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Muhammad Asad   
LET NOT the believers take those who deny the truth for their allies in preference to the believers - since he who does this cuts himself off from God in everything - unless it be to protect yourselves against them in this way. But God warns you to beware of Him: for with God is all journeys' end
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Believers should not take disbelievers as guardians instead of the believers—and whoever does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah—unless it is a precaution against their tyranny. And Allah warns you about Himself. And to Allah is the final return.
Safi Kaskas   
The believers should not take unbelievers as allies in preference to believers. Anyone who does that will completely isolate himself from God, unless you are seeking to protect your own selves from them. God warns you to beware of Him. God is our ultimate destination.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
لَّا یَتَّخِذِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ أَوۡلِیَاۤءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَۖ وَمَن یَفۡعَلۡ ذَ ٰلِكَ فَلَیۡسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِی شَیۡءٍ إِلَّاۤ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنۡهُمۡ تُقَىٰةࣰۗ وَیُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسَهُۥۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمَصِیرُ ۝٢٨
Transliteration (2021)   
lā yattakhidhi l-mu'minūna l-kāfirīna awliyāa min dūni l-mu'minīna waman yafʿal dhālika falaysa mina l-lahi fī shayin illā an tattaqū min'hum tuqātan wayuḥadhirukumu l-lahu nafsahu wa-ilā l-lahi l-maṣīr
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
(Let) not take the believers, the disbelievers (as) allies from instead of the believers. And whoever does that, then not he (has) from Allah in anything except that you fear from them, (as) a precaution. And warns you Allah (of) Himself, and to Allah (is) the final return.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
LET NOT the believers take those who deny the truth for their allies in preference to the believers - since he who does this cuts himself off from God in everything - unless it be to protect yourselves against them in this way. But God warns you to beware of Him: for with God is all journeys' end
M. M. Pickthall   
Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Believers should not take disbelievers as guardians instead of the believers—and whoever does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah—unless it is a precaution against their tyranny. And Allah warns you about Himself. And to Allah is the final return.
Safi Kaskas   
The believers should not take unbelievers as allies in preference to believers. Anyone who does that will completely isolate himself from God, unless you are seeking to protect your own selves from them. God warns you to beware of Him. God is our ultimate destination.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Let not the believers take those who deny the truth for their allies in preference to the believersanyone who does that will isolate himself completely from Godunless it be to protect yourselves against them in this way.[3] God admonishes you to fear Him: for, to God shall all return
Shakir   
Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Let not the ones who believe take to themselves the ones who are ungrateful for protectors instead of the ones who believe. And whoever accomplishes that is not with God in anything, unless it is because you are Godfearing that you are being cautious towards them. And God cautions you of Himself. And to God is the Homecoming.
T.B.Irving   
Believers should not enlist disbelievers as patrons in preference to [other] believers. Anyone who does so will have nothing to do with God, so you should take precautions against them. God warns you about Himself-, for towards God lies the Goal!
Abdul Hye   
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Whoever does that, there will not (be help) from Allah in anything, except that you fear of them for protection. And Allah warns you of His punishment and to Allah is the final return.
The Study Quran   
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as protectors apart from the believers. Whosoever does that has no bond with God, unless you guard against them out of prudence. And God warns you of Himself, and unto God is the journey’s end
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Believers should not take unbelievers as protectors instead of believers. Whoever does so has nothing to do with God, unless it is to protect oneself from them out of caution. God warns you about Himself. To God is the final return.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Believers are not to take disbelievers for friends instead of believers. Whoever does that has nothing to do with God, unless it is to protect your own selves against them. God warns you to beware of Him. To God is the destiny
Dr. Kamal Omar   
The Believers do not pick up disbelievers as auliya instead of the Believers; and whoever commits this — then there is no (assistance) from Allah in anything except that you make defence against them (when) being defensive. And Allah cautions you about His Self. And to Allah is the Final Return
M. Farook Malik   
Let not the believers make unbelievers their protectors rather than the believers; anyone who does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah - except if you do so as a precaution to guard yourselves against their tyranny. Anyhow, Allah warns you to fear Him: because with Allah is your final refuge
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
The believers should not take to themselves the disbelievers for constant patrons, apart from (i.e. rather than) the believers; and he who performs that, (then) he has nothing (to look to) from Allah, excepting that you may protect yourselves against them (in manner) of protection. And Allah bids you beware Himself; and to Allah is the Destiny
Muhammad Sarwar   
The believers must not establish friendship with the unbelievers in preference to the faithful. Whoever does so has nothing to hope for from God unless he does it out of fear or taqiyah (pious dissimulation). God warns you about Himself. To God do all things return
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, unless you (do so) as a protective measure (in order to) save yourself from them. Allah warns you of Himself, for unto Allah is the return
Shabbir Ahmed   
(Those who reject the Laws of such an Omnipotent Creator, will not support the Divine Ideology). Believers should not expect them to be their supporters in the establishment of the Divine System instead of their fellow believers. If a believer did that, he would have nothing to do with (the Cause of) Allah. Exempted are those who are forced to do this to avoid persecution. Allah warns you of His Law of Requital, and to Allah is the Journeying
Dr. Munir Munshey   
The believers should not take as friends the unbelievers in preference to the believers _ unless they sense (and suspect) harm (and harassment) from the unbelievers. Whoever does that shall have nothing from Allah at all. Allah cautions you to beware of Him! Towards Allah is your final destination
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Let the believers not take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers: If any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: Except by way of precaution, that you may guard yourself from them. But Allah cautions you Himself; Because the final goal is to Allah
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Let not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah , except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Let not the believers take the rejecters as allies instead of the believers. And whoever does so will have nothing with God; for you are to be cautious of them as they deserve. And God warns you of Himself, and to God is the destiny
Abdel Haleem   
The believers should not make the disbelievers their allies rather than other believers- anyone who does such a thing will isolate himself completely from God- except when you need to protect yourselves from them. God warns you to beware of Him: the Final Return is to God
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Let not the believers take unto themselves the infidels as friends, beside the believers: and whosoever doth that, then he is not in respect of Allah in aught, unless indeed ye fear from them a danger. And Allah maketh ye beware of Himself; and unto Allah is the last wending
Ahmed Ali   
Those who believe should not take unbelievers as their friends in preference to those who believe -- and whoever does so should have no (expectations) of God -- unless to safeguard yourselves against them. But God commands you to beware of Him, for to God you will journey in the end
Aisha Bewley   
The muminun should not take kafirun as friends rather than muminun. Anyone who does that has nothing to do with Allah at all — unless it is because you are afraid of them. Allah advises you to beware of Him. Allah is the final destination.
