months, his treaty was extended to four months; whoever had a treaty whose term exceeded four months, it was reduced to four months; and whoever had a treaty with no specified term was given a term of four months. Thereafter, he was at war with Allah and His Messenger: he could be killed wherever he was found or taken captive, unless he repented. (1)

This period began on the Day of the Greater Pilgrimage and ended on the tenth of the month of Rabi al-Akhir.

As for one who had no treaty, his deadline was only until the sacred months had passed, which was fifty days. Al-Zuhri said: “The four months were Shawwal, Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram,” (2) because this verse was revealed in Shawwal. The first view is more correct, and it is held by the majority.

Al-Kalbi said: The four-month period applied only to one whose treaty was for less than four months, whose term was thus completed as four months. But whoever had a treaty for more than four months was commanded to have his treaty fulfilled, by His saying, exalted is He: “So fulfil your treaty with them to the end of its term.” (3)

Al-Hasan said: Allah commanded His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, to fight those polytheists who fought him, saying: “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you.” Thus, he fought only those who fought him. Then He commanded him to fight the polytheists and to declare Himself free of them, granting them four months' respite. Therefore, none of them had a term exceeding four months, whether he had possessed a treaty before this declaration of disavowal or had no treaty at all. The term granted to all of them was four months, and after its expiration He permitted the shedding of the blood of all of them, whether those under treaty or others.

It was also said that this was revealed before Tabuk.

Muhammad ibn Ishaq, Mujahid, and others said: It was revealed concerning the people of Mecca. The reason was that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, concluded a treaty with Quraysh at al-Hudaybiyyah, stipulating that they would lay down warfare for ten years, during which people would be secure. Khuzaah entered into the covenant of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while Banu Bakr entered into the covenant of Quraysh. Then Banu Bakr attacked Khuzaah and inflicted harm upon them, and Quraysh aided them with weapons. When Banu Bakr and Quraysh joined forces against Khuzaah and violated their treaty, Amr ibn Salim al-Khuza'i went forth until he stood before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said:

“O Allah, I appeal to Muhammad,
by the ancient alliance of our father and his father.

Grant us aid—may Allah guide you—an enduring aid,
and summon Allah’s servants to come as reinforcements.

A radiant man, like the sun rising high,
whose face darkens when humiliation is threatened.

They fell upon us at al-Hajir while we slept,
and killed us as we bowed and prostrated.

You were a father to us, and we were your children;
we then accepted Islam and never withdrew our hand.

Let the Messenger of Allah march against them,
in a battalion like a foaming sea in motion.

Indeed, Quraysh have broken their promise to you
and violated your solemn covenant.

They claimed that you would save no one,
yet they are more abased and fewer in number.”