This is an exception regulating the longest extent of time for those who have
a general treaty - with out time mentioned - to four months. They would have
four months to travel the lands in search of sanctuary for themselves wherever
they wish. Those whose treaty mentioned a specifec limited term, then the
longest it would extend was to the point of its agreed upon termination date.
Hadiths in this regard preceeded. So anyone who had a treaty with Allah's
Messenger , it lasted until its specific termination date. However, those in
this category were required to refrain from breaking the terms of the agreement
with Muslims and from helping non-Muslims against Muslims. This is the type
whose peace agreement with Muslims was carried out to its end. Allah encouraged
honoring such peace treaties, saying,
[إِنَّ اللَّهَ
يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ]
(Surely, Allah loves those who have Taqwa) [9:4], who keep their promises.
[فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ
الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ
وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُواْ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُواْ
وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ وَءاتَوُاْ الزَّكَوةَ فَخَلُّواْ سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ
اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ]
(5. So when the Sacred Months have passed, then fight the Mushrikin wherever
you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in
each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform the Salah, and give the
Zakah, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.)
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