سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 28
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliyâ (supporters, helpers) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allâh in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allâh warns you against Himself (His punishment), and to Allâh is the final return.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّا
lā
(Let) not
يَتَّخِذِ
yattakhidhi
take
ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
l-mu'minūna
the believers
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
l-kāfirīna
the disbelievers
أَوْلِيَآءَ
awliyāa
(as) allies
مِن
min
from
دُونِ
dūni
instead of
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَفْعَلْ
yafʿal
does
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
فَلَيْسَ
falaysa
then not he (has)
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
فِى
fī
in
شَىْءٍ
shayin
anything
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
that
تَتَّقُوا۟
tattaqū
you fear
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
from them
تُقَىٰةًۭ ۗ
tuqātan
(as) a precaution
وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ
wayuḥadhirukumu
And warns you
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ
nafsahu
(of) Himself
وَإِلَى
wa-ilā
and to
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
ٱلْمَصِيرُ
l-maṣīru
(is) the final return
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 28) ➊ {لَا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ … :} When Allah alone is the Owner of Sovereignty, the Giver of honor and disgrace, and the Source of all good, then it is also obligatory upon the believers that they maintain friendship with His friends and enmity with His enemies. They should not abandon the believers and befriend the disbelievers in hope of any benefit, and whoever does so will not have even the slightest share in Allah’s friendship. However, it is permissible to outwardly express friendship to protect oneself from their harm, while harboring hatred in the heart due to their disbelief. Similarly, those disbelievers who do not fight against the Muslims nor help any fighters, it is permissible to show kindness and prudent social conduct to them. See Surah Al-Mumtahanah (8, 9).
➋ {اِلَّاۤ اَنْ تَتَّقُوْا مِنْهُمْ تُقٰىةً :} The word {”تُقٰىةً“ ’’ وَقٰي يَقِيْ‘‘} is derived from the same root; due to the tanween, it has been translated as “to protect oneself in any way.” “Taqiyyah” is also synonymous with it. Tabari and Ibn Abi Hatim have narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) with a good chain that Allah, the Exalted, has forbidden the believers from having heartfelt friendship with the disbelievers, except if the disbelievers overpower them, then they may show leniency, but oppose them in religion. For further explanation, see Surah Al-Ma’idah (51, 56) and for details on taqiyyah, see Surah An-Nahl (106).
From these verses, the dislike for any Muslim to leave the land of the Muslims and reside in the land of the disbelievers is also established, because there it is difficult for a Muslim to live without practically befriending the disbelievers and to protect his own and his family’s religion. Therefore, if any Muslim is overpowered somewhere, it is permissible for him to express friendship to save his life, but it is obligatory for him to migrate from there to the land of the Muslims. However, if he is helpless, then Allah knows everything. These and other verses of similar meaning clarify the foreign policy of Muslim governments and also the matter of prudent social conduct in individual dealings, as Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We smile in the faces of some people, while our hearts curse them.” [بخاری، الأدب، باب المداراۃ مع الناس …، قبل ح : ۶۱۳۱ ]
➋ {اِلَّاۤ اَنْ تَتَّقُوْا مِنْهُمْ تُقٰىةً :} The word {”تُقٰىةً“ ’’ وَقٰي يَقِيْ‘‘} is derived from the same root; due to the tanween, it has been translated as “to protect oneself in any way.” “Taqiyyah” is also synonymous with it. Tabari and Ibn Abi Hatim have narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) with a good chain that Allah, the Exalted, has forbidden the believers from having heartfelt friendship with the disbelievers, except if the disbelievers overpower them, then they may show leniency, but oppose them in religion. For further explanation, see Surah Al-Ma’idah (51, 56) and for details on taqiyyah, see Surah An-Nahl (106).
From these verses, the dislike for any Muslim to leave the land of the Muslims and reside in the land of the disbelievers is also established, because there it is difficult for a Muslim to live without practically befriending the disbelievers and to protect his own and his family’s religion. Therefore, if any Muslim is overpowered somewhere, it is permissible for him to express friendship to save his life, but it is obligatory for him to migrate from there to the land of the Muslims. However, if he is helpless, then Allah knows everything. These and other verses of similar meaning clarify the foreign policy of Muslim governments and also the matter of prudent social conduct in individual dealings, as Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We smile in the faces of some people, while our hearts curse them.” [بخاری، الأدب، باب المداراۃ مع الناس …، قبل ح : ۶۱۳۱ ]
