فَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَتَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّلْمِ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَلَن يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ 35
Translations
So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior; and Allāh is with you and will never deprive you of [the reward of] your deeds.
Transliteration
Fala tahnu wa tadAAu ila alssalmi waantumu alaaAAalawna wallahu maAAakum walan yatirrakum aAAmalakum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers not to weaken or incline toward peace while they hold the upper hand in battle against their enemies, assuring them of Allah's support and that He will not leave their deeds unrewarded. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as divine encouragement to maintain strength and resolve when facing adversaries, while the promise that 'Allah is with you' emphasizes divine assistance in righteous struggle. The phrase 'He will not waste your deeds' reassures believers that their sacrifices and efforts in the path of Allah will be fully compensated.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Madinah during the period of armed conflict between the Muslims and their enemies. This specific ayah addresses the Muslim warriors at a time when they had achieved military superiority, warning them against premature capitulation or weakness that might embolden their adversaries. It forms part of the broader Medinan discourse on jihad and establishing the Islamic state.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are the best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), related thematically to strength combined with justice. Additionally, Surah Al-Anfal 8:65 complements this theme: 'O Prophet, urge the believers to battle.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should maintain steadfastness and resolve when they possess strength and advantage, trusting in Allah's support and knowing their efforts will not be wasted. This teaches the importance of balanced courage—neither premature surrender nor arrogance—while relying on divine aid and justice.
Related Ayahs
إِن يَسْـَٔلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا۟ وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَـٰنَكُمْ
If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your hatred [i.e., unwillingness].
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهْتَدَوْا۟ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءَاتَىٰهُمْ تَقْوَىٰهُمْ
And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُوا۟ مِنْ عِندِكَ قَالُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ
And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires.
فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً ۖ فَقَدْ جَآءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَىٰهُمْ
Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly? But already there have come [some of] its indications. Then how [i.e., what good] to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?