وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلنَّبِىِّ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا ٱتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ 81
Translations
And if they had believed in Allāh and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies; but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
Transliteration
Wa-law kānū yu'minūna bil-lāhi wan-nabiyyi wa-mā unzila ilayhi mā ittakhdhūhum awliyā'a wa-lākin kathīran minhum fāsiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Jews of Medina, stating that if they truly believed in Allah, His Prophet Muhammad, and the revelation sent to him, they would not have taken disbelievers as allies and protectors instead of the believers. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that their refusal to accept the Prophet and their alliance with the pagans of Mecca against the Muslims was evidence of their spiritual corruption and disobedience (fisq). The ayah emphasizes that true faith necessitates loyalty to Allah's message and messenger, not to those who oppose them.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during a period of heightened tension between the Muslim community and Jewish tribes of Medina who rejected the Prophet's message. It specifically addresses the treacherous alliances some Jewish groups formed with the Quraysh and hypocrites against the Muslims, particularly relating to events around the Battle of Uhud and subsequent conflicts. The surah itself deals with covenant-breaking and the consequences of abandoning divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The principle is supported by the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah has perfected their faith.' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that the Prophet warned against taking disbelievers as intimate allies, stating this contradicts complete faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
True Islamic faith is inseparable from loyalty to Allah's message and His messenger; believers cannot claim genuine faith while maintaining intimate alliances with those who oppose Islam. This ayah reminds us that our associations and allegiances should reflect our spiritual commitments, and that compromise in religious principles indicates a deficiency in faith itself.
Related Ayahs
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,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱبْتَغُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَسْـَٔلُوا۟ عَنْ أَشْيَآءَ إِن تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ وَإِن تَسْـَٔلُوا۟ عَنْهَا حِينَ يُنَزَّلُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنْهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Qur’ān is being revealed, they will be shown to you. Allāh has pardoned it [i.e., that which is past]; and Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهَآ أَوْ يَخَافُوٓا۟ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيْمَـٰنٌۢ بَعْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
That is more likely that they will give testimony according to its [true] objective, or [at least] they would fear that [other] oaths might be taken after their oaths. And fear Allāh and listen [i.e., obey Him]; and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.