And those who disbelieved are allies of one another. If you do not do so [i.e., ally yourselves with other believers], there will be fitnah [i.e., disbelief and oppression] on earth and great corruption.
Verse 73 of Surah Al-Anfal (8:73), a Medinan surah, is in juz 10, on page 186 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 73 of Surah Al-Anfal
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Tafsir of verse 73
Al-Mukhtasar
The disbelievers are united in their disbelief and they therefore become friends of one another. A believer should not become friends with them. If you do not become friends with the believers and oppose the disbelievers, the believers will suffer weakness as a result of a lack of support and there will be great corruption on earth as people will be prevented from Allah’s path.
Those who disbelieve are protectors of one another46. Unless you do likewise, there will be persecution in the land and great corruption.
Notes
[46] i.e., taking one another as allies and abandoning all bonds with the disbelievers.
And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you (Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so [i.e. become allies, as one united block under one Khalifah (a chief Muslim ruler for the whole Muslim world) to make victorious Allâh’s religion of Islâmic Monotheism], there will be Fitnah (wars, battles, polytheism) and oppression on the earth, and a great mischief and corruption (appearance of polytheism).8
Notes
[8] (V.8:73) It has been mentioned in Tafsjr At-Tabari, that the best interpretation of this Verse: - ["And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you (Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so (i.e. become allies, as one united block V.8:73)."] is "That if you do not do what We (Allâh) have ordered you to do, [i.e. all of you (Muslims of the whole world) do not become allies as one united block to make Allâh’s religion Islâm) victorious, there will be a great Fitnah (polytheism, wars, battles, killing, robbing, a great mischief, corruption and oppression.)"]. And it is Fitnah to have many Khalifahs (Muslim rulers), as it has been mentioned in Sahih Muslim by ‘Arfajah, who said: I heard Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: "When you all (Muslims) are united (as one block) under a single Khalifah (chief Muslim ruler), and a man comes up to disintegrate you and separate you into different groups, then kill that man."
Also there is another narration in Sahih Muslim: Narrated Abu Sa‘îd Al-Khudrî رضي الله عنه: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid: "If the Muslim world gave the Bai‘a (pledge) to two Khalifah (chief Muslim rulers), the first one who was given the Bai‘a (pledge) first will remain as the Khalifah, then kill the latter (the second) one." So it is a legal obligation, from the above-mentioned evident proofs (from the Qur’ân and the Prophet’s statement), that there shall not be more than one Khalifah (a chief Muslim ruler) for the whole Muslim world or otherwise there will be a great Fitnah (mischief and evil) amongst the Muslims, the ultimate results of which will not be worthy of praise.
And those who disbelieve are protectors one of another - If ye do not so, there will be confusion in the land, and great corruption.
The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless ye do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on earth, and great mischief.
And (as for) those who disbelieve, some of them are the guardians of others; if you will not do it, there will be in the land persecution and great mischief.
And the ones who have disbelieved are patrons one of another. In case you do not (i.e., if the believers do not patronize each other) perform that, there will be temptation (Or: dissension) in the earth and great corruption.
Usāmah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A Muslim cannot inherit from a disbeliever nor can a disbeliever inherit from a Muslim."
