إِنَّمَا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمْ وَظَـٰهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 9
Translations
Allāh only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Innama yanhakumullaahu anil lazeena qatalukum fil deen wa akhrajookum min diyarikum wa zaharou ala ikhrajikum an tawalloohum. Wa man yatawallahum fa-olaika hum az-zalimoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah forbids Muslims from taking as allies (awliya) those who fought them in religion, expelled them from their homes, and supported their expulsion. This ayah establishes the principle that while Muslims may trade and deal justly with non-Muslims, intimate alliance and loyalty are prohibited with those who actively persecuted believers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the prohibition is specifically directed at those with a demonstrated enmity toward Islam and Muslims, not all non-believers.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina during a period of strained relations between Muslims and the Quraysh. The ayah addresses the practical reality of Muslims living near their former persecutors and clarifies the boundaries of permissible relationships. It follows the treaty of Hudaybiyyah era when Muslims had to navigate complex political relationships while maintaining their faith commitments.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4638: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The closest of you to me on the Day of Judgment will be those best in character.' This relates to the ayah's emphasis on righteous conduct even in restriction of alliance. Also relevant is the hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud regarding the Prophet's instruction to maintain justice in dealings with all people despite differences in belief.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should distinguish between permissible social and economic interaction with non-Muslims and impermissible intimate loyalty and alliance with those hostile to Islam; the criterion for such restrictions is active persecution and enmity toward the faith, not merely difference in belief, teaching believers to be discerning and principled in their relationships.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِيهِمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
There has certainly been for you in them an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever turns away - then indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
إِن يَثْقَفُوكُمْ يَكُونُوا۟ لَكُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَيَبْسُطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلسُّوٓءِ وَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ
If they gain dominance over you, they would be [i.e., behave] to you as enemies and extend against you their hands and their tongues with evil, and they wish you would disbelieve.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ عَدُوِّى وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِٱلْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْحَقِّ يُخْرِجُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۙ أَن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِهَـٰدًا فِى سَبِيلِى وَٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِى ۚ تُسِرُّونَ إِلَيْهِم بِٱلْمَوَدَّةِ وَأَنَا۠ أَعْلَمُ بِمَآ أَخْفَيْتُمْ وَمَآ أَعْلَنتُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْهُ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves [only] because you believe in Allāh, your Lord. If you have come out for jihād [i.e., fighting or striving] in My cause and seeking means to My approval, [take them not as friends]. You confide to them affection [i.e., instruction], but I am most knowing of what you have concealed and what you have declared. And whoever does it among you has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.
۞ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَجْعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ عَادَيْتُم مِّنْهُم مَّوَدَّةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ قَدِيرٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Perhaps Allāh will put, between you and those to whom you have been enemies among them, affection. And Allāh is competent, and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.