تَرَىٰ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِى ٱلْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ 80
Translations
You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved [i.e., the polytheists]. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allāh has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally.
Transliteration
Taraa katheeran minhum yatawallawna allatheena kafaroo; labisa ma qaddamat lahum anfusuhum an sakhita Allahu alayhim wa fee al-adhabi hum khalidoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those Muslims who form alliances and show allegiance to disbelievers, warning that such betrayal of the faith is a grave sin for which they will earn Allah's displeasure and eternal punishment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this addresses those who prioritize worldly gains or personal relationships over loyalty to Islam and Allah's guidance, making such alliances a manifestation of spiritual corruption that leads to divine wrath and the torment of the Fire.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Al-Ma'idah, which extensively discusses the covenant of believers and the boundaries between the Muslim community and non-believers. It addresses the historical context of some Muslims in Medina who maintained excessive attachments to the Jews and hypocrites despite their rejection of Islam, serving as guidance against compromising Islamic principles for social or material advantage.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (#3005) where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' emphasizes communal loyalty. Additionally, the Prophet stated in Sunan Abu Dawud that 'whoever imitates a people is from among them,' highlighting the danger of excessive association with non-believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must carefully examine their loyalties and associations, ensuring that pursuit of worldly interests or social connections does not compromise their Islamic principles or place them in alliance with those who reject Allah's guidance. This ayah serves as a reminder that ultimate allegiance must be to Allah and His Messenger, and that betraying this principle—regardless of personal gain—brings only divine wrath and spiritual ruin.
Related Ayahs
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Except for those who return [repenting] before you overcome [i.e., apprehend] them. And know that Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ لَعَنَّـٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَـٰسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ ۙ وَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hardened. They distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ ٱلْمُقَدَّسَةَ ٱلَّتِى كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
O my people, enter the blessed land [i.e., Palestine] which Allāh has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allāh's cause] and [thus] become losers."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allāh, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.