Al-Ahzab 33:15

<div class="arabic uthmani">يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلاَّ فِرَاراً</div><p>("Truly, our homes lie open." And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.) If the enemy had entered upon them from every side of Al-Madinah and from every direction, then demanded that they become disbelievers, they would have promptly done so. They would not have adhered to their faith or remained steadfast in it if they were faced with the slightest fear. This is how it was interpreted by Qatadah, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd and Ibn Jarir. This is a condemnation of them in the clearest terms. Then Allah reminds them of the promise they had made to Him before this fear struck them, that they would not turn their backs or flee from the battlefield.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولاً</div><p>(and a covenant with Allah must be answered for.) means, Allah will inevitably ask them about that covenant. Then Allah tells them that fleeing from battle will not delay their appointed demise or make their lives any longer; on the contrary, it may be the cause of their being taken sooner, and in a sudden manner. Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَإِذاً لاَّ تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً</div><p>(and then you will …

And verily they had already sworn unto Allah that they would not turn their backs (to the foe). An oath to Allah must be answered for.

And yet they had already covenanted with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must (surely) be answered for.

And indeed they had already made a covenant with Allah not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah must be answered for.

Although they had made a pledged to God, in the past, that they will not turn their backs. A pledge to God is a responsibility.