وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ 74
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhina amanu wa-hajarun wa-jahadu fi sabili-llahi wa-alladhina awaw wa-nasaru ula'ika humu-l-mu'minun haqqan; lahum maghfiratun wa-rizqun karim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah defines true believers as those who possess both internal faith and external actions: believing in Allah, emigrating from lands of disbelief (hijra), striving in the path of Allah (jihad), and those who provide refuge and support to the believers. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that these four categories represent the complete manifestation of true faith, and Allah promises such believers forgiveness of sins and generous provision in both this life and the Hereafter. Al-Tabari notes that the phrase 'al-mu'minun haqqan' (true believers indeed) indicates that these actions are inseparable from genuine faith, distinguishing sincere believers from those whose faith is merely verbal.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the Battle of Badr and related matters of warfare and community relations. The context follows discussions about the distribution of war spoils and the relationships between the Muhajirun (emigrants from Mecca) and the Ansar (helpers in Medina), emphasizing the unity and mutual support required within the Muslim community during times of trial.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of people are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim records: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,' reflecting the theme of mutual support (nusrah) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that authentic faith requires both personal conviction and concrete actions in service of Allah's cause, while also emphasizing the importance of community support and solidarity. For modern Muslims, this highlights that belief without struggle and contribution to the faith community remains incomplete, and that supporting fellow believers in their spiritual journey is a fundamental Islamic obligation.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And whoever turns his back to them on such a day, unless swerving [as a strategy] for war or joining [another] company, has certainly returned with anger [upon him] from Allāh, and his refuge is Hell - and wretched is the destination.
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.
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ
And do not be like those who say, "We have heard," while they do not hear.
وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
But why should Allāh not punish them while they obstruct [people] from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and they were not [fit to be] its guardians? Its [true] guardians are not but the righteous, but most of them do not know.