وَٱتَّقُوا۟ فِتْنَةً لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنكُمْ خَآصَّةً ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 25
Translations
And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allāh is severe in penalty.
Transliteration
Wa-ttaqū fitnatun lā tuṣībanna alladhīna ẓalamū minkum khāṣṣatan wa-a'lamū anna Allāha shadīdu al-'iqāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to guard against fitnah (tribulation/discord) that does not exclusively affect the wrongdoers among them, but affects the righteous as well. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a warning that societal corruption and disobedience can bring divine punishment upon entire communities, not just the transgressors themselves. The verse emphasizes collective responsibility and warns that Allah's punishment is severe for those who fail to prevent or oppose injustice within their society.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the period of early Islamic warfare and community consolidation. This surah addresses the believers following the Battle of Badr, and this particular ayah contextualizes the importance of maintaining social cohesion and moral standards within the Muslim community to avoid collective punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa-sallam) said: 'When the people see an evil and do not change it, Allah will soon include them all in His punishment' (Sunan Ibn Majah and Sunan al-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; if he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith' (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims have a collective duty to prevent wrongdoing in their society, as inaction can bring divine punishment upon the entire community, not just the wrongdoers themselves. This emphasizes the importance of enjoining good and forbidding evil (al-amr bi-l-ma'rūf wa-n-nahy 'an al-munkar) as a foundational Islamic principle for maintaining societal righteousness.
Related Ayahs
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَٱنۢبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
If you [have reason to] fear from a people betrayal, throw [their treaty] back to them, [putting you] on equal terms. Indeed, Allāh does not like traitors.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا نِّعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
That is because Allāh would not change a favor which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَـٰنَـٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O you who have believed, do not betray Allāh and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].