ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَٰتٌ وَمَسَـٰجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ 40
Translations
[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allāh." And were it not that Allāh checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allāh is much mentioned [i.e., praised]. And Allāh will surely support those who support Him [i.e., His cause]. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Alladhina ukhrijoo min diyarihim bighayri haqq illa an yaqoolu rabbuna Allah. Wa lawla daf'u Allah al-nasa ba'dahum biba'adin la-huddimat sawami'u wa biya'u wa salawatun wa masajidu yudhkaru fiha asmu Allah kathiran. Wa layansuranna Allah man yansuruh. Inna Allah la-qawiyyun 'aziz.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those expelled from their homes unjustly solely for declaring 'Our Lord is Allah,' validating their struggle against persecution. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that Allah establishes a divine principle: without His system of mutual restraint between people, places of worship across all faiths (monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques) would be destroyed. The ayah concludes with Allah's firm promise to aid those who support His cause, emphasizing His power and might—a reassurance to the early Muslim community facing Meccan persecution.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the period when Muslims were consolidating their position and reflecting on their migration (hijra) from Mecca. The broader context of Surah Al-Hajj addresses the legitimacy of fighting in self-defense and the permission granted to Muslims to resist oppression, with this ayah specifically validating the grievances of those expelled from their homes for their faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever is killed defending his property, his life, or his religion, he is a martyr' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'The best of martyrs are those who are killed in the cause of Allah' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that standing firm in one's faith despite persecution is noble and divinely supported, while reminding us that God's wisdom preserves religious freedom and coexistence when people exercise mutual restraint and justice. For contemporary believers, it emphasizes that defending one's faith and rights is legitimate and encouraged by Allah.