Sura-4 [Al Nissa Medina 92]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ...   

4:139. Yea, to those who take for friends unbelievers rather than believers:

... أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ العِزَّةَ لِلّهِ جَمِيعًا ﴿١٣٩﴾

is it honor they seek among them?

Nay, all honor is with Allah.

C648. If the motive is some advantage, some honour, -the fountain of all good is Allah.

How can it really be expected from those who deny Faith?

And if there is some show of worldly honour, what is it worth against the contempt they earn in the next world?

Asad’s Version:

4: 139 As for those who take the deniers of the truth for their allies in preference to the believers – do they hope to be honored by them when, behold, all honor belongs to God [alone]?

Yusuf Ali Yea to those who take for friends unbelievers rather than believers: is it honor they seek among them? Nay all honor is with Allah.

Pickthall Those who choose disbelievers for their friends instead of believers! Do they look for power at their hands? Lo! all power appertaineth to Allah.

Allazina yattakhizu_nal ka_firina aulaya_'a min du_nil mu'minin(a), ayabtagu_na 'indahumul 'izzata fa innal 'izzata lilla_hi jami'a_(n).

[[Asad’s notes: 154 – See 3:28, However, the term “allies” (awliya, sing wali) does not indicate, in this context, merely political alliances. More than anything else, it obviously alludes to a “moral alliance” with the deniers of the truth: ………………]]

[[ Ruby’s note – The context of these verses is war and possibility of war. Therefore these verses need to be understood from that context. The highest alliance is with God in complying with His moral law. A believer’s purpose of life, honor and dignity all should emanate from this idea. In another word our dignity and highest honor comes from complying with God’s law and serving Him. Other things that seem to give worldly recognition and honor before a society and/or individual are actually meaningless and not important. Often we humans in course of life get impressed and overwhelmed by worldly position and status, we feel we are uplifted by achieving these ourselves or trying to associate us with the individuals, offices, or ideas that has social recognition and standing. However, if these are coming from the people and/or institution which deny God, these are worthless because these deny the most important truth, and therefore all their doings and thinking are based on falsehood and wrong understanding. Associating with these seemingly glorified ideas and/or people in the society is absolutely wrong and fruitless. A believer’s dignity and honor come from following the law of God and serving Him even thought that, sometimes, may not have social recognition.]]