Surah Al Imran ayat 118 Tafsir Quran 3:118

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 118]

3:118 O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.

O you who believe do not take as intimates as sincere friends revealing to them your secret thoughts anyone apart from yourselves from among the Jews Christians and the hypocrites; such men spare nothing to ruin you khabālan is in the accusative because the preposition that usually precedes it sc. fī’l-khabāl has been omitted that is to say they would not be remiss about corrupting you; they would love they wish for you to suffer al-‘anat means extreme hardship. Hatred enmity towards you is revealed it is manifested by their mouths by sowing discord among you and informing the idolaters of your secret plans; and what their breasts conceal of enmity is yet greater. Now We have made clear to you the signs of their enmity; if you understand this then do not befriend them.

O you people whose hearts have been impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues: do not have as intimate associates a body of persons of another law; they shall not hesitate to pervert you. They eagerly wish to overthrow you or bring an irretrievable disaster upon you. Nature has written a letter of discredit upon their faces that reflect hatred; such a hatred that is portrayed in their thoughts which they express in words, but worse is what their bosoms conceal. We have made to you Our revelations clear and plain if only you have soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends

Prohibition of Taking Allies From Disbelievers Who Ridicule Islam Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the hypocrites as allies, so that the hypocrites do not have the opportunity to expose the secrets of the believers and their plans against their enemies.
The hypocrites try their very best to confuse, oppose and harm the believers any way they can, and by using any wicked, evil means at their disposal.
They wish the very worst and difficult conditions for the believers.
Allah said, لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ ( Take not as (your ) Bitanah those other than your own) 3:118, in reference to taking followers of other religions as consultants and allies, for advisors of a certain person have access to his most secret affairs.
Al-Bukhari and An-Nasa'i recorded that, Abu Sa`id said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«مَا بَعَثَ اللهُ مِنْ نَبِيَ وَلَا اسْتَخْلَفَ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ إِلَّا كَانَتْ لَهُ بِطَانَتَانِ: بِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالْخَيْرِ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَبِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالسُّوءِ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَالْمَعْصُومُ مَنْ عَصَمَ الله»
( Allah has not sent any Prophet nor was there any Khalifah but they have two types of allies, one that commands him with righteousness and advises it, and another that commands him with evil and advises him with it.
Only those whom Allah gives immunity are immune. ) Ibn Abi Hatim reported that Ibn Abi Ad-Dahqanah said, "`Umar bin Al-Khattab was told, `There is young man here from the people of Hirah ( in Iraq, who were Christians ) who is a proficient scribe.
Why do you not appoint him as a scribe' `Umar said, `I would then be taking advisors from among the disbelievers."' This Ayah and the story about `Umar testify to the fact that Muslims are not allowed to use Ahl Adh-Dhimmah to be scribes in matters that affect the affairs of Muslims and expose their secrets, for they might convey these secrets to combatant disbelievers.
This is why Allah said, لاَ يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالاً وَدُّواْ مَا عَنِتُّمْ ( since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you.
They desire to harm you severely. ) Allah then said, قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَآءُ مِنْ أَفْوَهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِى صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ( Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. ) meaning, enmity appears on their faces and in what they sometimes utter, as well as, the enmity they have against Islam and its people in their hearts.
Since this fact is apparent to every person who has sound comprehension, therefore, قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الاٌّيَـتِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ( Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayat if you understand. ) Allah said next, هَآأَنتُمْ أُوْلاءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِبُّونَكُمْ ( O! You are the ones who love them but they love you not ), meaning, O believers! You like the hypocrites because you think they are believers, for they pretend to be so, but they do not like you publicly or secretly. وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْكِتَـبِ كُلِّهِ ( And you believe in all the Scriptures ) meaning, you have no doubt in any part of Allah's Book, while the hypocrites have deep doubts, confusion and reservations about it. Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْكِتَـبِ كُلِّهِ ( and you believe in all the Scriptures, ) means, you believe in your Book, their Book, and the previous Books, while the hypocrites disbelieve in your Book, and this is why they deserve that you dislike them instead of them disliking you.
Ibn Jarir collected this statement. وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ عَضُّواْ عَلَيْكُمُ الاٌّنَامِلَ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ( And when they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite their Anamil at you in rage. ) The word Anamil, means the tips of the fingers, as Qatadah stated.
This is the behavior of the hypocrites who pretend to be believers and kind when they are with the believers, all the while concealing the opposite in their hearts in every respect.
This is the exact situation that Allah describes, وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ عَضُّواْ عَلَيْكُمُ الاٌّنَامِلَ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ( But when they are alone, they bite their Anamil at you in rage ) and rage is extreme anger and fury.
Allah said to them, قُلْ مُوتُواْ بِغَيْظِكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( Say: "Perish in your rage.
Certainly, Allah knows what is in the breasts (all the secrets ).") for no matter how much you envy the believers and feel rage towards them, know that Allah shall perfect His favor on His believing servants, complete His religion, raise high His Word and give dominance to His religion.
Therefore, O hypocrites, die in rage, إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( Allah knows what is in the breasts. ) Allah has perfect knowledge of what you conceal in your hearts and chests and in the rage, envy and hatred you have against the believers.
Allah will punish you for all this in this life, and they will have the good that you dislike for them.
In the Hereafter, you will suffer severe torment in the Fire where you will remain for eternity. Thereafter, Allah said, إِن تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِن تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُواْ بِهَا ( If a good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some evil overtakes you, they rejoice at it ) 3:120.
This only emphasizes the severity of the enmity that the hypocrites feel against the believers.
If the believers enjoy fertile years, victories, support and their numbers and following increase, the hypocrites become displeased.
When the Muslims suffer a drought or their enemies gain the upper hand against them, by Allah's decree, just as occurred during the battle of Uhud, the hypocrites become pleased.
Allah said to His believing servants, وَإِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئاً ( But if you remain patient and have Taqwa, not the least harm will their cunning do to you. ) Allah directs the believers to safety from the wickedness of evil people and the plots of the sinners, by recommending them to revert to patience and by having fear of Allah and trusting Him.
Allah encompasses the enemies of the believers, all the while the believers have no power or strength except from Him.
Whatever Allah wills, occurs, and whatever He does not will, does not occur.
Nothing happens in His Kingdom except with His decision and according to His decrees.
Verily, whoever relies on Allah, Allah shall suffice for him. Allah then mentions the story of Uhud, the defeat that He tested the believers with, His distinguishing the believers from the hypocrites and their patience.

