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
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allāh has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَـٰهِدِ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
O Prophet, fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُونَ
The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the cause of Allāh with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allāh. And it is those who are the attainers [of success].
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآئِرَ ۚ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And among the bedouins are some who consider what they spend as a loss and await for you turns of misfortune. Upon them will be a misfortune of evil. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.