وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ 56
Translations
And whoever is an ally of Allāh and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allāh - they will be the predominant.
Transliteration
Wa man yatawalla Allaha wa rasulahu wa alladhina amanu fa-inna hizba Allahi humu al-ghalibun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that whoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and the believers as allies and protectors will be among the victorious party of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that true loyalty to Allah and His Messenger necessitates allegiance to the Muslim community, and that such allegiance guarantees ultimate triumph regardless of apparent worldly circumstances. The term 'hizb Allah' (party of Allah) denotes those who follow divine guidance and form a cohesive, obedient community.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan context where the Muslim community was establishing itself against opposition from various factions. It addresses the believers during a period when they needed reassurance of divine support and encourages them to maintain strong bonds of brotherhood and unified allegiance to Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him), contrasting with those who sought alliances with disbelievers or hypocrites.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever' (Sahih Muslim 2586). Additionally, 'Whoever loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah has perfected his faith' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4681).
Themes
Key Lesson
True success comes not from numerical strength or worldly resources, but from steadfast allegiance to Allah and His Messenger combined with genuine solidarity with the believing community. Muslims today should prioritize their spiritual bonds and collective adherence to Islamic principles over temporary worldly gains or alliances that compromise their faith.
Related Ayahs
وَتَرَىٰ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَأَكْلِهِمُ ٱلسُّحْتَ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And you see many of them hastening into sin and aggression and the devouring of [what is] unlawful. How wretched is what they have been doing.
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعُقُودِ ۚ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّى ٱلصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ
O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur’ān] - hunting not being permitted while you are in the state of iḥrām. Indeed, Allāh ordains what He intends.
إِنَّمَا جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوٓا۟ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوٓا۟ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allāh and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,