The Holy Quran 4:90 — Surah An-Nisa

Arabic text

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ أَوْ جَآءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَن يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَـٰتَلُوكُمْ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا

Translation

except those who seek the protection of a nation with whom you have a pact or they come to you in a condition that their hearts forbid them from fighting you or from fighting their nation (in these circumstances you should not kill them). If Allaah willed, He would have given them power over you and they would have surely fought you. So if they keep away from you, do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allaah does not allow any path for you (to fight) against them (do not imprison or kill them).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Prohibition of fighting peoples bound by treaty: that is, do not spare them from captivity and killing because of this outward association, except in just two cases. First: if they too have a treaty and peace agreement with the people with whom you are at peace, then they too have entered into the peace.

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