وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلْ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا 107
Translations
And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allāh loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.
Transliteration
Wa lā tuجādil `anil-ladhīna yakhta`ūna anfusahum; inna -llāha lā yuḥibbu man kāna khawwānan athīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah forbids the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from defending or arguing on behalf of those who betray themselves through embezzlement, theft, or other treacherous acts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this specifically refers to those who misappropriate wealth or commit dishonest deeds, as Allah explicitly states He does not love the treacherous (khawwān) and sinful (athīm). The prohibition extends to all believers not to defend wrongdoers or intercede for those who knowingly commit acts of betrayal against their own souls.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah An-Nisa, which addresses social conduct, justice, and financial dealings. The broader context of Surah An-Nisa discusses trusts, orphans' wealth, and proper conduct in transactions. Some classical scholars suggest this may relate to instances where the Prophet was asked to intercede for individuals accused of dishonesty, instructing him not to do so.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (2468): The Prophet said, 'Whoever is dishonest in measuring or weighing, let him know that Allah will not bless him.' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah relates that the Prophet said, 'The trustworthy merchant will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment,' highlighting the importance of honesty in contrast to betrayal.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must not defend or advocate for those who commit acts of dishonesty or betrayal, as such actions harm one's own soul and displease Allah. This ayah teaches that integrity in financial and social matters is paramount, and that true loyalty to Islam means refusing to compromise on justice even for those close to us.
Related Ayahs
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا
And it has already come down to you in the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] that when you hear the verses of Allāh [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allāh will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُوٓا۟ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُوا۟ كُلَّ ٱلْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَٱلْمُعَلَّقَةِ ۚ وَإِن تُصْلِحُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And you will never be able to be equal [in feeling] between wives, even if you should strive [to do so]. So do not incline completely [toward one] and leave another hanging. And if you amend [your affairs] and fear Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.