yanquṣūkum shayʾan wa-lam yuẓāhirū ʿalaykum ʾaḥadan fa-ʾatimmū ʾilayhim ʿahdahum ʾilā muddatihim ʾinna llāha yuḥibbu l-muttaqīna
(barring the polytheists with whom you have made a treaty, and who did not violate any [of its terms] with you, nor backed anyone against you. So fulfill the treaty with them until [the end of] its term. Indeed Allah loves the Godwary).
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 4
4 . “Except those of the polytheists with whom you made covenant, and who have not failed you in anything nor have supported anyone against you. Then fulfil their treaty with them until (the end of) their term; surely Allah loves the pious ones.”
This unilateral cancellation of pagans’ covenants related only to those pagans from whom some signs of perjury, or preparation of perjury, had been appeared. Therefore, in this holy verse, one group of the polytheists have been excepted. The Qur’ān says:
Thus, the command of Allah about conducting with this group is as follows:
The reason of this exception is stated that Allah loves the pious ones, those who avoid any perjury and transgression. It says: