سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 89
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَآءً ۖ فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا ﴿89﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyâ’ (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allâh (to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). But if they turn back (from Islâm), take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyâ’ (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَدُّوا۟
waddū
They wish
لَوْ
law
if
تَكْفُرُونَ
takfurūna
you disbelieve
كَمَا
kamā
as
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
they disbelieved
فَتَكُونُونَ
fatakūnūna
and you would be
سَوَآءًۭ ۖ
sawāan
alike
فَلَا
falā
So (do) not
تَتَّخِذُوا۟
tattakhidhū
take
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
from them
أَوْلِيَآءَ
awliyāa
allies
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُهَاجِرُوا۟
yuhājirū
they emigrate
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
they turn back
فَخُذُوهُمْ
fakhudhūhum
seize them
وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ
wa-uq'tulūhum
and kill them
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
wherever
وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ۖ
wajadttumūhum
you find them
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَتَّخِذُوا۟
tattakhidhū
take
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
from them
وَلِيًّۭا
waliyyan
any ally
وَلَا
walā
and not
نَصِيرًا
naṣīran
any helper
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 89) {وَدُّوْا لَوْ تَكْفُرُوْنَ كَمَا كَفَرُوْا فَتَكُوْنُوْنَ سَوَآءً … : } It appears that this was the category of hypocrites who belonged to the tribes spread around Medina. The evidence for this is these words: «{ فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوْا مِنْهُمْ اَوْلِيَآءَ حَتّٰى يُهَاجِرُوْا فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ }» “So do not take any of them as friends until they emigrate in the way of Allah.” These people certainly expressed goodwill and affection towards the Muslims, but in practice, they supported their fellow disbelieving countrymen, or were compelled to do so. The criterion set for them was that if they emigrated and came to you in Medina and you became certain of their faith, then in that case, consider them truthful and sympathetic. But if they refused to emigrate, then even if they profess Islam, treat them as you would disbelievers, because after going to the land of disbelief, their disbelief became manifest. Therefore, seize them and, whether in the sacred or non-sacred territory, wherever you find them, kill them and do not take them as friends.
