Verses 81–87
4. An-Nisaa · The Women
Madinan176 verses
وَيَقُولُونَ طَاعَةٌۭ فَإِذَا بَرَزُوا۟ مِنْ عِندِكَ بَيَّتَ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ غَيْرَ ٱلَّذِى تَقُولُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَكْتُبُ مَا يُبَيِّتُونَ ۖ فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
4:81They profess obedience [to you], but when they go out from your presence, a group of them conspire overnight [to do] something other than what you say. But Allah records what they conspire overnight. So disregard them and put your trust in Allah, for Allah suffices as trustee.1
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَٰفًۭا كَثِيرًۭا
4:82Do they not contemplate the Quran? Had it been from [someone] other than Allah, they would have surely found much discrepancy in it.2
وَإِذَا جَآءَهُمْ أَمْرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْنِ أَوِ ٱلْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰٓ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَٱتَّبَعْتُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا
4:83When a report of safety or alarm comes to them, they immediately broadcast it; but had they referred it to the Apostle or to those vested with authority among them, those of them who investigate would have ascertained it. And were it not for Allah’s grace upon you and His mercy, you would have surely followed Satan, [all] except a few.3
فَقَٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًۭا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًۭا
4:84So fight in the way of Allah: you are responsible only for yourself, but urge on the faithful [to fight]. Maybe Allah will curb the might of the faithless, for Allah is greatest in might and severest in punishment.4
مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَٰعَةً حَسَنَةًۭ يَكُن لَّهُۥ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَٰعَةًۭ سَيِّئَةًۭ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كِفْلٌۭ مِّنْهَا ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ مُّقِيتًۭا
4:85Whoever intercedes for a good cause shall receive a share of it, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause shall share its burden, and Allah is prepotent over all things.
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍۢ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا
4:86When you are greeted with a salute, greet with a better one than it, or return it; indeed Allah takes account of all things.5
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًۭا
4:87Allah—there is no god except Him—will surely gather you on the Day of Resurrection, in which there is no doubt; and who is more truthful in speech than Allah?
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 83
1.This is one of the characters of the hypocrite that in the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) they continuously insisted they were obedient and thereafter conceive evil plans against Islam The Holy Quran has pointed out abundantly that this character is found in each era and all responsible people of that time must be attentive.
Verse 85
2.Spreading rumour and false information without a thought is another trait of hypocrites and foolish people. Due to this the enemy takes advantage of their stupidity and makes forged stories to guile them. The hypocrites and simpletons propagate the news and weaken the resolve of the Islamic warriors. The religion of Islam has forbidden this and ordered to submit all news to the Prophet (s.a.) and to the authorities so that they can check their message. If they agree, then spread it. This is because they have the capacity to understand you don’t have it.
3.Two kinds of people automatically come into being at the time of war. Some encourage the warriors while others discourage. The Holy Quran has clarified: Whatever would happen by your recommendation, you will be given one share from it. You will be responsible for the defeat if you weaken the resolve. You cannot wash your hands off like Shaitan.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 1
Tabueet = Hatching plots during the nights, and formation of evil schemes.
- 2
The words of anyone other than Allah are subject to conditions. It also depends on the mood and the knowledge. And this causes many disparities. However the words of Allah immutable and beyond all such factors. Thus there is no scope of any contradiction.
- 3
Those who were appointed by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) those who had the ability to discern the truth.
- 4
This does not means that we rush to the battlefield alone. It means that though you urge others, you are not responsible for them, that you should be aggrieved of their misdeeds.
- 5
This word proves that salutation (Salam) is obligatory and that those who do not reply to Salam will be questioned.
Benefit
The 80th ayat proves that following the practice of the Prophet (sunnat) is the best way. And this in term obliges us to imitate the Progeny of the Prophet (s.a.). Also the word, “Keeper” (Hafeez) indicates that Prophet (s.a.) is not forever responsible for the nation.