Translation
How can there be an agreement for the polytheists from God and His Messenger, except what was agreed to near the Sacred Mosque [ parties to Hudaiybiyyah peace treaty in 6 A.H.] As long as they honor the agreement to you, you should likewise honor it. God loves those who acts responsibly. How is it that when they prevail against you, they neither respect ties of relationship nor any agreement with you? They wish to please you with deceitful words while they harbor in their hearts sentiment contrary to what they say; most of them transgress repeatedly. They have traded away God’s guidance for a small gain in this life and thus, removed themselves from God’s way (truth and justice). It is pure evil what they do. They respect neither ties of relationship nor any covenant when it comes to a believer—they have certainly crossed the boundary (of common decency and human freedom). If they, on the other hand, reverse their course, worship God and take care of those in need, then they are your fellow brother in faith. This is how We make the message clear to those who wish to know. 422
Therefore, if they renege their oaths after their agreement with you and spread hatred against your faith, then actively oppose them, the leaders of such denial of truth, since their oaths mean nothing, and they may be restrained. Why would you not oppose and fight these people who break their promises, expelled the Prophet and they now attacked your first. Are you afraid of them? Is it not God that you need to be mindful of, if you claim to believe? Actively engage and fight them; then God will debase them with your hands and bring them to failure; He [God] will help you against them, bring inner peace in you and relieve the pangs of rage from your hearts. God turns to whom He wills (with mercy and forgiveness). Indeed, God is All-Knowing, Wise! 423
Interpretation
422 Honoring a treaty with any party, even with your enemy or adversary, is an act of personal and communal responsibility and is an act of faith in human society and in God. God provides no provision to break such covenant or treaty until the other party reneges on such agreements. Only then it is proper to disavow such understandings and commitments. Even in such circumstances, one is not allowed to act irresponsibly or unjustly to the other party.
The world today is full of such violations that is causing human suffering on a large scale we have never seen. The Trump administration in the United States recently reneged on a treaty with Iran, even over the objections of US allies in Europe, though Iran was keeping its term of the agreement. Certain Arab countries have grossly violated the basic conduct of warfare in Yemen, which resulted in thousands of people killed and thousands of innocent children dead from malnutrition and diseases. Many elected governments in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America fail to fulfil their commitment to citizens in terms of safety, freedom, and personal choices. In our current business culture, corporations are failing to provide living wages to employees, invade privacy of citizens on a scale that has never been witnessed or tolerated in the past, and aid structural impediment by the rich against the poor and middle class to reach economic self-sufficiency and economic parity. When capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than earnings from labor, it is a violation of a human covenant. When we pollute the environment and make our water unsuitable to drink in the name of economic growth, we violate our covenant with planet Earth.
423 Opposing injustice, oppression, and abuse of trust is not just a matter of choice but an obligation that people in too many places all over the world in human societies are not standing up to. Part of the reason is lack of understanding and commitment to human values and failure to keep our commitment to one another and to God, Who empowered us and guides to comprehend and uphold such commitment. On the other hand, the forces of evil, injustice, and oppression have too many arsenals at their disposal—overwhelming war machinery, state power, economic tools, and willingness to violate every moral and ethical code to justify any means to deny people basic human rights of freedom, dignity, and economic freedom. In the United States, the dysfunctional political discourse, racism, misogyny, and economic disparity have alarmed good citizens. The world is witnessing with horror the disruption of life and property in countries like Yemen and Syria, and the treatment of religious minorities in China, Myanmar, and in other places around the world—the list is quite long and exhausting to the human spirit that leads people to question faith in God rather than question our own failings to uphold our commitments to God and to fellow human beings.
***
REFLECTION
Trust and commitment are the cornerstones of human societies and our familial life. A set of values around keeping promises, upholding agreements, adhering to moral and ethical codes, even if unwritten, and fulfilling such commitments, even when it might be temporarily disadvantageous from material benefit and expediency perspectives, defines our humanity, our faith in each other, and our faith in God.
ACTION
We all have enormous challenges that people of faith and human goodness need to rise to as the world is spiraling into political, social, and moral chaos. It is nothing but our own doing, and we are the ones responsible to fix it. Instead of blaming God or others, we should know that God is always on the side of goodness, and He has already empowered us to correct our mistakes and failings, provided we are committed and actively engaged to fight evils, corruptions, and injustice. It is the effort that we exert that defines our success in the eye of God, more so than the outcome achieved, which will be, as a matter of natural law, in proportion to our effort and our intent.