(3:118) Believers! Do not take for intimate friends those who are not of your kind. They spare no effort to injure you. *92 Indeed they love all that distresses you. Their hatred is clearly manifest in what they say, and what their breasts conceal is even greater. Now We have made Our messages clear to you, if only you can understand (the danger of their intimacy).

O you who have believed, do not meaning

*92).
The Jews living on the outskirts of Madina had long enjoyed friendly relations with the two tribes of Aws and Khazraj.
In the first place this was the result of relations between individuals.
Later, they were bound by ties of neighbourliness and allegiance as a result of tribal inter-relationship.
Even after the people of Aws and Khazraj embraced Islam, they maintained their old ties with the Jews and continued to treat them with the same warmth and cordiality.
However, the hostility of the Jews towards the Arabian Prophet ( peace be on him ) and towards his mission was far too intense to allow them to maintain a cordial relationship with anyone who had joined the new movement.
Outwardly, the Jews maintained the same terms of friendship with the Ansar ( Helpers ) as before but at heart they had become their sworn enemies.
They made the best use of this pretended friendship, and remained constantly on the look-out for opportunities to create schisms and dissensions in the Muslim body-politic, and to draw out the secrets of the Muslims and pass them on to their enemies.
Here God warns the Muslims to note this hypocrisy and take the necessary precaution.

 

