يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا۟ فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 123
Translations
O you who have believed, fight against those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allāh is with the righteous.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu qatilu alladhina yalunakum mina al-kuffari wa-liyajidu fikusm ghilzah wa-a'lamu anna Allaha ma'a al-muttaqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to fight those disbelievers who are nearest to them, and to display firmness and severity in battle so that the enemy recognizes the strength of the Muslim community. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this directive emphasizes strategic confrontation with nearby hostile forces while maintaining spiritual consciousness, with the assurance that Allah's support is with those who are God-fearing and obedient to His commands.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period (9th year of Hijrah), this ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's broader discussion of fighting those who break covenants and wage war against Muslims. The context follows the command to fight polytheists and is situated within the framework of defensive jihad and the consolidation of the Islamic state in Medina against hostile neighboring tribes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken to a tyrannical ruler' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever dies without having fought or having intended to fight has died upon a branch of hypocrisy' (Sahih Muslim) relates to the obligation of striving against enemies of Islam.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that righteous struggle against oppression and falsehood is sanctioned by Allah, but must be coupled with taqwa (piety and God-consciousness) to receive divine assistance. For modern readers, it emphasizes that standing firmly against injustice—whether spiritual, intellectual, or physical—requires both courage and moral integrity rooted in faith.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَأَصْحَـٰبِ مَدْيَنَ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَـٰتِ ۚ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Has there not reached them the news of those before them - the people of Noah and [the tribes of] ʿAad and Thamūd and the people of Abraham and the companions [i.e., dwellers] of Madyan and the towns overturned? Their messengers came to them with clear proofs. And Allāh would never have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
ٱنفِرُوا۟ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allāh. That is better for you, if you only knew.
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allāh - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا۟ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allāh is over all things competent.