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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَـٰهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses - We will drive them into a fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.
يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرْضَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allāh, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allāh, of what they do, encompassing.
وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمْ عَلِيمًا
And what [harm would come] upon them if they believed in Allāh and the Last Day and spent out of what Allāh provided for them? And Allāh is ever, about them, Knowing.
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَـٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًٔا مَّرِيٓـًٔا
And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.