وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 71
Translations
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Those - Allāh will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Wal-mu'minūna wal-mu'minātu ba'ḍuhum awliyā'u ba'ḍin. Ya'murūna bil-ma'rūfi wa-yanhawna 'anil-munkari wa-yuqīmūnas-salāta wa-yu'tūnaz-zakāta wa-yuṭī'ūnallāha wa-rasūlahu. Ulā'ika sayarḥamuhumulLāh. Innallāha 'azīzun ḥakīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the mutual responsibility and support system among believers (both men and women), emphasizing their collective duty to enjoin good and forbid evil while maintaining the pillars of faith (prayer and zakat). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse elevates women to an equal spiritual status with men in religious obligation and social accountability, establishing a comprehensive framework for Islamic society. The verse concludes with the assurance that those who fulfill these conditions will receive Allah's mercy, as He is Mighty and Wise in His judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Tawbah, a Medinan surah focused on repentance, governance, and community obligations. It comes in a section addressing the qualities of believing communities during the development of the Islamic state in Medina, where social structures and mutual responsibilities were being established.
Related Hadiths
1) The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy are like one body; when one limb suffers, the whole body responds with wakefulness and fever.' (Sahih Bukhari 6011, Sahih Muslim 2586). 2) 'Whoever sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.' (Sahih Muslim 49)
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are called to form a cohesive, mutually supportive community where both men and women actively promote virtue and prevent vice, recognizing that faith is not merely a personal matter but a collective responsibility. By fulfilling these communal and spiritual duties with integrity, believers secure Allah's mercy and demonstrate the transformative power of Islamic teachings in creating a righteous society.
Related Ayahs
لَـٰكِنِ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
But the Messenger and those who believed with him fought with their wealth and their lives. Those will have [all that is] good and it is those who are the successful.
وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allāh and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh - for them is a painful punishment.
رَضُوا۟ بِأَن يَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَوَالِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
They were satisfied to be with those who stay behind, and their hearts were sealed over, so they do not understand.
۞ وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا۟ ٱلْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا۟ لَهُۥ عُدَّةً وَلَـٰكِن كَرِهَ ٱللَّهُ ٱنۢبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ ٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ
And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But Allāh disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, "Remain [behind] with those who remain."