لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 28
Translations
Let not believers take disbelievers as allies [i.e., supporters or protectors] rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing [i.e., no association] with Allāh, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allāh warns you of Himself, and to Allāh is the [final] destination.
Transliteration
La yattakhidhi al-mu'minun al-kafirun awliya'a min duni al-mu'minin wa-man yaf'al dhalika fa-laysa min Allah fi shay'in illa an tattaqu minhum tuqah wa-yuhaddirukum Allah nafsah wa-ila Allah al-masir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits believers from taking disbelievers as allies (awliya') in place of believers, establishing a fundamental principle of Islamic loyalty and community bonds. However, the verse provides an important exception (istikhraj) for taqiyyah (prudent concealment) when Muslims face persecution or danger, as clarified by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari. The concluding warning emphasizes that Allah warns against betraying His cause, and that the final destination is to Him alone.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period when the Muslim community was establishing itself amid hostile polytheists and hypocrites. The broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran addresses interfaith relations and the protection of the Muslim ummah's spiritual and social integrity during a vulnerable period of Islamic history.
Related Hadiths
The concept of taqiyyah mentioned in this verse is clarified in traditions regarding Ammar ibn Yasir, who was forced to verbally renounce Islam under torture but whose heart remained faithful. This demonstrates the permissibility of concealment under duress, as mentioned in various hadith collections including those of Al-Tirmidhi.
Themes
Key Lesson
While believers must prioritize allegiance to Allah and the Muslim community, the verse recognizes human vulnerability by permitting taqiyyah when facing genuine persecution—teaching Muslims to balance principles with practical wisdom. For modern readers, this emphasizes that faith should guide political, social, and personal alliances while maintaining integrity, yet acknowledges that survival and safety are valid considerations in oppressive circumstances.
Related Ayahs
إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَـٰثَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ
[Remember] when you said to the believers, "Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?
أَفَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَنۢ بَآءَ بِسَخَطٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So is one who pursues the pleasure of Allāh like one who brings upon himself the anger of Allāh and whose refuge is Hell? And wretched is the destination.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place."
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allāh took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], "Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him." [Allāh] said, "Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?" They said, "We have acknowledged it." He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."