ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 67
Translations
Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous
Transliteration
Al-akhillā'u yawma'idhin ba'duhum liba'din 'aduwwun illā al-muttaqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, close friends and companions in this world will become enemies to one another, except for those who possessed taqwā (God-consciousness and piety). Ibn Kathir explains that this ayah illustrates the separation of souls based on their deeds and spiritual states—friendships based on worldly desires and disobedience will turn to enmity, while the bonds of the righteous, rooted in faith and obedience, will endure eternally. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this verse demonstrates the complete reversal of relationships when truth becomes manifest and all pretense is stripped away.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zukhruf, a Meccan chapter that addresses polytheism and warns of the Day of Judgment. The surah's broader context emphasizes the consequences of rejecting God's oneness and following false gods and leaders. This particular verse serves as a powerful warning to those whose friendships are based on falsehood and sin rather than faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look to whom he takes as a close friend' (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud). Additionally, the Prophet described righteous friendship: 'The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of a perfume seller and a blacksmith—the perfume seller either gives you some perfume or you purchase some, or at least you smell its fragrance, whereas the blacksmith either burns your clothes or you smell its stench' (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to choose their companions wisely, prioritizing those who encourage piety and obedience to God, for earthly friendships based on sin and falsehood will offer no benefit in the Hereafter. The verse reminds us that true, lasting relationships are those rooted in shared faith and taqwā, which will remain intact when all else fails.