أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تُتْرَكُوا۟ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا رَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ 16
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Am hasabtum an tutrakoo wa lamma ya'lam-allah alladheen jahadoo minkum wa lam yattakhidhoo min dooni-allah wa la rasoolihi wa la al-mu'mineen walijah; wa-allah khabeer bima ta'maloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites and wavering believers, asserting that Allah will not leave them alone without testing them to distinguish the sincere mujahideen (those who strive in His cause) from the insincere. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse emphasizes that true faith requires complete loyalty to Allah, His Messenger, and the believing community—rejecting all false allegiances and intimate confidants outside this framework. Allah's comprehensive knowledge of all actions serves as a warning that deception is impossible before Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period as part of Surah At-Tawbah, which addresses the hypocrites (munafiqoon) who claimed faith while harboring doubts and maintaining relationships with the disbelievers. The context follows the aftermath of the Battle of Tabuk and relates to the testing of sincere believers versus those who merely profess Islam outwardly.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). This relates to the ayah's emphasis on loyalty to the believing community. Additionally, the hadith on the signs of the munafiqeen in Sahih Bukhari addresses those who lack sincere commitment to Allah and His Messenger.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires complete and undivided loyalty to Allah, His Messenger, and the believing community, without maintaining hidden allegiances elsewhere. This ayah reminds us that Allah's knowledge is absolute, and we cannot deceive Him through outward shows of piety while harboring insincerity in our hearts.