and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. Whoever among you takes them as allies is one of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

“Then you see those in whose hearts is a disease rushing to their side, saying, ‘We fear that misfortune may befall us.’ But perhaps Allah will bring victory or a decision from Him, and then they will regret what they concealed within themselves.”

“The believers will say, ‘Are these the ones who swore their most solemn oaths by Allah that they were with you?’ Their deeds have come to nothing, and they have become losers.”

“O you who believe, whoever among you turns back from his religion—Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers and stern towards the disbelievers, striving in the cause of Allah and fearing no blame from anyone. That is Allah’s bounty, which He grants to whom He wills. Allah is boundless in bounty, All-Knowing.”

“Your only allies are Allah, His Messenger, and the believers who establish prayer, give zakah, and bow down in worship.”

“Whoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and the believers as allies—indeed, the party of Allah will be victorious.”

These noble verses contain a lesson for people of understanding. Allah Most High revealed them because, in Medina, the Prophet’s city, there were non-Muslims under Muslim protection who possessed power and strength during the lifetime of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. There were also groups of Muslims whose certainty and faith were weak, and among them were hypocrites who outwardly professed Islam while inwardly harbouring disbelief, such as Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the leader of the hypocrites, and others like him. They feared that the disbelievers might gain the upper hand, so they allied themselves with them and took them into their confidence.

Allah Most High said:

“Then you see those in whose hearts is a disease”—that is, hypocrisy and weakness of faith—“rushing to their side”