ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا 139
Translations
Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allāh entirely.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna yattakhidhūna al-kāfirīna awliyāa min dūni al-mu'minīn. Ayabtaghūna 'indahum al-'izzata fa-inna al-'izzata li-Allāhi jamī'ā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns Muslims who take disbelievers as close allies and protectors instead of fellow believers, questioning whether they seek honor and power from the disbelievers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that true honor and strength come exclusively from Allah, not from worldly alliances with those who reject faith. The ayah warns against compromising Islamic principles for material gain or social status through relationships with non-believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and addresses the reality of some believers in Madinah who maintained close political and social ties with Jewish and pagan Arab tribes while neglecting their bond with the Muslim community. It occurs within Surah An-Nisa's broader discussion of community relations and the believer's obligations toward one another.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The parable of a believer who recites the Quran is like a citrus fruit with good taste and fragrant smell, and the parable of a believer who does not recite the Quran is like a date fruit which has no smell but has good taste.' (Sahih Bukhari 5059). Additionally, the prohibition against 'Muwālāt' (taking disbelievers as protectors) is reinforced in 3:28 and 5:51.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must prioritize their spiritual and communal bonds with fellow Muslims over material interests or social advancement through relationships with those who reject faith; true honor and dignity come from Allah and obedience to His guidance, not from worldly status or secular alliances.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيٓـَٔةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِۦ بَرِيٓـًٔا فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلَ بُهْتَـٰنًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا
But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself a slander and manifest sin.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, an Accountant.
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],