سُوْرَةُ الْحَجِّ
Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 39
أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا۟ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ ﴿39﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allâh is Able to give them (believers) victory -
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أُذِنَ
udhina
Permission is given
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
to those who
يُقَـٰتَلُونَ
yuqātalūna
are being fought
بِأَنَّهُمْ
bi-annahum
because they
ظُلِمُوا۟ ۚ
ẓulimū
were wronged
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
for
نَصْرِهِمْ
naṣrihim
their victory
لَقَدِيرٌ
laqadīrun
(is) surely Able
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.
39. Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is being waged, because they have been wronged [65], and Allah is certainly able to help them [66].
[65]
The First Verse Granting Permission for Jihad:
When the mountains of oppression and cruelty were being unleashed upon the Muslims in Makkah, at that time some courageous Companions sought permission to fight those disbelievers, but Allah did not grant them such permission then. Rather, they were continually instructed to endure the oppression with patience and steadfastness. Then, when the Muslims migrated to Madinah and the foundation of a small Islamic state was laid—which was limited only to a small town of Madinah—the Prophet’s Mosque was built, which served as the headquarters for all matters of the Muslims. The issue of livelihood for the Muhajirun was to some extent resolved through brotherhood (Mu’akhah). Treaties of peaceful coexistence were established with the Jewish tribes and the polytheist tribes. And the Muslims became capable of standing on their own feet. Then they were granted permission to fight the disbelievers. And this is the first verse in which Muslims were given permission for defensive warfare, and the reason for this permission was clearly stated: that this permission is being given to them because they have been continuously subjected to oppression. This permission was granted at the end of the first year of Hijrah. Later, many such verses were revealed in which not only was permission for defensive warfare given, but also the command was given to confront and fight against every force that stands in the way of Allah’s religion.
[66] This phrase has two meanings: one is that Allah is also capable of helping the Muslims and granting them dominance even without jihad and fighting; and the second is that Allah, the Exalted, is also capable of granting dominance to the Muslims—who are destitute, deprived, and a small handful—over those disbelievers of Makkah who, in terms of weaponry, wealth, and numbers, are far superior to the Muslims. Furthermore, all the polytheist tribes and the Jews are also their helpers and supporters.
[65]
The First Verse Granting Permission for Jihad:
When the mountains of oppression and cruelty were being unleashed upon the Muslims in Makkah, at that time some courageous Companions sought permission to fight those disbelievers, but Allah did not grant them such permission then. Rather, they were continually instructed to endure the oppression with patience and steadfastness. Then, when the Muslims migrated to Madinah and the foundation of a small Islamic state was laid—which was limited only to a small town of Madinah—the Prophet’s Mosque was built, which served as the headquarters for all matters of the Muslims. The issue of livelihood for the Muhajirun was to some extent resolved through brotherhood (Mu’akhah). Treaties of peaceful coexistence were established with the Jewish tribes and the polytheist tribes. And the Muslims became capable of standing on their own feet. Then they were granted permission to fight the disbelievers. And this is the first verse in which Muslims were given permission for defensive warfare, and the reason for this permission was clearly stated: that this permission is being given to them because they have been continuously subjected to oppression. This permission was granted at the end of the first year of Hijrah. Later, many such verses were revealed in which not only was permission for defensive warfare given, but also the command was given to confront and fight against every force that stands in the way of Allah’s religion.
[66] This phrase has two meanings: one is that Allah is also capable of helping the Muslims and granting them dominance even without jihad and fighting; and the second is that Allah, the Exalted, is also capable of granting dominance to the Muslims—who are destitute, deprived, and a small handful—over those disbelievers of Makkah who, in terms of weaponry, wealth, and numbers, are far superior to the Muslims. Furthermore, all the polytheist tribes and the Jews are also their helpers and supporters.
