15 Preface وَلَقَد كانوا عاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبلُ لا يُوَلّونَ الأَدبارَ ۚ وَكانَ عَهدُ اللَّهِ مَسئولًاYusuf AliAnd yet they had already covenanted with God not to turn their backs, and a covenant1 with God must (surely) be answered for.Apparently, after the battle of Uḥud, certain men who had then shown cowardice were forgiven on undertaking that they would behave better next time. A solemn promise made to the Apostle of God is a promise to God, and it cannot be broken with impunity.