because they had not violated the treaty. This is the meaning of His statement, exalted is He: “and have not failed you in anything”—that is, in any part of the treaty you made with them—“nor supported anyone against you,” meaning, they have not assisted any of your enemies against you. Ata ibn Yasar recited it as “have not violated your treaty,” with the letter dad, referring to the breaking of a treaty. “So fulfill your treaty with them to the end of its term”: that is, honor the treaty you made with them until the time limit agreed upon with them. “Indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.”

“And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then let them go their way. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (5)

His statement, exalted is He, “And when ... have passed,” means: when they have come to an end and elapsed; “the sacred months.” It was said that these are the four months: Rajab, Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram.

Mujahid and Ibn Ishaq said: They are the months of the treaty. Whoever had a treaty was granted a term of four months; and whoever had no treaty was granted until the end of Muharram—a period of fifty days. They were called “sacred” because Allah, exalted is He, prohibited the believers during them from shedding the blood of the polytheists or taking action against them.

If it is asked: This period constitutes only some of the sacred months, whereas Allah, exalted is He, says, “And when the sacred months have passed,” then the answer is: because this period was connected to what had preceded it, the plural designation was applied to it. Its meaning is that the appointed period has elapsed, with the passing of the sacred months included within it.

His statement, exalted is He, “then kill the polytheists wherever you find them,” whether outside or within the Sacred Precinct; “capture them,” that is, take them prisoner; “and besiege them,” that is, confine them.

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: This means that if they fortify themselves, then besiege them—that is, prevent them from going out.

It was also said: Prevent them from entering Mecca and from moving freely throughout the lands of Islam.

“And lie in wait for them at every place of ambush”: that is, on every road. A place of ambush is a location from which one watches for the enemy. It derives from the expression, “I watched for something,” meaning, “I awaited it.” That is: remain on watch for them, so that you may seize them whichever way they turn.

It was also said: Lie in wait for them on the road to Mecca, so that they may not enter it.