Prohibition of Taking Allies From Disbelievers Who Ridicule Islam Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the hypocrites as allies, so that the hypocrites do not have the opportunity to expose the secrets of the believers and their plans against their enemies.
The hypocrites try their very best to confuse, oppose and harm the believers any way they can, and by using any wicked, evil means at their disposal.
They wish the very worst and difficult conditions for the believers.
Allah said, لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ ( Take not as (your ) Bitanah those other than your own) 3:118, in reference to taking followers of other religions as consultants and allies, for advisors of a certain person have access to his most secret affairs.
Al-Bukhari and An-Nasa'i recorded that, Abu Sa`id said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَا بَعَثَ اللهُ مِنْ نَبِيَ وَلَا اسْتَخْلَفَ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ إِلَّا كَانَتْ لَهُ بِطَانَتَانِ: بِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالْخَيْرِ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَبِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالسُّوءِ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَالْمَعْصُومُ مَنْ عَصَمَ الله» ( Allah has not sent any Prophet nor was there any Khalifah but they have two types of allies, one that commands him with righteousness and advises it, and another that commands him with evil and advises him with it.
Only those whom Allah gives immunity are immune. ) Ibn Abi Hatim reported that Ibn Abi Ad-Dahqanah said, "`Umar bin Al-Khattab was told, `There is young man here from the people of Hirah ( in Iraq, who were Christians ) who is a proficient scribe.
Why do you not appoint him as a scribe' `Umar said, `I would then be taking advisors from among the disbelievers."' This Ayah and the story about `Umar testify to the fact that Muslims are not allowed to use Ahl Adh-Dhimmah to be scribes in matters that affect the affairs of Muslims and expose their secrets, for they might convey these secrets to combatant disbelievers.
This is why Allah said, لاَ يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالاً وَدُّواْ مَا عَنِتُّمْ ( since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you.
They desire to harm you severely. ) Allah then said, قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَآءُ مِنْ أَفْوَهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِى صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ( Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. ) meaning, enmity appears on their faces and in what they sometimes utter, as well as, the enmity they have against Islam and its people in their hearts.
Since this fact is apparent to every person who has sound comprehension, therefore, قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الاٌّيَـتِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ( Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayat if you understand. ) Allah said next, هَآأَنتُمْ أُوْلاءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِبُّونَكُمْ ( O! You are the ones who love them but they love you not ), meaning, O believers! You like the hypocrites because you think they are believers, for they pretend to be so, but they do not like you publicly or secretly. وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْكِتَـبِ كُلِّهِ ( And you believe in all the Scriptures ) meaning, you have no doubt in any part of Allah's Book, while the hypocrites have deep doubts, confusion and reservations about it. Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْكِتَـبِ كُلِّهِ ( and you believe in all the Scriptures, ) means, you believe in your Book, their Book, and the previous Books, while the hypocrites disbelieve in your Book, and this is why they deserve that you dislike them instead of them disliking you.
Ibn Jarir collected this statement. وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ عَضُّواْ عَلَيْكُمُ الاٌّنَامِلَ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ( And when they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite their Anamil at you in rage. ) The word Anamil, means the tips of the fingers, as Qatadah stated.
This is the behavior of the hypocrites who pretend to be believers and kind when they are with the believers, all the while concealing the opposite in their hearts in every respect.
This is the exact situation that Allah describes, وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ عَضُّواْ عَلَيْكُمُ الاٌّنَامِلَ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ( But when they are alone, they bite their Anamil at you in rage ) and rage is extreme anger and fury.
Allah said to them, قُلْ مُوتُواْ بِغَيْظِكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( Say: "Perish in your rage.
Certainly, Allah knows what is in the breasts (all the secrets ).") for no matter how much you envy the believers and feel rage towards them, know that Allah shall perfect His favor on His believing servants, complete His religion, raise high His Word and give dominance to His religion.
Therefore, O hypocrites, die in rage, إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( Allah knows what is in the breasts. ) Allah has perfect knowledge of what you conceal in your hearts and chests and in the rage, envy and hatred you have against the believers.
Allah will punish you for all this in this life, and they will have the good that you dislike for them.
In the Hereafter, you will suffer severe torment in the Fire where you will remain for eternity. Thereafter, Allah said, إِن تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِن تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُواْ بِهَا ( If a good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some evil overtakes you, they rejoice at it ) 3:120.
This only emphasizes the severity of the enmity that the hypocrites feel against the believers.
If the believers enjoy fertile years, victories, support and their numbers and following increase, the hypocrites become displeased.
When the Muslims suffer a drought or their enemies gain the upper hand against them, by Allah's decree, just as occurred during the battle of Uhud, the hypocrites become pleased.
Allah said to His believing servants, وَإِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئاً ( But if you remain patient and have Taqwa, not the least harm will their cunning do to you. ) Allah directs the believers to safety from the wickedness of evil people and the plots of the sinners, by recommending them to revert to patience and by having fear of Allah and trusting Him.
Allah encompasses the enemies of the believers, all the while the believers have no power or strength except from Him.
Whatever Allah wills, occurs, and whatever He does not will, does not occur.
Nothing happens in His Kingdom except with His decision and according to His decrees.
Verily, whoever relies on Allah, Allah shall suffice for him. Allah then mentions the story of Uhud, the defeat that He tested the believers with, His distinguishing the believers from the hypocrites and their patience.

Allah then forbade the believers from among the Helpers to speak with the Jews or divulge secrets to them, saying: ( O ye who believe! Take not ) the Jews ( for intimates ) confidants ( others than your own folk ) the sincere believers, ( who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you ) they love for you to sin and become idolaters as they themselves have become. ( Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of ) their mouths) through vilification and defamation, ( but that which their breasts hide is greater ) but what they hide in their hearts of hatred and enmity is even greater. ( We have made plain for you the revelations ) the signs of their resentful envy ( if you will understand ) what is recited to you; it is also said that this means: We have made the revelations, i.e. the commands and prohibitions, clear so that you know what I command you.

O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, etc.) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand.

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