Surah An-Nisa (4): Verse 139

{Those who take the disbelievers as allies...}

It is agreed upon by the exegetes that those intended by {Those who take} are the hypocrites (al-Munafiqun), and the disbelievers intended are the Jews. The hypocrites used to ally with them, saying to one another, "Muhammad's affair will not be established," while the Jews would assert that strength and might belong to them.

Then the Almighty said: {Do they seek honor from them?}

Al-Wahidi said: The origin of al-'Izzah (honor/might) in the language is intensity/hardness. From this, firm, hard earth is called ghazzāz. It is said: Ist'azza al-maraḍu 'ala al-marīḍ (the illness became severe upon the sick person) when the illness intensifies and he is about to perish. A'azza al-hamm (the worry intensified). From this, A'azza means "it became intense." Something becomes azz when it becomes scarce, almost non-existent, because seeking it becomes intense. I'azza fulān bi-fulān (So-and-so derived strength from so-and-so) means he strengthened his back through him. A shāh 'azūz is a ewe whose milking is difficult and hard. Al-'Izzah (might/power) is derived from hardness because their meanings are close. Al-'Azīz (The Mighty) is the powerful, impregnable one, the opposite of the despised (adh-dhaleel).

Once you understand this, we say: The hypocrites sought honor and power through their connection with the Jews. Then, the Almighty invalidated this view for them by saying: {For indeed, all honor belongs to Allah.}

If it is asked: This seems contradictory to His saying: {But honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers} (Surah Al-Munafiqun: 8).

We reply: Complete power belongs to Allah. Everyone other than Him attains power through His decree, and becomes honored through His granting of honor. Therefore, the honor attained by the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the believers was not achieved except through Allah Almighty. Thus, the reality is that all honor belongs to Allah. Then the Almighty said:

{And it has already been revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being disbelieved and mocked, then do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allah will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers all together in Hell.}