The benefits of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And indeed, they had covenanted with Allah before that they would not turn their backs, and the covenant of Allah is to be answered.”

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Then Allah said:

And they had already promised Allah before not to turn their backs and flee. And ever is the promise to Allah [that about which one will be] questioned.

وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ لا يُوَلُّونَ الأَدْبَارَ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا

[Al-Ahzab: 15]
It is derived from this noble verse that the hypocrites are people of treachery and betrayal, as He said:

And they had already promised Allah before not to turn their backs and flee

وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ لا يُوَلُّونَ الأَدْبَارَ

[Al-Ahzab 33:15]

They are now attempting to turn their backs, but they disguise it by asking the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for permission. Thus, branching from this benefit is that anyone who breaks a covenant has a resemblance to the hypocrites and the Jews as well. For this reason, the hadith came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

The signs of the hypocrite are three, among which is that if he makes a covenant, he betrays it.

آية المنافق ثلاث ومنها إذا عاهد غدر

Branching from this is that if treachery is among the characteristics of the hypocrites, then it is obligatory for the believer to stay away from it. Even if the only reason for treachery were that it is a characteristic of the hypocrites, that would be sufficient to make staying away from it and guarding against it obligatory.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the hypocrite’s contempt for the right of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), as He said:

They covenanted with Allah.

عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ

Meaning, breaking a covenant with a human being like you may be easier, but breaking a covenant with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is more severe and greater.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the prohibition of turning one’s back when meeting the enemy. The reason for this is that Allah the Exalted mentioned this regarding the hypocrites as a warning against it. And the noble verse in Surat al-Anfal indicated that it is among the major sins, as Allah the Exalted said:

⁽¹⁵⁾ O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight]. ⁽¹⁶⁾ And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless swerving [as a strategy] for war or joining [another] company, has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allah, and his refuge is Hell - and wretched is the destination.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا زَحْفًا فَلا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الأَدْبَارَ * وَمَنْ يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَى فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

[Al-Anfal 15: 16] And it came in the hadiths that this is counted among the destructive sins, meaning among those that lead to destruction, because it is among the major sins.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the affirmation of the Reckoning, as He said:

And the covenant of Allah is to be answered.

وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا

So whatever rights exist between you and Allah (Mighty and Majestic), you will be held accountable for them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:

⁽⁶⁾ Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers. ⁽⁷⁾ Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge, and We were not [at all] absent.

فَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِينَ * فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِعِلْمٍ وَمَا كُنَّا غَائِبِينَ

[Al-A’raf 6: 7].

Source alathar.net

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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