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
فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن صَدَّ عَنْهُ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا
And some among them believed in it, and some among them were averse to it. And sufficient is Hell as a blaze.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُفَرِّقُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَوْفَ يُؤْتِيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
But they who believe in Allāh and His messengers and do not discriminate between any of them - to those He is going to give their rewards. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۗ وَمَن يَكُنِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لَهُۥ قَرِينًا فَسَآءَ قَرِينًا
And [also] those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allāh nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a companion - then evil is he as a companion.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ أَوْ جَآءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَن يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَـٰتَلُوكُمْ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا
Except for those who take refuge with a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty or those who come to you, their hearts strained at [the prospect of] fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allāh had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allāh has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them.