يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا۟ فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 123
Translations
O you who have believed, fight against those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allāh is with the righteous.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu qatilu alladhina yalunakum mina al-kuffari wa-liyajidu fikusm ghilzah wa-a'lamu anna Allaha ma'a al-muttaqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to fight those disbelievers who are nearest to them, and to display firmness and severity in battle so that the enemy recognizes the strength of the Muslim community. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this directive emphasizes strategic confrontation with nearby hostile forces while maintaining spiritual consciousness, with the assurance that Allah's support is with those who are God-fearing and obedient to His commands.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period (9th year of Hijrah), this ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's broader discussion of fighting those who break covenants and wage war against Muslims. The context follows the command to fight polytheists and is situated within the framework of defensive jihad and the consolidation of the Islamic state in Medina against hostile neighboring tribes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken to a tyrannical ruler' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever dies without having fought or having intended to fight has died upon a branch of hypocrisy' (Sahih Muslim) relates to the obligation of striving against enemies of Islam.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that righteous struggle against oppression and falsehood is sanctioned by Allah, but must be coupled with taqwa (piety and God-consciousness) to receive divine assistance. For modern readers, it emphasizes that standing firmly against injustice—whether spiritual, intellectual, or physical—requires both courage and moral integrity rooted in faith.
Related Ayahs
لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُطَّهِّرِينَ
Do not stand [for prayer] within it - ever. A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allāh loves those who purify themselves.
وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْمًۢا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُم مَّا يَتَّقُونَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
And Allāh would not let a people stray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of all things.
لَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving [i.e., fighting] with their wealth and their lives. And Allāh is Knowing of those who fear Him.
لَا يَزَالُ بُنْيَـٰنُهُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَنَوْا۟ رِيبَةً فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَّآ أَن تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Their building which they built will not cease to be a [cause of] skepticism in their hearts until their hearts are cut [i.e., stopped]. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.