Al-Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran Verse 28

Mufti Taqi Usmani

The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers.And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, unless you (do so) as a protective measure (in order to) save yourself from them. Allah warns you of Himself, for unto Allah is the return.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Believers should not take disbelievers as guardians instead of the believers—and whoever does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah—unless it is a precaution against their tyranny. And Allah warns you about Himself. And to Allah is the final return.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Let not the believers take disbelievers as allies instead of believers, for whoever does so has nothing to do with Allah at all, except as a protective measure to save yourself from them. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the final return.

A. J. Arberry

Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends, rather than the believers -- for whoso does that belongs not to God in anything -- unless you have a fear of them. God warns you that You beware of Him, and unto God is the homecoming.

Abdul Haleem

The believers should not make the disbelievers their allies rather than other believers- anyone who does such a thing will isolate himself completely from God- except when you need to protect yourselves from them. God warns you to beware of Him: the Final Return is to God.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Let not the believers take unto themselves the infidels as friends, beside the believers: and whosoever doth that, then he is not in respect of Allah in aught, unless indeed ye fear from them a danger. And Allah maketh ye beware of Himself; and unto Allah is the last wending.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers; if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah; except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.

Abul Ala Maududi

The believers may not take the unbelievers for their allies in preference to those who believe. Whoever does this has nothing to do with Allah unless he does so in order to protect himself from their wrong-doing. Allah warns you to beware of Him for it is to Allah that you will return.

Ahmed Ali

Those who believe should not take unbelievers as their friends in preference to those who believe -- and whoever does so should have no (expectations) of God -- unless to safeguard yourselves against them. But God commands you to beware of Him, for to God you will journey in the end.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The Muslims must not befriend the disbelievers, in preference over the Muslims; whoever does that has no connection whatsoever with Allah, except if you fear them; Allah warns you of His wrath; and towards Allah only is the return.

Ali Quli Qarai

The faithful should not take the faithless for allies instead of the faithful, and Allah will have nothing to do with those who do that, except when you are wary of them, out of caution. Allah warns you to beware of [disobeying] Him, and toward Allah is the return.

Ali Ünal

Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends, guardians, and councilors in preference to the believers. Whoever does that is not on a way from God and has no connection with Him, unless it be to protect yourselves against them and take precautions (against the danger of being persecuted and forced to turn away from your religion or betray your community, or of losing your life). And God warns you that you beware of Himself; and to God is the homecoming.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Let not the believers take the disbelievers for friends in preference to the believers unless you very carefully guard against evil from them. Indeed he who acts likewise (in a careless manner let him remember) he has nothing to do with Allâh. And Allâh cautions you against His punishment, for to Allâh is the eventual returning.

English Literal

The believers do not take the disbelievers (as) guardians/friends from other than the believers, and who does that, so he is not from God in a thing, except that you fear from them fear/fright , and God cautions/warns you (of) Himself, and to God (is) the end/destination .

Faridul Haque

The Muslims must not befriend the disbelievers, in preference over the Muslims; whoever does that has no connection whatsoever with Allah, except if you fear them; Allah warns you of His wrath; and towards Allah only is the return.

Hamid S. Aziz

Let not those who believe take disbelievers for their friends rather than believers. He who does this has no part with Allah at all, unless, indeed, you guard yourselves against them. But Allah bids you beware of only Himself, for unto Allah is your journeying.

Hilali & Khan

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Thou makest the night to pass into the day and Thou makest the day to pass into the night; and Thou bringest forth the living from the dead and Thou bringest forth the dead from the living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest without measure.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.

Muhammad Sarwar

The believers must not establish friendship with the unbelievers in preference to the faithful. Whoever does so has nothing to hope for from God unless he does it out of fear or taqiyah (pious dissimulation). God warns you about Himself. To God do all things return.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The believers should not take the unbelievers as guides in preference to the believers he who does this does not belong to Allah in anything, unless you have a fear of them. Allah warns you to be cautious of Him, the arrival is to Allah.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, unless you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself, and to Allah is the final return.

Wahiduddin Khan

Let not the believers take those who deny the truth for their allies in preference to the believers, anyone who does that will isolate himself completely from God, unless it be to protect yourselves against them in this way. God admonishes you to fear Him: for, to God shall all return.

Talal Itani

Believers are not to take disbelievers for friends instead of believers. Whoever does that has nothing to do with God, unless it is to protect your own selves against them. God warns you to beware of Him. To God is the destiny.

Tafsir jalalayn

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as patrons, rather than, that is, instead of, the believers -- for whoever does that, that is, [whoever] takes them as patrons, does not belong to, the religion of, God in anyway -- unless you protect yourselves against them, as a safeguard (tuqtan, `as a safeguard', is the verbal noun from taqiyyatan), that is to say, [unless] you fear something, in which case you may show patronage to them through words, but not in your hearts; this was before the hegemony of Islam and [the dispensation] applies to any individual residing in a land with no say in it. God warns you, He instills fear in you, of His Self, [warning] that He may be wrathful with you if you take them as patrons; and to God is the journey's end, the return, and He will requite you.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Prohibition of Supporting the Disbelievers

Allah says;

لااَّ يَتَّخِذِ الْمُوْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُوْنِ الْمُوْمِنِينَ

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers,

Allah prohibited His believing servants from becoming supporters of the disbelievers, or to take them as comrades with whom they develop friendships, rather than the believers.

Allah warned against such behavior when He said,

وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ

And whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way,

meaning, whoever commits this act that Allah has prohibited, then Allah will discard him.

Similarly, Allah said,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا لَاا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاء

تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِ

O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies as friends, showing affection towards them, until,
وَمَن يَفْعَلْهُ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ
And whosoever of you does that, then indeed he has gone astray from the straight path. (60;1)

Allah said,

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَأءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُوْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَاناً مُّبِيناً

O you who believe! Take not for friends disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves! (4;144)

and,

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَـرَى أَوْلِيَأءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ



O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as friends, they are but friends of each other. And whoever befriends them, then surely, he is one of them. (5;51)

Allah said, after mentioning the fact that the faithful believers gave their support to the faithful believers among the Muhajirin, Ansar and Bedouins,

وَالَّذينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ بَعْضٍ إِلاَّ تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ

And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you do not behave the same, there will be Fitnah and oppression on the earth, and a great mischief and corruption. (8;73)

Allah said next,

إِلاَّ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً

unless you indeed fear a danger from them,

meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers.

In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly.

For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' said,

"We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them."

Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said,

"The Tuqyah is allowed until the Day of Resurrection."

Allah said,

وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللّهُ نَفْسَهُ

And Allah warns you against Himself.

meaning, He warns you against His anger and the severe torment He prepared for those who give their support to His enemies, and those who have enmity with His friends.

وَإِلَى اللّهِ الْمَصِيرُ



And to Allah is the final return.

meaning, the return is to Him and He will reward or punish each person according to their deeds