قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ ٱلْحَقِّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ 29
Translations
Fight against those who do not believe in Allāh or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allāh and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
Transliteration
Qatilu alladhina la yu'minuna billahi wa la bil-yawmi al-akhiri wa la yuharrimuna ma harrama allahu wa rasuluh wa la yadinuna dina al-haqqi min alladhina utul-kitaba hatta yu'atu al-jizyata an yadin wa hum saghirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands fighting against People of the Book (Christians and Jews) who reject belief in Allah and the Last Day, do not uphold Islamic law, and refuse to recognize the truth of Islam—until they either accept Islam or agree to pay the Jizyah (poll tax) in a state of submission. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ruling applies specifically to those who actively oppose Islam and reject its message, and that payment of the Jizyah grants them protected status (dhimmi) with rights and obligations under Islamic law.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9) is the final surah revealed in Madinah, primarily addressing the status of treaties, warfare, and covenants during the Islamic state's consolidation. This ayah reflects the period after the Meccan polytheists' repeated treaty violations and follows the command to fight those who broke their covenants with Muslims. It establishes the Islamic legal framework for relations with non-Muslim monotheistic communities.
Related Hadiths
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever kills a person under covenant (dhimmi) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.' (Sahih Bukhari 3166). Additionally, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab's pact with Christian communities of the Levant exemplifies the practical implementation of this ayah regarding Jizyah and protection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah establishes that Islamic warfare has specific conditions and limits: it targets those who reject divine guidance and break covenants, not civilians indiscriminately. For modern contexts, it reminds us that Islamic law historically provided structured legal frameworks protecting religious minorities—a principle emphasizing responsibility in governance and the protection of those under Islamic authority's covenant.
Related Ayahs
قَـٰتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Fight them; Allāh will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts [i.e., desires] of a believing people
فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۗ وَنُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakāh, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.
۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Zakāh expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed for it and for bringing hearts together [for Islām] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allāh and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allāh. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
يَحْذَرُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ أَن تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلِ ٱسْتَهْزِءُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا تَحْذَرُونَ
The hypocrites are apprehensive lest a sūrah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allāh will expose that which you fear."