8:25
And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong:
and know that Allah is strict in punishment.
Ali explains that the term fitnah possesses a range of meanings depending on its context in the Qur’an. Its primary sense refers to trial or temptation, as seen in verses such as Qur’an 2:102 and 8:28. In other contexts, it may denote trial in the form of punishment, as illustrated in Qur’an 5:71. The term can also refer to turmoil, persecution, or oppression, as in Qur’an 2:193 and 8:39. In Qur’an 8:25 specifically, fitnah carries an additional nuance, referring to internal discord, sedition, or civil conflict within a community. Ali notes that the warning against such internal strife was particularly relevant during the early civil wars of Islamic history and remains significant because the consequences of social discord often affect both the innocent and the guilty alike (Ali, 1989).
References:
Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. Translation and Commentary of the Quran.