Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hujurat Verse 9

Mufti Taqi Usmani

If two groups of the believers fight each other, seek reconciliation between them. And if one of them commits aggression against the other, fight the one that commits aggression until it comes back to Allah’s command. So if it comes back, seek reconciliation between them with fairness, and maintain justice. Surely Allah loves those who maintain justice.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And if two groups of believers fight each other, then make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, then fight against the transgressing group until they ˹are willing to˺ submit to the rule of Allah. If they do so, then make peace between both ˹groups˺ in all fairness and act justly. Surely Allah loves those who uphold justice.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If two groups of the believers fight one another, make peace between them. If one of them transgresses against the other, fight against the transgressing group until they submit to the rule of Allah. Then if they submit, make peace between them with fairness, and be just, for Allah loves those who are just.

A. J. Arberry

If two parties of the believers fight, put things right between them; then, if one of them is insolent against the other, fight the insolent one till it reverts to God's commandment. If it reverts, set things right between them equitably, and be just. Surely God loves the just.

Abdul Haleem

If two groups of the believers fight, you [believers] should try to reconcile them; if one of them is [clearly] oppressing the other, fight the oppressors until they submit to God’s command, then make a just and even-handed reconciliation between the two of them: God loves those who are even-handed.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And if two parties of the believers fall to mutual fighting, then make reconciliation between the twain. Then if one of them rebelleth against the other, fight that Party which rebelleth till it returneth Unto the affair of Allah; then if it returneth, make reconciliation between the twain with justice and be equitable; verily Allah loveth the equitable.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them; but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies, then make peace between them with justice, and be fair; for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).

Abul Ala Maududi

If two parties of the believers happen to fight, make peace between them. But then, if one of them transgresses against the other, fight the one that transgresses until it reverts to Allah's command. And if it does revert, make peace between them with justice, and be equitable for Allah loves the equitable.

Ahmed Ali

If two groups of believers come to fight one another, promote peace between them. Then if one of them turns aggressive against the other, fight against the aggressive party till it returns to God's authority. If it does so, make peace among them equitably and be impartial. Verily God loves those who are just.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And if two groups of Muslims fight against each other, reconcile them; and if one of them oppresses the other, fight against the oppressor till it returns to the command of Allah; then if it returns, reconcile between them with justice, and be fair; indeed Allah loves the equitable.

Ali Quli Qarai

If two groups of the faithful fight one another, make peace between them. But if one party of them aggresses against the other, fight the one which aggresses until it returns to Allah’s ordinance. Then, if it returns, make peace between them fairly, and do justice. Indeed Allah loves the just.

Ali Ünal

If two parties of believers fall to fighting, make peace between them (and act promptly). But if one of them aggressively encroaches the rights of the other, then fight you all against the aggressive side until they comply with God’s decree (concerning the matter). If they comply, then make peace between them with justice and be scrupulously equitable. Surely God loves the scrupulously equitable.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(O you who believe!) if two parties of the believers fall out and fight each other, make peace between them. And should one of them commit aggression against the other, then fight (you all) against the party that transgresses till it complies with the command of Allâh (and returns to peace and reconciliation). Then if it returns make peace between them with equity and act justly, for Allâh loves those who do justice.

English Literal

And if two groups from the believers fought each other , so correct/reconciliate between them (B), so if one of them (B) transgressed over the other, so fight which transgresses until it returns to God`s order/command, so if it returned so correct/reconciliate between them (B) with the justice/equality, and be just/equitable, that truly God loves/likes the just/equitable.

Faridul Haque

And if two groups of Muslims fight against each other, reconcile them; and if one of them oppresses the other, fight against the oppressor till it returns to the command of Allah; then if it returns, reconcile between them with justice, and be fair; indeed Allah loves the equitable.

Hamid S. Aziz

And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight you all against the one which transgresses until it returns to the commands of Allah; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who are equitable.

Hilali & Khan

And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

A grace from Allah and a favour. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And if two parties of believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them. And if one party of them doeth wrong to the other, fight ye that which doeth wrong till it return unto the ordinance of Allah; then, if it return, make peace between them justly, and act equitably. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable.

Muhammad Sarwar

If two parties among the believers start to fight against each other, restore peace among them. If one party rebels against the other, fight against the rebellious one until he surrenders to the command of God. When he does so, restore peace among them with justice and equality; God loves those who maintain justice.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If two parties of believers fight, reform between them. If either of them is insolent against the other, fight the insolent one till they revert to the order of Allah. If they revert, reform between them with justice, and weigh with justice. Allah loves those who weigh with justice.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And if two parties among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah. Then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily, Allah loves those who are the equitable.

