يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَـٰهِدِ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 9
Translations
O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu jahid al-kuffara wa-al-munafiqin wa-aghlutz alayhim. Wa-ma'awaahum jahannam wa-bi'sa al-masir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the Prophet Muhammad, commanding him to strive (jihad) against the disbelievers and hypocrites with firmness and severity in his stance toward them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this encompasses both spiritual struggle through preaching and, when necessary, physical defense of the faith community. The ayah concludes with a stern warning that the final destination of those who reject the message and harbor hypocrisy is Hellfire, an evil abode.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah At-Tahrim (revealed in Medina), which addresses various disciplinary and moral directives to the Muslim community. It comes in the context of the Prophet's ongoing mission to establish Islam against opposition from both open disbelievers (kuffar) and those who claimed faith outwardly while harboring doubt (munafiqun), a particular challenge in the Medinan period.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith of Jibreel (Sahih Muslim 8) discusses the levels of faith and Islam, distinguishing between true believers and those whose faith is questionable. Additionally, the Prophet's directive to 'command the good and forbid the evil' (various collections) relates to the active striving mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that standing firm against falsehood and moral corruption is not merely permitted but commanded, requiring both conviction and appropriate firmness in manner. It reminds us that ultimate judgment belongs to Allah alone, encouraging us to fulfill our responsibilities in upholding truth while leaving outcomes to the Divine.