يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَـٰنَـٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 27
Translations
O you who have believed, do not betray Allāh and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la takhunu Allaha wa al-rassula wa takhunu amanatikum wa antum ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers not to betray Allah and His Messenger, and not to betray the trusts placed in them while being fully aware of what they do. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this prohibition encompasses both explicit betrayals and hidden ones, emphasizing that betraying trusts (whether of Allah's commandments, the Prophet's leadership, or interpersonal commitments) is a grave sin. The phrase 'while you know' (wa antum ta'lamun) adds moral culpability, as the sin is committed with full consciousness and deliberation.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in the Medinan period following the Battle of Badr. The ayah addresses the Muslim community's internal cohesion and trustworthiness during a critical time when the young Islamic state faced external threats. The context relates to maintaining loyalty and integrity within the Muslim ranks, as betrayal of trusts could undermine the community's strength and the believers' covenant with Allah and His Messenger.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever betrays will have a flag on the Day of Judgment indicating his betrayal' (Sahih Muslim 1735).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must maintain absolute integrity in all trusts—whether spiritual commitments to Allah, obedience to Islamic principles, or practical responsibilities to others—recognizing that betrayal with full awareness is a grave moral offense. This ayah reminds us that trustworthiness is foundational to both personal character and community stability.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَآقُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
That is because they opposed Allāh and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allāh and His Messenger - indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
But those who have believed and emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh and those who gave shelter and aided - it is they who are the believers, truly. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
۞ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُۥ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allāh is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allāh and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion [i.e., decisive encounter] - the day when the two armies met [at Badr]. And Allāh, over all things, is competent.
وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allāh and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allāh knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allāh will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.