Sign in
Grow Beyond Ramadan!
Learn more
Sign in
Sign in
Select Language
8:73
والذين كفروا بعضهم اولياء بعض الا تفعلوه تكن فتنة في الارض وفساد كبير ٧٣
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُن فِتْنَةٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ٧٣
وَٱلَّذِينَ
كَفَرُوا۟
بَعْضُهُمْ
أَوْلِيَآءُ
بَعْضٍ ۚ
إِلَّا
تَفْعَلُوهُ
تَكُن
فِتْنَةٌۭ
فِى
ٱلْأَرْضِ
وَفَسَادٌۭ
كَبِيرٌۭ
٧٣
As for the disbelievers, they are guardians of one another. And unless you ˹believers˺ act likewise, there will be great oppression and corruption in the land.
Tafsirs
Layers
Lessons
Reflections
Answers
Qiraat
Hadith

Said in the second verse (73) وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ (And those who disbelieve are friends to each other). The word: وَلِی (waliyy) used here, as stated earlier, carries a general sense included wherein is inheritance as well as the guardianship and patronage of affairs. Therefore, from this verse, we learn that disbelievers shall be considered inheritors to each other and the very law of the distribution of inheritance which is in force in their own religion shall be implemented as far as matters of their inheritance are concerned. In addition to that, the guardian وَلِی (waliyy) responsible for the upbringing of their orphaned children and for the marriage of their girls shall be from among them. In a nutshell, it means that, in family matters, the religious law of non-Muslims themselves shall stand duly protected in an Islamic state.

At the end of the verse, it was said إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُن فِتْنَةٌ فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ‌ (And if you will not do so, there shall be disorder on the earth, and a great corruption - 73).

This sentence is connected with all those injunctions mentioned a little earlier, for instance, (1) the Muhajir and the Ansar should be friends to each other, which includes mutual help and support, as well as inheritance; (2) the Muhajir and non-Muhajir Muslims of that period of time should not consider themselves related to each other in terms of inheritance, but the doors of help and support should remain open subject to relevant conditions; (3) the disbelievers were caretakers (waliyy) of each other, therefore, Muslims should not interfere with their law of guardianship and inheritance in any way.

Thereafter the text says if things were not done according to these injunctions, there shall be disorder and corruption on the earth. Perhaps, this warning has been given in view of the importance of the injunctions described here for they were based on major principles of equity, justice and public peace. The related verses make it amply clear that the way mutual help, support and inheritance depend on lineal bond - in the same manner, religious bond has its own importance in this matter. In fact, religious bond has precedence over lineal bond. This is the reason why a Kafir (disbeliever) cannot inherit from a Muslim and a Muslim cannot inherit from a Kafir - even though, they be fathers or sons or brothers by lineage. Along with it, in order to block religious prejudice and pagan partisanship, instructions were given that, no doubt, the religious bond is so formidable, yet standing by the terms of a treaty comes first and is more preferable. Contravention of the terms of a treaty is not permissible under the heat of religious partisanship. Similarly, also given was the instruction that the disbelievers are responsible for each other as guardians and inheritors, therefore, no interference should be made in their personal law of guardianship and inheritance. On the surface, these look like a few subsidiary injunctions, but they are, in reality, comprehensive basic principles of equity and justice for all which guarantee world peace. This is the reason why, at this place, following the description of these injunctions, warning has been given in words which have not been generally used in the case of other injunctions: 'If you will not do so, there shall be disorder and corruption on the earth.' Also given within these words is a hint that these injunctions have an effectiveness of their own in checking disorder and corruption.

He has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Notes placeholders
Read, Listen, Search, and Reflect on the Quran

Quran.com is a trusted platform used by millions worldwide to read, search, listen to, and reflect on the Quran in multiple languages. It provides translations, tafsir, recitations, word-by-word translation, and tools for deeper study, making the Quran accessible to everyone.

As a Sadaqah Jariyah, Quran.com is dedicated to helping people connect deeply with the Quran. Supported by Quran.Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Quran.com continues to grow as a free and valuable resource for all, Alhamdulillah.

Navigate
Home
Quran Radio
Reciters
About Us
Developers
Product Updates
Feedback
Help
Donate
Our Projects
Quran.com
Quran For Android
Quran iOS
QuranReflect.com
Quran.AI
Sunnah.com
Nuqayah.com
Legacy.Quran.com
Corpus.Quran.com
Non-profit projects owned, managed, or sponsored by Quran.Foundation
Popular Links

Ayatul Kursi

Yaseen

Al Mulk

Ar-Rahman

Al Waqi'ah

Al Kahf

Al Muzzammil

SitemapPrivacyTerms and Conditions
© 2026 Quran.com. All Rights Reserved