Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 88–91

4. An-Nisaa · The Women

Madinan176 verses

۞ فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَٱللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوٓا۟ ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُوا۟ مَنْ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلًۭا

4:88Why should you be two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them relapse [into unfaith] because of their deeds? Do you desire to guide someone Allah has led astray? Whomever Allah leads astray, you will never find any way for him.1

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَآءًۭ ۖ فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّۭا وَلَا نَصِيرًا

4:89They are eager that you should disbelieve like they have disbelieved, so that you all become alike. So do not make friends [with anyone] from among them, until they migrate in the way of Allah. But if they turn their backs, seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and do not take from among them friends or helpers,

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَٰقٌ أَوْ جَآءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَن يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَٰتِلُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَٰتَلُوكُمْ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًۭا

4:90excepting those who join a people between whom and you there is a treaty, or such as come to you with hearts reluctant to fight you, or to fight their own people. Had Allah wished, He would have imposed them upon you, and then they would have surely fought you. So if they keep out of your way and do not fight you, and offer you peace, then Allah does not allow you any course [of action] against them.2

سَتَجِدُونَ ءَاخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ كُلَّ مَا رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ أُرْكِسُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَمَ وَيَكُفُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَٰنًۭا مُّبِينًۭا

4:91You will find others desiring to be secure from you, and secure from their own people; yet whenever they are called back to polytheism, they relapse into it. So if they do not keep out of your way, nor offer you peace, nor keep their hands off [from fighting], then seize them and kill them wherever you confront them, and it is such against whom We have given you a clear sanction.3

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 88

1.There are such characters in Islam who took advantage of the facility given by Islam and caused harm every time. This verse of the Holy Quran has mentioned their different kinds of hypocrisy. They are as follows: (i) Some people did not migrate from Mecca by the order of Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and it was obligatory to migrate before the victory of Mecca. (ii) Some were inviting the believers of Islam towards infidelity. Islam rejected the first group and ordered to kill the other group of people. This command was not contrary because this command was for the infidels alone. And hypocrites considered themselves as Muslim and therefore their deeds will be strictly called to account. (iii) Some people want to avoid war by uniting with those with whom they have peace treaties. (iv) Some people are afraid of the danger of war and do not want to wage war. Islam has left both of them on their own because Islam does not force them for war nor force them to abstain from it. This is Allah’s grace that He lowers their courage or else they would be ready to fight. (v) Some people announce peace but on getting an opportunity they rush to mischief. If they do not make peace and reconcile their punishment is also general massacre. The announcement of peace would not bear any meaning until they would really adopt the policy of peace.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    A group of hypocrites did not migrate to Medina so that they may remain absolutely safe. Regarding them the Muslims were divided into two groups. One group advocated leniency and the other prescribed punishment for them because they had not migrated even after Allah has commanded them to do so. The Almighty has indicated to these two tendencies and stated that the lenient policy is wrong.

  2. 2

    According to Imam Razi if joining the people who are having peace treaty with Islam can save you from execution, why the love of Allah and the entering into the refuge of Ahle Bayt (a.s.) can’t save you from the punishment of the Hereafter?

  3. 3

    This non-aligned group exists in every age. It has double policy and keeps contact with both parties and at the favourable time it joins its actual group.

  4. Benefit

    (i) Arkusham is derived from Raks, which means to topple something upside down. (ii) The Ayat 81 denotes the hypocrites of Mecca. The command for Medina was changed otherwise the enemies would ridicule the Muslims for killing their companions. (iii) In the 91st Ayat Thaqiftumuhum is used, which means to arrest with expertise otherwise Wijdaan only denotes bringing up. It does not need any hardship or expertise.