“A declaration of disavowal from Allah and His Messenger to those polytheists with whom you made treaties: Travel freely throughout the land for four months, but know that you cannot escape Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.”

His saying, exalted is He, “A declaration of disavowal from Allah and His Messenger” means: this is a declaration of disavowal from Allah. It is a verbal noun, like nashā'ah (arising) and danā'ah (lowliness).

The commentators said: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, set out for Tabuk, the hypocrites began spreading rumors, and the polytheists began violating the treaties that existed between them and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, therefore commanded that their treaties be renounced. This is expressed in His saying, exalted is He: “If you fear treachery from a people...” [al-Anfal 8:58].

Al-Zajjaj said: “A declaration of disavowal” means that Allah, exalted is He, and His Messenger are released from the obligation of granting them treaties and fulfilling them for them once they have broken their covenant.

“To those polytheists with whom you made treaties”: the address is directed to the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, even though it was the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who made the treaty and contracted the agreement with them. This is because he made the treaty while his Companions approved of it, so it was as though they themselves had concluded the treaty and made the agreement.

“Travel freely throughout the land”: the wording shifts from a declarative statement to direct address; that is, tell them: Travel about—that is, go through the land, coming and going, secure and fearing none of the Muslims. “For four months, but know that you cannot escape Allah”: that is, you cannot elude Him or outrun Him. “And that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers”: that is, He will humiliate them through being killed in this world and punished in the Hereafter.

The scholars differed concerning this period of respite and concerning those from whom Allah and His Messenger declared themselves released with regard to the treaties that existed between them and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

A group of scholars said: This was a respite granted by Allah, exalted is He, to the polytheists. Thus, whoever had a treaty whose term was less than four