سُوْرَةُ الْحَجِّ
Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 13
يَدْعُوا۟ لَمَن ضَرُّهُۥٓ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِۦ ۚ لَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْعَشِيرُ ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his profit: certainly, an evil Maulâ (patron) and certainly an evil friend!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَدْعُوا۟
yadʿū
He calls
لَمَن
laman
(one) who
ضَرُّهُۥٓ
ḍarruhu
his harm
أَقْرَبُ
aqrabu
(is) closer
مِن
min
than
نَّفْعِهِۦ ۚ
nafʿihi
his benefit
لَبِئْسَ
labi'sa
Surely, an evil
ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ
l-mawlā
protector
وَلَبِئْسَ
walabi'sa
and surely an evil
ٱلْعَشِيرُ
l-ʿashīru
friend
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
13. He calls upon one whose harm [11] is closer than his benefit. How evil is such a protector, and how evil is such a companion [12].
[11] That is, when such hypocrites see any difficulty or hardship in entering Islam, or see any material benefit in turning towards the disbelievers and polytheists, they immediately leave this side and join the ranks of the polytheists, and turn towards such idols or shrines that do not have the power to benefit or harm others—indeed, they cannot even defend themselves. The loss of such people is certain, for they have sacrificed their faith for worldly gain, and the worldly benefit for which they chose this path of misguidance is uncertain; sometimes their expectation is fulfilled if Allah wills, but often, even the benefit for which they sacrificed their faith is not attained.
[12] This sentence can have two meanings. One is that whoever set him on this path—whether it was a human or Satan—proved to be his worst patron and a bad companion. The second meaning is that on the Day of Judgment, these polytheists and idol-worshippers, seeing their deities also cast into Hell, will say this sentence: those from whom we had attached so many expectations have turned out to be very bad patrons and bad companions, who, by becoming the fuel of Hell, have only increased our torment.
[11] That is, when such hypocrites see any difficulty or hardship in entering Islam, or see any material benefit in turning towards the disbelievers and polytheists, they immediately leave this side and join the ranks of the polytheists, and turn towards such idols or shrines that do not have the power to benefit or harm others—indeed, they cannot even defend themselves. The loss of such people is certain, for they have sacrificed their faith for worldly gain, and the worldly benefit for which they chose this path of misguidance is uncertain; sometimes their expectation is fulfilled if Allah wills, but often, even the benefit for which they sacrificed their faith is not attained.
[12] This sentence can have two meanings. One is that whoever set him on this path—whether it was a human or Satan—proved to be his worst patron and a bad companion. The second meaning is that on the Day of Judgment, these polytheists and idol-worshippers, seeing their deities also cast into Hell, will say this sentence: those from whom we had attached so many expectations have turned out to be very bad patrons and bad companions, who, by becoming the fuel of Hell, have only increased our torment.