Wahiduddin Khan

If two parties of believers fight against each other, make peace between them; then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it submits to the command of God. Then if it complies, make peace between them with equity, and act justly. Truly, God loves the just.

Talal Itani

If two groups of believers fight each other, reconcile between them. But if one group aggresses against the other, fight the aggressing group until it complies with God’s command. Once it has complied, reconcile between them with justice, and be equitable. God loves the equitable.

Tafsir jalalayn

And if two parties of believers (in t'ifatni mina'l-mu'minna ... [to the end of] the verse, was revealed regarding a particular incident where the Prophet (s) was riding a donkey and happened to pass by Ibn Ubayy; the donkey urinated and so Ibn Ubayy held his nose, whereupon [`Abd Allh] Ibn Rawh said, `By God, the smell of the donkey's urine is sweeter-smelling than your musk. Fighting then ensued between the two clans with fists, sandals and palm branches [being thrown about]) fall to fighting (iqtatal; the plural is used on account of the [plural] import, for each party is made up of several individuals; a variant reading has [the dual form] iqtatalat), make peace between them (baynahum; the dual here takes into account the actual [dual] form [of t'ifatn, `two parties']). And if one of them aggresses against the other, fight the one which aggresses until it returns to God's ordinance, [to] the truth. Then, if it returns, reconcile them, fairly, and act justly. Surely God loves the just.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Making Peace between Disputing Muslims

Allah commands making peace between Muslims that fight each other,

وَإِن طَايِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا

And if two parties among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both.

Therefore, Allah calls both opposing groups among Muslims, believers, although they are fighting each other. Al-Bukhari and other scholars relied on this Hadith as evidence that committing a sin does not nullify faith, no matter how major the sin is. This creed contradicts the creed of the Khawarij sect and those who accepted their idea, such as the Mutazilah sect.

Al-Bukhari narrated that Al-Hasan said that Abu Bakrah said;

the Messenger of Allah gave a speech on the Minbar while Al-Hasan bin Ali was with him. He was repeatedly looking at Al-Hasan and then at the people; then said,

إِنَّ ابْنِي هذَا سَيِّدٌ وَلَعَلَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِين

Verily, this son of mine is a Sayyid (chief or master), and may Allah make peace between two great groups of Muslims through him.

What the Prophet said, occurred. Al-Hasan brought peace between the people of Ash-Sham and Iraq, after they fought tremendous wars and frightening battles.

Allah's statement,

فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الاْإُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ
.

But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah.

means, until the rebellious group refers to the commands of Allah and His Messenger for judgement and they listen to and obey the truth.

There is a Hadith in the Sahih in which Anas states that the Messenger of Allah said,

انْصُرْ أَخَاكَ ظَالِمًا أَوْ مَظْلُومًا

Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.

"I asked, `O Allah's Messenger! It is right that I help him if he is oppressed, but how should I help him if he is an oppressor?'

He said,

تَمْنَعُهُ مِنَ الظُّلْمِ فَذَاكَ نَصْرُكَ إِيَّاه

By preventing him from oppressing others; this is how you help him in this case."

Sa`id bin Jubayr said that tribes of Aws and Khazraj once got in a scuffle using date tree branches and slippers. Allah revealed this honorable Ayah commanding them to make peace between them.

As-Suddi said,

"A man from Al-Ansar, whose name was Imran, had a wife called Umm Zayd. She wanted to visit her family, but her husband prevented her from visiting them by locking her in an upper room. So, none of her family could visit or see her. She sent someone to her family. They came, took her down from the room and wanted to take her away. Her husband was absent at the time, so his family called on their people. Their cousins came to help prevent the wife from going with her family. A push and shove situation occurred that led to them fighting using slippers.

This Ayah was then revealed in their case, and the Messenger of Allah sent someone to bring peace between them, and they both agreed to resort to the decision of Allah the Exalted."

The statement of Allah the Exalted, next,

فَإِن فَاءتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ



Then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily, Allah loves those who are the equitable.

means, be fair in your judgement regarding the dispute that occurred between them,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
(Verily, Allah loves those who are the equitable), Ibn Abi Hatim recorded, that Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ لُوْلُوٍ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الرَّحْمنِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِمَا أَقْسَطُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا


Verily, those who are equitable in this life, will be on podiums made of pearls before Ar-Rahman, the Exalted and Most Honored, on account of their fairness in this life.

An-Nasa'i collected this Hadith.

Allah's statement