The Holy Quran 9:123 — Surah At-Tawbah

Arabic text

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا۟ فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

Translation

O you who have Imaan! Fight those Kuffaar who are near you (those living nearest to you and then those nearest to them and so forth) and let them feel your sternness. Know that indeed Allaah is with those who have Taqwa (Allaah will grant you dominance over the Kuffaar in proportion to your Taqwa).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The necessity and importance of acquiring knowledge: jihad is fard kifayah (a communal obligation, which, when fulfilled by some, is lifted from the rest), and in keeping with the natural order it should be waged first against those disbelievers who are nearest to the Muslims, then against those living near them, and so the circle of jihad should be widened…

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