Transliteration:( Waddoo law takfuroona kamaa kafaroo fatakoonoona sawaaa'an falaa tattakhizoo minhum awliyaaa'a hattaa yuhaajiroo fee sabeelil laah; fa in tawallaw fa khuzoohum waqtuloohum haisu wajat tumoohum wa laa tattakhizoo minhum waliyyanw wa laa naseeraa )
“They wish that you should also become infidels as they became disbelievers [277], so that you may all become equals. Then take not any of them as your friends [278] unless they leave their homes (migrate) in the way of Allah [279]. Then if they turn back (to enmity), then seize them and kill them wherever you find them [280]. And take not any of them as friends or helpers [281].”
The words “they wish” refer to the hypocrites and disbelievers whose motive was not sincerity in faith. Their aim in forming friendly ties with Muslims was to lure them into disbelief, not to join Islam genuinely.
Their abandonment of the Muslims and joining the disbelievers in Makkah proves their hidden betrayal.
From this we learn:
Attempting to pull someone towards disbelief is, in itself, an act of apostasy.
This verse teaches that:
It is strictly forbidden to befriend:
Disbelievers
Apostates
Irreligious sects (even if they recite the Kalima outwardly like the hypocrites)
Calling such individuals “Muslims” despite their evident betrayal of faith is also wrong.
The condition “unless they leave their homes” means:
They must migrate from Makkah with complete sincerity.
Their migration in the path of Allah would serve as a clear sign of genuine faith.
If they refuse to migrate, declaring “we shall never leave Makkah, nor accept true faith,” then:
Their refusal exposes their false Islam
They are to be treated as apostates
Thus, outward profession of Islam cannot be trusted without clear supporting actions.
This verse confirms that the punishment for apostasy in Islam is death, unless the apostate:
Repents, and
Returns to Islam
In contrast:
A non-Muslim’s options include:
Accepting Islam
Paying Jizyah (poll tax)
Imprisonment
Or death
But for the apostate, the only alternatives are:
Return to Islam or be executed
From this, we learn:
In matters of religion, assistance should not be sought from polytheists.
However, in cases of dire necessity, one may act upon the principle:
“Necessity normalises the abnormal.”
That is, temporary exceptions may be made only in unavoidable situations, but never as a standard practice.
The tafsir of Surah Nisa verse 89 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Nisa ayat 88 which provides the complete commentary from verse 88 through 91.
(4:89) They wish that you should disbelieve just as they disbelieved so that you may all be alike. Do not, therefore, take from them allies until they emigrate in the way of Allah, but if they turn their backs (on emigration), seize them and slay them[118] wherever you come upon them. Take none of them for your ally or helper,
118. This is the verdict on those hypocritical confessors of faith who belong to a belligerent, non-Muslim nation and actually participate in acts of hostility against the Islamic state.
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