Ali Ünal   
Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends, guardians, and councilors in preference to the believers. Whoever does that is not on a way from God and has no connection with Him, unless it be to protect yourselves against them and take precautions (against the danger of being persecuted and forced to turn away from your religion or betray your community, or of losing your life). And God warns you that you beware of Himself; and to God is the homecoming
Ali Quli Qara'i   
The faithful should not take the faithless for allies instead of the faithful, and whoever does that Allah will have nothing to do with him, except when you are wary of them out of caution. Allah warns you to beware of [disobeying] Him, and toward Allah is the return
Hamid S. Aziz   
Let not those who believe take disbelievers for their friends rather than believers. He who does this has no part with Allah at all, unless, indeed, you guard yourselves against them. But Allah bids you beware of only Himself, for unto Allah is your jour
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
The believers shall not take disbelievers as their protectors (and supporters) in lieu of the believers. And whoever does this, then he is not on anything from God (and has nothing to do with Him), unless you cautiously protect yourself from them. And God warns you about Himself (and His punishment). And the final return is to God.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Let not the believers take for friends or helpers those who refuse to believe rather than believers. If any do that, they will never receive help from God, except by way of precaution, that you may guard yourselves from them, but God cautions you, for the final goal is to God
Musharraf Hussain   
The believers should not make the disbelievers their allies in preference to the believers, and whoever does so will receive no help from Allah unless they have done so to protect themselves out of fear. Allah cautions you to be mindful of Him, and the final return is to Allah.
Maududi   
The believers may not take the unbelievers for their allies in preference to those who believe. Whoever does this has nothing to do with Allah unless he does so in order to protect himself from their wrong-doing. Allah warns you to beware of Him for it is to Allah that you will return
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Let not the believers take the rejecters as allies instead of the believers. And whoever does so will have nothing with God; for you are to be cautious of them as they deserve. And God warns you of Himself, and to God is the destiny.
Mohammad Shafi   
The believers take not the unbelievers — instead of the believers — as their awliya. And anyone who does that won't have any share in anything from Allah, except in the case that you fear persecution from them. And Allah asks you to have fear of Him. And to Allah is the final destination

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Let not the Muslims takes infidels as their friends besides the Muslims and whosoever shall do that he has no connection with Allah, but this that have some fear of them; and Allah cautions you from His wrath; and unto Allah is the return.
