ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا 139
Translations
Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allāh entirely.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna yattakhidhūna al-kāfirīna awliyāa min dūni al-mu'minīn. Ayabtaghūna 'indahum al-'izzata fa-inna al-'izzata li-Allāhi jamī'ā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns Muslims who take disbelievers as close allies and protectors instead of fellow believers, questioning whether they seek honor and power from the disbelievers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that true honor and strength come exclusively from Allah, not from worldly alliances with those who reject faith. The ayah warns against compromising Islamic principles for material gain or social status through relationships with non-believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and addresses the reality of some believers in Madinah who maintained close political and social ties with Jewish and pagan Arab tribes while neglecting their bond with the Muslim community. It occurs within Surah An-Nisa's broader discussion of community relations and the believer's obligations toward one another.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The parable of a believer who recites the Quran is like a citrus fruit with good taste and fragrant smell, and the parable of a believer who does not recite the Quran is like a date fruit which has no smell but has good taste.' (Sahih Bukhari 5059). Additionally, the prohibition against 'Muwālāt' (taking disbelievers as protectors) is reinforced in 3:28 and 5:51.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must prioritize their spiritual and communal bonds with fellow Muslims over material interests or social advancement through relationships with those who reject faith; true honor and dignity come from Allah and obedience to His guidance, not from worldly status or secular alliances.
Related Ayahs
يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَوْلَـٰدِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءً فَوْقَ ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَٰحِدَةً فَلَهَا ٱلنِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُۥٓ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِى بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
Allāh instructs you concerning your children [i.e., their portions of inheritance]: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [and/or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],
وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ أَن تَمِيلُوا۟ مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا
Allāh wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.
لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ ۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا
Whom Allāh has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion.