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
لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ ۚ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَآئِفَةًۢ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
Make no excuse; you have disbelieved [i.e., rejected faith] after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّم مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنقُصُوكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَمْ يُظَـٰهِرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا فَأَتِمُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you; so complete for them their treaty until their term [has ended]. Indeed, Allāh loves the righteous [who fear Him].
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.