3:112
Shame is pitched over them (Like a tent) wherever they are found, except when under a covenant (of protection) from Allah and from men; they draw on themselves wrath from Allah, and pitched over them is (the tent of) destitution. This because they rejected the Signs of Allah, and slew the prophets in defiance of right; this because they rebelled and transgressed beyond bounds.
The verse indicates that when certain communities attain security or stability, it is not due to their independent power but rather through agreements or protections granted by others. Classical commentary explains that such security may arise either from a covenant with God or from alliances with surrounding peoples. Historically, some Jewish tribes in Arabia entered into treaties with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); however, several of these agreements were later terminated after violations of their terms. As a result, some groups were punished or expelled, and other alliances gradually lost significance as neighboring tribes entered into the protection of the emerging Islamic polity. The commentary metaphorically describes such arrangements as unstable foundations, comparable to a tree with decaying roots that cannot remain upright without external support.
Some modern interpreters extend this reasoning to contemporary political situations, arguing that certain states persist primarily through alliances and external guarantees of security from other nations. In this view, the phrase wa ḥabl min al-nās (“a bond or covenant with people”) is interpreted as referring to reliance on political or military support from other powers. According to this perspective, the continued existence of such entities is understood as dependent on the assistance and goodwill of allied nations rather than solely on their own internal strength
References:
Islahi, Amin Ahsan. Pondering Over The Qur’an: Surah Ali Imran (pp. 218-219). Islamic BookTrust. Kindle Edition