ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا 76
Translations
Those who believe fight in the cause of Allāh, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of ṭāghūt. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.
Transliteration
Alladhina amanu yuqatilun fi sabilillah wa alladhina kafaru yuqatilun fi sabilit-taghut faqatilu awliya ash-shaytan inna kayda ash-shaytan kana daeefa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the fundamental dichotomy between two opposing camps: believers who fight in the way of Allah (for His cause and with His guidance), and disbelievers who fight in the way of taghut (false gods, oppressive systems, and Satan). The verse commands Muslims to fight the allies of Satan, assuring them that Satan's plotting is ultimately weak and will be defeated. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this distinction encompasses both physical and spiritual struggle, and that victory is assured to those who fight for Allah's cause despite Satan's schemes.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period when the Muslim community faced active military opposition from the Quraysh and other hostile forces. This ayah appears within Surah An-Nisa's broader discussion of believers' rights and duties, providing theological justification for defensive warfare and spiritual encouragement during a period of existential threat to the nascent Islamic state.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken to a tyrant ruler' (Sunan Ibn Majah and others). Additionally, 'Whoever dies without fighting in the way of Allah or even wishing to do so has died upon a branch of hypocrisy' (Sahih Muslim 1910).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers must recognize the ultimate futility of evil forces opposing Allah's truth, and should approach life's struggles with the understanding that they fight for a cause infinitely greater than themselves. For modern Muslims, this extends beyond military combat to include standing against oppression, falsehood, and corruption in all forms—whether personal, social, or political—with confidence in Allah's ultimate victory.
Related Ayahs
أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ ءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا
Or do they envy people for what Allāh has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the family of Abraham the Scripture and wisdom and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَـٰفًا كَثِيرًا
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān? If it had been from [any] other than Allāh, they would have found within it much contradiction.
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.
وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا
And do not wish for that by which Allāh has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allāh of His bounty. Indeed Allāh is ever, of all things, Knowing.