Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

O you who heed warning: take not My enemy and your enemy as allies, extending to them love, when they have denied that which has come to you of the truth — they, turning out the Messenger and you because you believe in God, your Lord, if you go forth to strive in My cause and seeking My pleasure — showing them love in secret. And I best know what you conceal and what you proclaim; and whoso does it among you, he has strayed from the right path.

يَٓا اَيُّهَا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوّ۪ي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ اَوْلِيَٓاءَ تُلْقُونَ اِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِمَا جَٓاءَكُمْ مِنَ الْحَقِّۚ يُخْرِجُونَ الرَّسُولَ وَاِيَّاكُمْ اَنْ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللّٰهِ رَبِّكُمْۜ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِهَاداً ف۪ي سَب۪يل۪ي وَابْتِغَٓاءَ مَرْضَات۪ي تُسِرُّونَ اِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِۗ وَاَنَا۬ اَعْلَمُ بِمَٓا اَخْفَيْتُمْ وَمَٓا اَعْلَنْتُمْۜ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْهُ مِنْكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَٓاءَ السَّب۪يلِ
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoola tattakhithoo AAaduwwee waAAaduwwakum awliyaatulqoona ilayhim bilmawaddati waqad kafaroo bima jaakummina alhaqqi yukhrijoona arrasoola wa-iyyakuman tu/minoo billahi rabbikum in kuntum kharajtumjihadan fee sabeelee wabtighaa mardateetusirroona ilayhim bilmawaddati waana aAAlamu bimaakhfaytum wama aAAlantum waman yafAAalhu minkum faqad dallasawaa assabeel
#wordmeaningroot
1yāayyuhāO you
2alladhīnawho
3āmanūbelieveامن
4(Do) not
5tattakhidhūtakeاخذ
6ʿaduwwīMy enemiesعدو
7waʿaduwwakumand your enemiesعدو
8awliyāa(as) alliesولي
9tul'qūnaofferingلقي
10ilayhimthem
11bil-mawadatiloveودد
12waqadwhile
13kafarūthey have disbelievedكفر
14bimāin what
15jāakumcame to youجيا
16minaof
17l-ḥaqithe truthحقق
18yukh'rijūnadriving outخرج
19l-rasūlathe Messengerرسل
20wa-iyyākumand yourselves
21anbecause
22tu'minūyou believeامن
23bil-lahiin Allah
24rabbikumyour Lordربب
25inIf
26kuntumyouكون
27kharajtumcome forthخرج
28jihādan(to) striveجهد
29in
30sabīlīMy wayسبل
31wa-ib'tighāaand (to) seekبغي
32marḍātīMy Pleasureرضو
33tusirrūnaYou confideسرر
34ilayhimto them
35bil-mawadatiloveودد
36wa-anābut I Am
37aʿlamumost knowingعلم
38bimāof what
39akhfaytumyou concealخفي
40wamāand what
41aʿlantumyou declareعلن
42wamanAnd whoever
43yafʿalhudoes itفعل
44minkumamong you
45faqadthen certainly
46ḍallahe has strayedضلل
47sawāa(from the) straightسوي
48l-sabīlipathسبل
  • Aisha Bewley

    You who have iman! do not take My enemy and your enemy as friends, showing love for them when they have rejected the truth that has come to you, driving out the Messenger and yourselves simply because you have iman in Allah your Lord. If you go out to do jihad in My Way and seeking My pleasure, keeping secret the love you have for them, I know best what you conceal and what you make known. Any of you who do that have strayed from the right way.

