إِنَّمَا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمْ وَظَـٰهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 9
Translations
Allāh only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Innama yanhakumullaahu anil lazeena qatalukum fil deen wa akhrajookum min diyarikum wa zaharou ala ikhrajikum an tawalloohum. Wa man yatawallahum fa-olaika hum az-zalimoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah forbids Muslims from taking as allies (awliya) those who fought them in religion, expelled them from their homes, and supported their expulsion. This ayah establishes the principle that while Muslims may trade and deal justly with non-Muslims, intimate alliance and loyalty are prohibited with those who actively persecuted believers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the prohibition is specifically directed at those with a demonstrated enmity toward Islam and Muslims, not all non-believers.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina during a period of strained relations between Muslims and the Quraysh. The ayah addresses the practical reality of Muslims living near their former persecutors and clarifies the boundaries of permissible relationships. It follows the treaty of Hudaybiyyah era when Muslims had to navigate complex political relationships while maintaining their faith commitments.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4638: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The closest of you to me on the Day of Judgment will be those best in character.' This relates to the ayah's emphasis on righteous conduct even in restriction of alliance. Also relevant is the hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud regarding the Prophet's instruction to maintain justice in dealings with all people despite differences in belief.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should distinguish between permissible social and economic interaction with non-Muslims and impermissible intimate loyalty and alliance with those hostile to Islam; the criterion for such restrictions is active persecution and enmity toward the faith, not merely difference in belief, teaching believers to be discerning and principled in their relationships.