يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا۟ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ ٱلْبَغْضَآءُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِى صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ 118
Translations
O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves [i.e., believers], for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la tattakhidhu bitanatan min dunikum la ya'lunakum khbalan wadduu ma 'antittum qad badat al-baghda'u min afwahihim wa ma tukhfi suduruhum akbar qad bayyanna lakum al-ayat in kuntum ta'qilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits Muslims from taking non-believers as intimate confidants and close advisors (bitanah), warning that such individuals harbor enmity and seek to cause harm (khbal) to the believers. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the verse references those whose hatred is evident in their speech and whose hidden feelings are even more malicious, emphasizing that Allah has made this guidance clear for those who use their intellect to understand it.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during the early Islamic community's interactions with the People of the Book and hypocrites (munafiqun) in Madinah. It addresses the dangers of intimate friendships and political alliances with those whose hearts harbor hostility toward Islam, particularly in contexts where strategic decisions and secrets would be shared.
Related Hadiths
The principle is supported by the hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised against taking the enemies of Allah as friends: 'A man follows the religion of his friend; so let each one of you consider whom he takes as a friend' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Qur'an (60:1) uses similar language regarding taking enemies as intimate friends.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should exercise wisdom and discernment in choosing close confidants and advisors, recognizing that true friendship requires shared values and faith; inner enmity toward Islam cannot be hidden forever, and believers must protect their community and trust by associating closely only with those whose hearts are aligned with Islamic principles.
Related Ayahs
وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُۥ ۗ وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِىَ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the verses of Allāh and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allāh has [indeed] been guided to a straight path.
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment.
وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
And Allāh made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise -
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allāh while Allāh is Witness over what you do?"