  • Progressive Muslims

    O you who believe, do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies, you extend love to them, even though they have rejected the truth that has come to you. They drive you and the messenger out, simply because you believe in God, your Lord. If you are mobilizing to struggle in My cause, seeking My blessings, then how can you secretly love them I am fully aware of everything you conceal, and what you declare. And whosoever of you does this, then he has gone astray from the right path.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Do not take My enemies - who are your enemies as well - for friends. Do you extend love and friendship to them when they reject the Truth that has come to you, driving out the Messenger and you because you believe in Allah, your Lord? If you are committed to strive in My Way and to seek My Approval, befriend them not. Do you show them friendship in secret, when I am best Aware of what you conceal and what you reveal? And whoever among you does that, he has certainly strayed from the right way. (3:117).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    O you who heed warning: take not My enemy and your enemy as allies, extending to them love, when they have denied that which has come to you of the truth — they, turning out the Messenger and you because you believe in God, your Lord, if you go forth to strive in My cause and seeking My pleasure — showing them love in secret. And I best know what you conceal and what you proclaim; and whoso does it among you, he has strayed from the right path.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    O you who believe, do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies. You extend love to them, even though they have rejected the truth that has come to you. They drive you and the messenger out, simply because you believe in God, your Lord. If you are mobilizing to strive in My cause, seeking My blessings, then how can you secretly love them? I am fully aware of everything you conceal and what you declare. And whoever of you does this, then he has gone astray from the right path.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    O you who acknowledge, do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies, you extend love to them, even though they have rejected the truth that has come to you. They drive you and the messenger out, simply because you acknowledge God, your Lord. If you are mobilizing to strive in My cause, seeking My blessings, then how can you secretly love them? I am fully aware of everything you conceal and what you declare. Whosoever of you does this, then he has gone astray from the right path.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    O you who believe, you shall not befriend My enemies and your enemies, extending love and friendship to them, even though they have disbelieved in the truth that has come to you. They persecute the messenger, and you, just because you believe in GOD, your Lord. If you mobilize to struggle in My cause, seeking My blessings, how can you secretly love them? I am fully aware of everything you conceal, and everything you declare. Those among you who do this have indeed strayed off the right path.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O YOU WHO BELIEVE, do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends. You show kindness to them, but they reject the true way that has come to you. They expelled the Prophet and you, for you believe in God your Lord. If you have come out to struggle in My cause having sought My acceptance, (do not be) friendly with them in secret. I know what you hide and what you disclose. Whoever of you does this will have gone astray from the right path.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves because you believe in Allah, your Lord. If you have come out for jihad in My cause and seeking means to My approval, . You confide to them affection, but I am most knowing of what you have concealed and what you have declared. And whoever does it among you has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.

  • Muhammad Asad

    O YOU who have attained to faith! Do not take My enemies - who are your enemies as well - for your friends, showing them affection even though they are bent on denying whatever truth has come unto you, they have driven the Apostle and yourselves away, because you believe in God, your Sustainer! If you have gone forth to strive in My cause, and out of a longing for My goodly acceptance, inclining towards them in secret affection: for I am fully aware of all that you may conceal as well as of all that you do openly. And any of you who does this has already strayed from the right path.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    O ye who believe! Choose not My enemy and your enemy for allies. Do ye give them friendship when they disbelieve in that truth which hath come unto you, driving out the messenger and you because ye believe in Allah, your Lord? If ye have come forth to strive in My way and seeking My good pleasure, (show them not friendship). Do ye show friendship unto them in secret, when I am Best Aware of what ye hide and what ye proclaim? And whosoever doeth it among you, he verily hath strayed from the right way.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Believers,* if you have left (your homes and) have come forth to struggle in My Way and to seek My good pleasure, do not make friends with My enemies and your enemies. You befriend them whereas they have spurned the Truth that has come to you; and (such is their enmity that) they expel the Messenger and yourselves for no other reason than that you believe in Allah, your Lord. You send to them messages of friendship in secrecy, although I know well whatever you do, be it secretly or publicly. And whosoever of you does so has indeed strayed far away from the Straight Path.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    O you. whose hearts reflect the image of religious and spiritual virtues: do not make a friendly intimacy with My enemy and yours who are disposed to strive against Allah and His cause and against the Messenger and his Faith. You regard them with tenderness when they have denied Allah and denied the truth you have received. They drove the Messenger along with you out of their midst, and ousted you of your privileges, for no reason other than the war of disbelief against belief in Allah, your Creator. If indeed you have gone to war to strive in My cause and to serve and satisfy My purpose, then how could you make a friendly intimacy with My enemies and regard them with tenderness! I know well what your breasts store of thoughts and feelings and what your breasts forge, I know what you converse secretly and utter below your breath, and what you suggest secretly to the mind. I also know what you avow openly and openly disclose, and what you utter loudly, and all that is being said. Therefore, he, who amongst you attempts to do this, will have wronged himself and wandered from the path of righteousness."... Seen the hungry ocean gain advantage on the kingdom of the shore". Shakespeare

  • Bijan Moeinian

    O’ you who believe, do not extend love and friendship to your Lord’s enemies who are indeed your own enemies. Do not forget that they disbelieved when the truth was presented to them and that they persecute the God’s messenger and you for the simple reason that you believe in your Lord. How can you carry a secret love in your heart toward such people with whom you are ready to fight and to die in order to seek My pleasure and blessings? Do not forget that your God is fully aware of what you say and what you keep as secret in your heart.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists) as friends, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism, this Qur’ân, and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and have driven out the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and yourselves (from your homeland) because you believe in Allâh your Lord! If you have come forth to strive in My Cause and to seek My Good Pleasure, (then take not these disbelievers and polytheists as your friends). You show friendship to them in secret, while I am All-Aware of what you conceal and what you reveal. And whosoever of you (Muslims) does that, then indeed he has gone (far) astray from the Straight Path.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    O ye who believe! Take not my enemies and yours as friends (or protectors),- offering them (your) love, even though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on the contrary) driven out the Prophet and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because ye believe in Allah your Lord! If ye have come out to strive in My Way and to seek My Good Pleasure, (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love (and friendship) with them: for I know full well all that ye conceal and all that ye reveal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    O believers! Do not take My enemies and yours as trusted allies, showing them affection even though they deny what has come to you of the truth. They drove the Messenger and yourselves out ˹of Mecca˺, simply for your belief in Allah, your Lord. If you ˹truly˺ emigrated to struggle in My cause and seek My pleasure, ˹then do not take them as allies,˺ disclosing secrets ˹of the believers˺ to the pagans out of affection for them, when I know best whatever you conceal and whatever you reveal. And whoever of you does this has truly strayed from the Right Way.