Rashad Khalifa   
The believers never ally themselves with the disbelievers, instead of the believers. Whoever does this is exiled from GOD. Exempted are those who are forced to do this to avoid persecution. GOD alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone. To GOD is the ultimate destiny.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
The believers should not take the unbelievers as guides in preference to the believers he who does this does not belong to Allah in anything, unless you have a fear of them. Allah warns you to be cautious of Him, the arrival is to Allah
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Let not the believers take the disbelievers for friends rather than believers. And whoever does this has no connection with Allah -- except that you guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully. And Allah cautions you against His retribution. And to Allah is the eventual coming
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
The believers do not take the disbelievers (as) guardians/friends from other than the believers, and who does that, so he is not from God in a thing, except that you fear from them fear/fright , and God cautions/warns you (of) Himself, and to God (is) the end/destination
Bijan Moeinian   
The believers should never ally with the disbelievers, except to avoid persecution. Whoever does so, should not expect any help from the Lord. God, therefore, reminds you that you should respect Him and know that your journey ends in meeting with Him
Faridul Haque   
The Muslims must not befriend the disbelievers, in preference over the Muslims; whoever does that has no connection whatsoever with Allah, except if you fear them; Allah warns you of His wrath; and towards Allah only is the return
Sher Ali   
Let not the believers take disbelievers for friends in preference to believers - and whoever does that has no connection with ALLAH - except that you guard yourselves fully against them. And ALLAH cautions you against HIS punishment; and to ALLAH is the returning
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
The Muslims should not make friends with disbelievers instead of Muslims. And whoever does so will have nothing of (the alliance with) Allah except that you seek protection (from their mischief). And Allah warns you to fear (the wrath) of His divine essence, and to Allah is the return
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Let not the believers take the disbelievers for friends in preference to the believers unless you very carefully guard against evil from them. Indeed he who acts likewise (in a careless manner let him remember) he has nothing to do with Allah. And Allah cautions you against His punishment, for to Allah is the eventual returning
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends, rather than the believers -- for whoso does that belongs not to God in anything -- unless you have a fear of them. God warns you that You beware of Him, and unto God is the homecoming
George Sale   
Let not the faithful take the infidels for their protectors, rather than the faithful: He who doth this, shall not be protected of God at all; unless ye fear any danger from them: But God warneth you to beware of himself; for unto God must ye return
Edward Henry Palmer   
Those who believe shall not take misbelievers for their patrons, rather than believers, and he who does this has no part with God at all, unless, indeed, ye fear some danger from them. But God bids you beware of Himself, for unto Him your journey is
John Medows Rodwell   
Let not believers take infidels for their friends rather than believers: whoso shall do this hath nothing to hope from God - unless, indeed, ye fear a fear from them: But God would have you beware of Himself; for to God ye return
N J Dawood (2014)   
Let not believers take infidels as their friends in preference to the faithful ― he that does this has nothing to hope for from God ― except in self-defence. God admonishes you to fear Him: for to God shall all return

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Let not the believers take the disbelievers for their allies in preference to the believers – whosoever does so has no part in Allah - unless it be that you safeguard yourselves from them surreptitiously. And Allah warns you with regards to Himself and unto Allah is the place of final coming.
Munir Mezyed   
Those who live by Faith should not take those who are spiritually dead and blind as trusted allies instead of the Monotheistic Believers- and whoever does so will have no connection with Allâh- unless it is a precaution in guarding himself against them. Allâh warns you against His divine retribution. And to Allâh is the journey’s end.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
The believers must not take those who reject (the truth) as protectors besides the believers. If someone does so then he has nothing to do with Allah, except if he does so as a precaution against them, and Allah cautions you about Himself, and to Allah is the journey.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
The believers should not accept unbelievers for guardians in preference to believers. If any do that, no help from Allah will come, except in the form of caution so you may seek protection. Allah Himself cautions you. The final goal is to Allah.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Let not the believers take the deniers for allies apart from the believers, for whoever does that has nothing to do with Allah—unless it is to protect yourpl own selves against them in some manner of self-protection. And Allah cautions youpl Himself, for to Allah is the destiny.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Believers should not enlist disbelievers as patrons in preference to [other] believers. Anyone who does so will have nothing to do with Allah (God), so you should take precautions against them. Allah (God) warns you about Himself-, for towards Allah (God) lies the Goal!
Samy Mahdy   
The believers shall not take the infidels as guardians rather than the believers. And whoever does that, he has not from Allah in a thing, except that you protect from them cautiously self-protection. And Allah warns you of Himself. And to Allah is the destiny.
Sayyid Qutb   
Let not the believers take unbelievers for their allies in preference to the believers. He who does this has cut himself off from God, unless it be that you protect yourselves against them in this way. God warns you to beware of Him: for to God you shall all return.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Let not the believers abandon the believers and take the deniers of reality as their friends. Whoever does this severs his ties with Allah. This can only be done for protection. Allah warns you to be careful of Him. To Allah is your return!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
The believers should not take the infidels as their friends, rather than the believers, and whoever does that then nothing of Allah is his, except when you guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah warns you to be cautious of (disobeying) Him; and toward Allah is the destination
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Belief is incompatible with Disbelief, therefore let those whose hearts have been touched by the divine hand refrain from favouring those infidels who deny Allah over their companions in religion. He who follows this irreverent course of action, Allah shall renounce, except under compelling circumstances, then exercise caution beforehand to provide against their mischief. Allah cautions you not to come within the measure of His wrath. Allah is the end and purpose for which all are destined
Mir Aneesuddin   
Do not let the believers take infidels as friends besides believers, and whoever does that then there is nothing (for him) from Allah in anything, except that you guard yourselves against them guarding carefully, and Allah makes you cautious of Himself and towards Allah is the destination.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from God: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But God cautions you (To remember ) Himself; for the final goal is to God
OLD Literal Word for Word   
(Let) not take the believers, the disbelievers (as) allies instead of the believers. And whoever does that, then not he (has) from Allah in anything except that you consciously revere from them, (as) a precaution. And Allah warns you (of) Himself, and to Allah (is) the final return
OLD Transliteration   
La yattakhithi almu/minoona alkafireena awliyaa min dooni almu/mineena waman yafAAal thalika falaysa mina Allahi fee shay-in illa an tattaqoo minhum tuqatan wayuhaththirukumu Allahu nafsahu wa-ila Allahi almaseeru