His saying: "Those who break the covenant of Allah after its affirmation"
[The first perspective]
287 - Ahmad ibn Sinan al-Wasiti narrated to us, Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us, Shu'bah narrated to us, from 'Amr ibn Murrah, from Mus'ab ibn Sa'd, he said: I asked my father and said: [Regarding] His saying: "Those who break the covenant of Allah after its affirmation" to the end of the verse. He said: "They are the Haruriyyah (a sect of the Khawarij)."
[The second perspective]
288 - 'Isam ibn Rawwad narrated to us, Adam narrated to us, Abu Ja'far narrated to us, from al-Rabi', from Abu al-'Aliyah regarding His saying: "Those who break the covenant of Allah after its affirmation" up to His saying: "Those are the losers," he said: "It is six traits among the hypocrites. When they have the upper hand over the people, they manifest these traits: when they speak, they lie; when they promise, they break it; and when they are entrusted, they betray. And they break the covenant of Allah after its affirmation, sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined, and cause corruption upon the earth. And when the upper hand is against them, they manifest the [following] traits: when they speak, they lie; when they promise, they break it; and when they are entrusted, they betray."
[The third perspective]
289 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Safwan ibn Salih narrated to us, al-Walid narrated to us, Bukayr ibn Ma'ruf informed me, from Muqatil ibn Hayyan: [Regarding] the saying of Allah: "Those who break the covenant of Allah after its affirmation," meaning: His first covenant which He took upon them to worship Him and not associate anything with Him.
[The fourth perspective]
290 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr ibn Hammad narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us, from al-Suddi: [Regarding] His saying: "Those who break the covenant of Allah after its affirmation," it is what He covenanted to them in the Qur'an, so they acknowledged it, then disbelieved, and [thus] broke it. And something similar to the statement of Abu al-'Aliyah was narrated from al-Rabi' ibn Anas.
His saying: "After its affirmation"
291 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Safwan narrated to us, al-Walid narrated to us, Bukayr ibn Ma'ruf informed me, from Muqatil
(1). Al-Hakim, Kitab al-Tafsir, 2/370. He said: "This is a Sahih hadith according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it," and al-Dhahabi agreed with him (he did not mention that they are the Haruriyyah, but said: "Rather, they are the people of the hermitages"). (2). Ibn Kathir 1/96.
