This research aims to elucidate the strategic significance of verse 123 of Surah At-Tawbah (Qātilū alladhīna yalūnakum min al-kuffār... – "Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you…") and to examine the principle of al-aqrab fa al-aqrab (the nearest, then the nearest) in the prioritization of threats and the defense policy of Islam. The primary problem addressed is the divergence of interpretations regarding the verse's meaning. While Shia and Sunni exegeses generally regard it as indicating the priority of confronting geographically proximate enemies, contemporary takfiri currents have distorted the referent of the "near enemy" (‘aduww qarīb) to justify "intra-religious jihad" against Muslim rulers. The main research question is whether this verse represents merely a historical command or constitutes a fundamental principle for threat management in Islamic defense policy. The research methodology is analytical, employing a comparative approach. The findings demonstrate that the concept of yalūnakum (those who are near to you/adjacent to you), together with the aforementioned rule, aligns with the consensus of exegetes (mufassirūn), the prophetic sīrah (biography) concerning military expeditions, and defense theories such as "layered defense" , "regional security" , and "crisis management" , emphasizing the priority of confronting near threats—whether geographical or relational. In contrast, the takfiri reading of the verse lacks valid exegetical and jurisprudential support and contradicts the context (siyāq) of the surrounding verses and prophetic practice (sīrah). The conclusion indicates that the verse transcends a mere historical injunction, offering a strategic approach grounded in rationality, graduated threat prioritization, and an emphasis on active deterrence.