The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

9. REPENTANCE
A Medinan sura whose title is taken from verse 104. The sura opens by giving
notice of the severance of the treaty with the idolaters because they had broken
it, but the bulk of the sura deals with preparations and recruitment for
the expedition to Tabuk, which took place in the heat of the summer of ah 9
(631 ce). The hypocrites and those who stayed behind and failed to support
the Prophet are all censured. This is the only sura not to begin with the formula
‘In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy’; there is an
opinion that suras 8 and 9 are in fact just one sura.
1 A release by God and His Messenger from the treaty you
[believers] made with the idolaters [is announced]––2 you [idolaters]
may move freely about the land for four months, but you should
bear in mind both that you will not escape God, and that God will
disgrace those who defy [Him]. a 3 On the Day of the Great Pilgrimage
[there will be] a proclamation from God and His Messenger
to all people: ‘God and His Messenger are released from [treaty]
obligations to the idolaters. It will be better for you [idolaters] if
you repent; know that you cannot escape God if you turn away.’
[Prophet], warn those who ignore [God] that they will have a painful
punishment. 4As for those who have honoured the treaty you
made with them and who have not supported anyone against you:
fulfil your agreement with them to the end of their term. God loves
those who are mindful of Him.
5 When the [four] forbidden months are over, wherever b you
encounter the idolaters, c kill them, seize them, besiege them, wait
for them at every lookout post; but if they turn [to God], maintain
the prayer, and pay the prescribed alms, let them go on their way, for
God is most forgiving and merciful. 6 If any one of the idolaters
should seek your protection [Prophet], grant it to him so that he may
hear the word of God, then take him to a place safe for him, for they
are people with no knowledge [of it]. 7 How could there be a treaty
a ‘Kafara bi (something)’ in Arabic can mean ‘disown (something)’ (al-Mujam
al-Wasit), so kuffar here could also mean ‘those who disown [the treaty]’.
b Inside or outside the Sanctuary in Mecca. See note d to 2: 191.
c In this context, this definitely refers to the ones who broke the treaty. The article
here is ahdiya (specific) referring to what has already been stated.