Surah At-Taghabun 64:14
سُورَةُ التَّغَابُنِ · Medinan · Verse 14 of 18
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَٰدِكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا لَّكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا۟ وَتَصْفَحُوا۟ وَتَغْفِرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ
Translation
Believers, even among your spouses and your children you have some enemies- beware of them- but if you overlook their offences, forgive them, pardon them, then God is all forgiving, all merciful.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
The verse begins with a direct, compassionate address: "O you who have believed," calling out to those who have accepted faith in Allah and His Messenger. This immediately establishes the audience as the community of believers, and the message that follows is specifically for their guidance and well-being. Allah Himself is speaking, offering a profound caution and a path to spiritual growth. The overall tone is one of earnest advice, mixing warning with encouragement, designed to reshape our perspective on our closest relationships.
The Startling Revelation: "An Adversary Among You"
The verse makes a striking statement: `إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ` (Indeed, from your spouses and children is an adversary to you). The word `مِن` (min) here is crucial, meaning "some of" or "among," making it clear that this does not apply to all spouses and children, but a specific subset. Ibn Ashur highlights the unique word order, where the news "from your spouses and children" is presented before the subject "an adversary." This grammatical choice emphasizes the surprising and significant nature of the warning: that an adversary could arise from within one's most intimate circle.
The term `عَدُوًّا` (aduwwan) itself, meaning "adversary" or "enemy," is singular and masculine even when referring to plural subjects like spouses and children. As Ibn Ashur explains, this form implies a quality or type of enmity rather than an individual person. Scholars like al-Razi and al-Jalalayn clarify that this "enmity" often manifests not as overt hostility, but as hindering believers from performing righteous deeds. For instance, in the early days of Islam, some family members discouraged believers from making the Hijra (migration) or participating in Jihad (struggle in the way of Allah), fearing separation or loss. Their love or attachment, though seemingly benign, could subtly lead one away from Allah's path, thus acting as an adversary to one's spiritual progress.
The Divine Counsel: "Be Cautious, Yet Forgive"
Following this revelation, the directive is `فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ` (so be cautious of them). This is not an instruction to hate or abandon them, but to be vigilant and guard oneself against their negative influence on one's faith and obedience to Allah. It is a call for spiritual self-preservation.
Yet, immediately after this warning, the verse offers a pathway of mercy: `وَإِن تَعْفُوا۟ وَتَصْفَحُوا۟ وَتَغْفِرُوا۟`. Ibn Ashur meticulously breaks down these three interconnected acts:
* `تَعْفُوا` (ta'foo) means to pardon or relinquish punishment, even if one might still express disapproval.
* `تَصْفَحُوا` (tasfahoo) means to overlook or turn away from the wrongdoer, going a step further by not even rebuking them.
* `تَغْفِرُوا` (taghfiroo) means to cover up their misdeed or sin, not publicizing it.
This progression shows increasingly profound levels of forgiveness and grace. The scholars note that the object of these verbs, "them" (referring to the spouses and children), is left unsaid, implying a general encouragement to practice these qualities in all circumstances where they might be applicable. It’s a profound balance between protecting one's faith and maintaining human relationships with compassion.
The Promise: "Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful"
The verse concludes with a powerful motivation: `فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ` (for indeed Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful). This phrase serves as both a reason and a reward. It reminds us that if we choose to embody forgiveness, overlooking faults, and covering the mistakes of others, we are reflecting the very attributes of Allah. He, in turn, will grant us His boundless forgiveness and mercy. It encourages believers to extend grace to those who may hinder them, knowing that this act of compassion is beloved by Allah and leads to immense spiritual reward.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Qur'anic Worlds
This beautiful verse from Surah At-Taghabun opens with a direct address from Allah to the believers, "يا أيها الذين آمنوا" (O you who believe). It's a profound teaching, spoken by Allah Himself, initially offering a stark warning, then a gentle encouragement. The immediate situation is one where believers might find themselves torn between their faith and their most beloved earthly ties.
The World of Early Muslims
To truly understand this verse, we step into the "World of Revelation," imagining the early Muslim community. Scholars like al-Razi, al-Baghawi, and Ibn Kathir mention that this verse was revealed concerning Muslims in Makkah who had embraced Islam after the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had migrated to Madinah. At that time, migrating to Madinah, known as *hijrah*, was a religious obligation. However, some of their wives and children pleaded with them, saying, "You are leaving us helpless!" or "We cannot bear your separation," thus preventing them from performing this crucial act of obedience.
Another account, mentioned by Ata ibn Yasar and Mufti Shafi, relates to Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i. Whenever he intended to join a battle (jihad), his family would weep and complain, making him soften his resolve and stay behind.
In both scenarios, the phrase "عدوًا لكم" (an enemy for you) doesn't imply personal hatred from the family members. Instead, as Ma'arif al-Quran clarifies, it means they acted as an adversary by hindering the believer from obeying Allah's commands, whether it was *hijrah* or *jihad*. Such a hindrance, if it leads one away from Allah's path, is indeed a profound spiritual danger. The Companions experienced a deep internal conflict: their love for family against their duty to Allah. The verse warns them, "فاحذروهم" (so beware of them), meaning, be cautious not to let their influence lead you astray from your faith and obligations.
A Divine Call to Forgiveness
The verse then shifts to a message of immense mercy: "وإن تعفوا وتصفحوا وتغفروا فإن الله غفور رحيم" (And if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful). When these prevented believers eventually managed to reach Madinah, they saw others who had migrated earlier having gained much knowledge and religious understanding. Some of them felt anger and bitterness towards their families who had held them back, even considering punishing them or withholding financial support if they later joined them.
It was in this context that Allah revealed the second part of the verse. Despite the hardship their families caused, Allah encourages them to exercise compassion. *Ta'fu* means to pardon, letting go of any right to retribution. *Tasfahu* means to overlook or turn away from their offense, not dwelling on it. *Taghfiru* means to forgive, covering up their misdeed as if it never happened. Allah concludes by reminding us of His own boundless attributes: "غفور رحيم" (Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful), thereby inviting believers to reflect these qualities in their own dealings, even with those who might have inadvertently hindered them. This teaches us that while our duty to Allah comes first, compassion and forgiveness should always follow, especially within our families.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ibn Kathir
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah At-Taghabun 64:14 is discussed in 10 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah At-Taghabun 64:14 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.