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Those who act treacherously or break the treaty. Concerning them Allah says, “So long as they remain true to you, remain true to them; indeed, Allah loves the God-fearing” (9:7). Once they deviate, however, their pact is nullified, just as Quraysh nullified the truce they had concluded with the Prophet ﷺ at al-Hudaybiyyah. The two sides had agreed to suspend warfare for ten years, yet Quraysh violated the agreement; their covenant was thereby annulled and no treaty remained between us and them. About such people Allah also says, “Will you not fight a people who broke their oaths, resolved to expel the Messenger, and were the first to attack you?” (9:13).
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Those who have not yet broken the treaty, but from whom we fear treachery. In their case we must inform them plainly that the treaty is terminated, as Allah says, “If you fear betrayal from a people, then throw the treaty back to them on equal terms. Surely Allah does not love the treacherous” (8:58).
All of these matters fall under the sanctities of Allah. Every time, place, person, or covenant that He has declared inviolable is one of His sanctities, and the Muslim is obliged to honor it. Thus Allah says, “Whoever venerates the sanctities of Allah—that is better for him with his Lord” (22:30), and, “Whoever venerates the symbols of Allah—indeed, it stems from the piety of hearts” (22:32).
The ‘symbols’ (shaʿāʾir) are the manifest acts of worship, great or small: circling the House, pacing between Ṣafā and Marwah, the call to prayer, the iqāmah, and every other public emblem of Islam. When a person shows them due reverence, it is evidence of his piety, for it is piety that drives a servant to magnify the symbols.
The third verse the author cites is Allah’s saying: “And lower your wing to the believers…”