۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ قَوْمًا غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَا مِنْهُمْ وَيَحْلِفُونَ عَلَى ٱلْكَذِبِ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ 14
Translations
Have you not considered those who make allies of a people with whom Allāh has become angry? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear to untruth while they know [they are lying].
Transliteration
Alam tara ilal-ladhina tawallaw qawman ghadiba Allahu alayhim ma hum minkum wa la minhum wa yahlifun ala al-kadhibi wa hum ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who ally themselves with people upon whom Allah's wrath has descended (the Jews and Christians who rejected the Prophet), clarifying that such people are neither truly part of the Muslim community nor part of the disbelievers' community—they occupy a hypocritical middle ground. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah specifically condemns their deliberate falsehood and oath-taking while fully aware of their deceit, highlighting the severity of conscious dishonesty in matters of faith and allegiance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during a period of heightened tension between the Muslim community and the hypocrites (munafiqun) who maintained dubious relationships with Jewish tribes. The surah's broader context addresses the case of Khawlah bint Tha'labah but extends to condemn hypocritical conduct generally, particularly the dangerous practice of Muslims secretly aligning with those hostile to Islam.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever loves a people will be with them on the Day of Judgment' (Sahih Bukhari 3612). Additionally, the Quranic principle in 5:51 about not taking Jews and Christians as allies complements this ayah's warning against such destructive allegiances.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must be clear and consistent in their faith commitments and allegiances, rejecting the spiritual disease of hypocrisy that attempts to straddle both belief and disbelief. This ayah serves as a timeless reminder that integrity in faith cannot be compromised through dishonest dealings or concealed allegiances, as such duplicity ultimately distances one from both communities and incurs divine displeasure.