Indeed, those who pledged to you, indeed, they were pledging to Allah, the hand of Allah was above their hands; then whoever violates, then he is violating against his own soul, and whoever is fulfilling the covenant made with Allah, then He will reward him.
The Messenger and companions who started to Mecca in the sixth year of Hijra to perform ‘Umra’ took rest at ‘Hudaibiya’, which is 20 kilometers near Mecca, and sent Usman to Mecca to know the condition and response of the Meccan pagans. But there was a rumor spread that Meccan pagans captured Usman or even killed him. Then, as told in verse 18 of this Surath, from under a tree there, every companion took a pledge to Messenger Muhammed putting their hands upon the Messenger’s hand that they are ready for anything in the way of Allah, including martyrdom. The pledge they made, witnessing Allah, is mentioned here. In verses 7: 172-173, the covenant made by every mankind with Allah from Paradise is reminded. Every pledge is reminding about the covenant made with Allah from Paradise, and are submitting that ‘I am none, and I have nothing, everything belongs to the Lord’. See explanation 2: 27-28; 9: 11-112; 16: 91-92.