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
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ ٱلتَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَأْخُذُ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Do they not know that it is Allāh who accepts repentance from His servants and receives charities and that it is Allāh who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful?
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـٰتٍ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَصَلَوَٰتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ ۚ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But among the bedouins are some who believe in Allāh and the Last Day and consider what they spend as means of nearness to Allāh and of [obtaining] invocations of the Messenger. Unquestionably, it is a means of nearness for them. Allāh will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
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.
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تُتْرَكُوا۟ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Do you think that you will be left [as you are] while Allāh has not yet made evident those among you who strive [for His cause] and do not take other than Allāh, His Messenger and the believers as intimates? And Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.