ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا 76
Translations
Those who believe fight in the cause of Allāh, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of ṭāghūt. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.
Transliteration
Alladhina amanu yuqatilun fi sabilillah wa alladhina kafaru yuqatilun fi sabilit-taghut faqatilu awliya ash-shaytan inna kayda ash-shaytan kana daeefa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the fundamental dichotomy between two opposing camps: believers who fight in the way of Allah (for His cause and with His guidance), and disbelievers who fight in the way of taghut (false gods, oppressive systems, and Satan). The verse commands Muslims to fight the allies of Satan, assuring them that Satan's plotting is ultimately weak and will be defeated. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this distinction encompasses both physical and spiritual struggle, and that victory is assured to those who fight for Allah's cause despite Satan's schemes.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period when the Muslim community faced active military opposition from the Quraysh and other hostile forces. This ayah appears within Surah An-Nisa's broader discussion of believers' rights and duties, providing theological justification for defensive warfare and spiritual encouragement during a period of existential threat to the nascent Islamic state.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken to a tyrant ruler' (Sunan Ibn Majah and others). Additionally, 'Whoever dies without fighting in the way of Allah or even wishing to do so has died upon a branch of hypocrisy' (Sahih Muslim 1910).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers must recognize the ultimate futility of evil forces opposing Allah's truth, and should approach life's struggles with the understanding that they fight for a cause infinitely greater than themselves. For modern Muslims, this extends beyond military combat to include standing against oppression, falsehood, and corruption in all forms—whether personal, social, or political—with confidence in Allah's ultimate victory.
Related Ayahs
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِـَٔاخَرِينَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا
If He wills, He can do away with you, O people, and bring others [in your place]. And ever is Allāh competent to do that.
وَلَيْسَتِ ٱلتَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ وَلَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ بِٱلطَّيِّبِ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا
And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allāh. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muḥammad], and asked forgiveness of Allāh and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allāh Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.