  • Taqi Usmani

    O you who believe, do not take My enemies and your enemies for friends, expressing love with them, while they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, expelling the Messenger and your selves (from Makkah) merely because you have faith in Allah who is your Lord, if you have set out to do Jihād (struggle) in My way, and to seek My pleasure. You express love with them secretly, while I know what you have concealed and what you have revealed. Any of you who does this has missed the straight path.

  • Abdul Haleem

    You who believe, do not take My enemies and yours as your allies, showing them friendship when they have rejected the truth you have received, and have driven you and the Messenger out simply because you believe in God, your Lord––not if you truly emigrated in order to strive for My cause and seek My good pleasure. You secretly show them friendship––I know all you conceal and all you reveal–– but any of you who do this are straying from the right path.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    O believers, take not My enemy and your enemy for friends, offering them love, though they have disbelieved in the truth that has come to you, expelling the Messenger and you because you believe in God your Lord. If you go forth to struggle in My way and seek My good pleasure, secretly loving them, yet I know very well what you conceal and what you publish; and whosoever of you does that, has gone astray from the right way.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    O ye who believe! take not my enemy and your enemy for patrons, encountering them with love for they misbelieve in the truth that is to come to you; they drive out the Apostle and you for that ye believe in God your Lord! If ye go forth fighting strenuously in my cause and craving my good pleasure, and secretly show love for them, yet do I know best what ye conceal and what ye display! and he of you who does so has erred from the level path.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    O you who believe! Take not My enemy and your enemy for friends: would you offer them love (or friendship) while they deny what has come to you of the truth, driving out the Messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allah, your Lord? If you go forth striving in My path and seeking My pleasure, would you manifest love to them? And I know what you conceal and what you manifest; and whoever of you does this, he indeed has gone astray from the Straight Way.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    O you who have believed, do not take to yourselves My enemy and your enemy for patrons, casting forth to them (your) amity, and they have already disbelieved in what has come to you of the Truth, driving the Messenger and you (too) for that you believe in Allah, your Lord, in case you have gone out striving in My way and seeking My Supreme Satisfaction, secretly having amity towards them. And I know best whatever you conceal and whatever you make public; and whoever of you performs it, then he has already erred away from the level way.

  • George Sale

    O true believers, take not my enemy and your enemy for your friends, shewing kindness toward them; since they believe not in the truth which hath come unto you, having expelled the apostle and yourselves from your native city, because ye believe in God, your Lord. If ye go forth to fight in defence of my religion, and out of a desire to please me, and privately shew friendship unto them; verily I well know that which ye conceal, and that which ye discover: And whoever of you doth this, hath already erred from the strait path.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    O you who believe! Do not take My enemies, and yours, as protecting friends (or protectors by) offering them (your) love, even though they disbelieve the Truth that has come to you: And have (on the contrary) driven the Messenger (the Prophet) and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because you believe in Allah, your Lord. If you have come out to strive in My Way (Cause) and to seek My Good Pleasure, (take them not as protectors); Holding secret conversation of love with them: For I (Allah) completely know what you hide, and all that you reveal. And any of you who does this has strayed from the Straight Way.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    O you who believe! do not take those who are enemies of Me and to you for friends. Would you send them messages of love and friendship while they have denied the Truth that has come to you (and) have driven out the Messenger and yourselves (from your homes merely) because you believe in Allâh, your Lord? (How can you do so) if you migrated indeed to strive in My cause and seek My pleasure? Would (some of) you make secret offers of friendship and love to them while I am fully aware of all that you conceal and all that you profess openly? And whoever of you does such a thing (let him realize that he) has indeed strayed away from the straight path.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    O you who have faith! Do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends, offering them affection (for they have certainly defied whatever has come to you of the truth, expelling the Apostle and you, because you have faith in Allah, your Lord) if you have set out for jihād in My way and to seek My pleasure. You secretly nourish affection for them, while I know well whatever you hide and whatever you disclose, and whoever among you does that has certainly strayed from the right way.