وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُن فِتْنَةٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ 73
Translations
And those who disbelieved are allies of one another. If you do not do so [i.e., ally yourselves with other believers], there will be fitnah [i.e., disbelief and oppression] on earth and great corruption.
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna kafarū ba'duhum awliyā'u ba'din illā taf'alūhu takun fitnatun fil-ardi wa fasādun kabīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that disbelievers support and ally with one another, and warns the believers that if they fail to maintain strong unity and mutual support among themselves, widespread corruption and trials will afflict the earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a call for believers to establish firm bonds of brotherhood and solidarity, recognizing that the disbelievers' collective strength lies in their mutual cooperation, and believers must similarly strengthen their communal ties to protect their faith and society.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period during the early Islamic state's formative years, this ayah comes within the context of Surah Al-Anfal which discusses the Battle of Badr and the principles of warfare and community cohesion. It emphasizes the necessity of Muslim unity as a counterbalance to the coordinated opposition from disbelieving factions who stood united against the nascent Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever' (Sahih Muslim 2586). Additionally, the Quran states 'Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and striven with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah and those who gave shelter and aided - they are allies of one another' (8:72), emphasizing reciprocal support.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are reminded that their strength lies in genuine brotherhood and collective cooperation, and that neglecting communal bonds leads to societal breakdown and moral corruption. In modern times, this teaches that maintaining unity through shared values, mutual support, and organized community action is essential for both spiritual preservation and social stability.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend.
ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ خَفَّفَ ٱللَّهُ عَنكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًا ۚ فَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ صَابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ أَلْفٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
Now, Allāh has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allāh. And Allāh is with the steadfast.
وَإِن يُرِيدُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَبِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allāh. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
The believers are only those who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely -