Tafsir of Al-Mujadilah 58:22

This is a rhetorical device (takhayyul). It imagines that it is impossible and inconceivable for you to find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day while showing affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger. The purpose is to convey that such a thing should not exist; it ought to be impossible and non-existent in any circumstance. This serves as an extreme exaggeration in forbidding it, a deterrent against engaging in it, and a recommendation to be firm in avoiding the enemies of Allah, distancing oneself from them, and being cautious of mixing or associating with them.

This is further emphasized and intensified by His saying: {even if they were their fathers...}, by His saying: {Those—He has inscribed faith upon their hearts}, and by contrasting His saying: {Those are the party of Satan} (Al-Mujadilah: 19) with His saying: {Those are the party of Allah}. There is nothing more central to sincerity (ikhlas) than befriending the allies of Allah and opposing His enemies; indeed, it is sincerity itself.

{He has inscribed faith upon their hearts}: He established it within them by granting them success in it and expanding their breasts for it.

{And supported them with a spirit from Him}: With a grace from Him by which their hearts were brought to life. It is also possible that the pronoun refers to "faith"—meaning, with a spirit of faith—in the sense that faith itself is a spirit that gives life to hearts.

Historical Context and Reports:

• Al-Thawri said: They used to believe this verse was revealed regarding those who associate with rulers.
• Abd al-Aziz ibn Abi Rawwad: Al-Mansur met him while performing Tawaf; when he recognized him, he fled from him and recited this verse.
• The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say: "O Allah, do not grant a wicked person or a corrupt person any favor through me, for I found in what was revealed to me: 'You will not find a people...'"
• It is reported that it was revealed regarding Abu Bakr (ra): His father, Abu Quhafa, insulted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), so Abu Bakr struck him, causing him to fall. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "Did you do that?" He replied, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Do not do it again." Abu Bakr said, "By Allah, if the sword had been near me, I would have killed him."
• Regarding Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah: He killed his father, Abdullah al-Jarrah, at the Battle of Uhud.
• Regarding Abu Bakr: He challenged his son to a duel at the Battle of Badr and said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "Let me charge in the first rank." The Prophet replied, "Spare us your life, O Abu Bakr; do you not know that you are to me like my hearing and my sight?"
• Regarding Mus'ab ibn Umayr: He killed his brother, Ubayd ibn Umayr, at the Battle of Uhud.
• Regarding Umar: He killed his maternal uncle, al-As ibn Hisham, at the Battle of Badr.
• Regarding Ali, Hamza, and Ubaydah ibn al-Harith: They killed Utbah and Shaybah, the sons of Rabi'ah, and al-Walid ibn Utbah at the Battle of Badr.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites Surah al-Mujadilah will be recorded as one of the party of Allah on the Day of Resurrection."