Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj Verse 39

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom fighting is launched, because they have been wronged, and Allah is powerful to give them victory.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Permission ˹to fight back˺ is ˹hereby˺ granted to those being fought, for they have been wronged.[[ For over thirteen years, Muslims had not been allowed to fight back against the brutality of the Meccan pagans, leading to the emigration of the Prophet and many of his companions to Medina. As the hostilities continued, this verse was later revealed allowing Muslims to fight back in self-defence. ]] And Allah is truly Most Capable of helping them ˹prevail˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Permission [to fight] is given to those who are attacked, because they were oppressed, and Allah is indeed Most Capable of granting them victory,

A. J. Arberry

Leave is given to those who fight because they were wronged -- surely God is able to help them --

Abdul Haleem

Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged- God has the power to help them-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Permitted are those who are fought against, because they have been oppressed, and verily to succour them Allah is potent

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged;- and verily, Allah is most powerful for their aid;-

Abul Ala Maududi

Permission (to fight) has been granted to those for they have been wronged. Verily Allah has the power to help them:

Ahmed Ali

Permission is granted those (to take up arms) who fight because they were oppressed. God is certainly able to give help to those

Ahmed Raza Khan

Permission is granted to those against whom the disbelievers wage war, as they are being wronged; and indeed Allah is Able to assist them.

Ali Quli Qarai

Those who are fought against are permitted [to fight] because they have been wronged, and Allah is indeed able to help them

Ali Ünal

The believers against whom war is waged are given permission to fight in response, for they have been wronged. Surely, God has full power to help them to victory –

Amatul Rahman Omar

Permission (to fight in self-defense) is (now) given to those (Muslims) against whom war is waged (for no reason), because they have been done injustice to, and Allâh has indeed might and power to help them;

English Literal

(It) was permitted/allowed/announced to those who fight/kill with that they are/were caused injustice to/oppressed, and that truly God (is) on giving them victory/aiding them capable/able (E).

Faridul Haque

Permission is granted to those against whom the disbelievers wage war, as they are being wronged; and indeed Allah is Able to assist them.

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, Allah will defend those who are true; verily, Allah loves not any treacherous ingrate (or traitor and ingrate).

Hilali & Khan

Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against disbelievers), who are fighting them, (and) because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Surely Allah defends those who believe. Surely Allah loves not anyone who is unfaithful, ungrateful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them;

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged; and Allah is indeed Able to give them victory;

Muhammad Sarwar

Permission to take up arms is hereby granted to those who are attacked; they have suffered injustice. God has all the power to give victory

Qaribullah & Darwish

Permission is given to those who fight because they were wronged. Allah has power to grant them victory:

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Permission (to fight) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.

Wahiduddin Khan

Permission to fight is granted to those who are attacked, because they have been wronged, God indeed has the power to help them,

Talal Itani

Permission is given to those who are fought against, and God is Able to give them victory.

Tafsir jalalayn

Permission is granted to those who fight, namely, to the believers, to fight back -- this was the first verse to be revealed regarding the struggle [in the way of God] (jihd), because they have been wronged, as a result of the wrong done to them by the disbelievers. And God is truly able to help them;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Permission to fight; this is the first Ayah of Jihad

Allah said;

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ



Permission (to fight) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.

Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"This was revealed about Muhammad and his Companions, when they were expelled from Makkah."

Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and others among the Salaf, such as Ibn Abbas, Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, Zayd bin Aslam, Muqatil bin Hayan, Qatadah and others said,

"This is the first Ayah which was revealed about Jihad."

Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

"When the Prophet was driven out of Makkah, Abu Bakr said,

`They have their Prophet. Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return; surely they are doomed."'

Ibn Abbas said, "Then Allah revealed the words;

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ


Permission (to fight) is given to those (believers) fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory."

Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Then I knew that there would be fighting."

Imam Ahmad added;

"Ibn Abbas said, `This was the first Ayah to be revealed concerning fighting."'

This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i in the Book of Tafsir of their Sunans.

At-Tirmidhi said;"It is a Hasan Hadith."

..
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ


and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.

means, He is able to grant victory to His believing servants without any fighting taking place, but He wants His servants to strive their utmost in obeying Him, as He says;

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّواْ الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ذَلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَأءُ اللَّهُ لَانْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ

سَيَهْدِيهِمْ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَهُمْ

وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ

So, when you meet those who disbelieve, strike necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly. Thereafter either for generosity, or ransom, until war lays down its burden. Thus, but if it had been Allah's will, He Himself could certainly have punished them. But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others.

But those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost. He will guide them and set right their state. And admit them to Paradise which He has made known to them. (47;4-6)

قَـتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّوْمِنِينَ

وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَن يَشَأءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands, and disgrace them, and give you victory over them, and heal the breasts of a believing people, and remove the anger of their (believers') hearts. Allah accepts the repentance of whom He wills. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (9;14-15)

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّى نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّـبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَـرَكُمْ


And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard and the patient, and We shall test your facts. (47;31).

And there are many similar Ayat.

Ibn Abbas commented on the Ayah,
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ
(and surely, Allah is able to give them (believers) victory),

"And this is what He did."

Allah prescribed Jihad at an appropriate time, because when they were in Makkah, the idolators outnumbered them by more than ten to one. Were they to engage in fighting at that time, the results would have been disastrous. When the idolators went to extremes to persecute Muslims, to expel the Prophet and resolving to kill him; when they sent his Companions into exile here and there, so that some went to Ethiopia and others went to Al-Madinah; when they settled in Al-Madinah and the Messenger of Allah joined them there, and they gathered around him and lent him their support, and they had a place where Islam prevailed, and a stronghold to which they could retreat; then Allah prescribed Jihad against the enemy, and this was the first Ayah to be revealed for it.

Allah said;

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