Believers enjoined to be always on their guard, Those who sell this world’s life for the life hereafter, Reward for those who endeavour in the way of the Lord.

An-Nisa’ Verses 71 – 76

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا خُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ فَانْفِرُوا ثُبَاتٍ أَوِ انْفِرُوا جَمِيعًا

“O’ ye who believe! Take your precautions1then sally forth in detachments or sally for all together (in a body)2.” (4:71)

وَإِنَّ مِنْكُمْ لَمَنْ لَيُبَطِّئَنَّ فَإِنْ أَصَابَتْكُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالَ قَدْ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ إِذْ لَمْ أَكُنْ مَعَهُمْ شَهِيدًا

“And verily of you is he who certainly hangeth3back! If then a misfortune befalleth you saith he “God had been gracious unto me, that I was not present with them.”” (4:72)

وَلَئِنْ أَصَابَكُمْ فَضْلٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ لَيَقُولَنَّ كَأَنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ مَوَدَّةٌ يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

“And if cometh unto you grace from God, he would certainly say as if there had not; been (an ties of) affection4between you and him “Oh! would that I had been with them; a great achievement would I have achieved.”” (4:73)

فَلْيُقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا بِالْآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ يُقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ أَوْ يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

“Let those then fight in the way of God, who sell the life of this world for the hereafter; and to him who fighteth in the way of God, be he slain or (be he) victorious, We shall grant him a great recompense.” (4:74)

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ نَصِيرًا

“And what hath happened to you that ye fight not in the way of God and for the weak among men, women and children who (in helplessness) say5, “O’ Our Lord! take us out of this town whose inhabitants are tyrants6, and appoint for us from Thee7a guardian and appoint for us from Thee a helper.” (4:75)

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ الطَّاغُوتِ فَقَاتِلُوا أَوْلِيَاءَ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّ كَيْدَ الشَّيْطَانِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا

“Those who believe fight in the way of God and those who disbelieve fight in the way of Satan8, fight therefore against the friends of Satan; Verily the craft9of Satan is weak.” (4:76)

Commentary

Verse 71

Muslims commanded to go to fight defending themselves and their faith.

Verse 72 & 73

Refers to the conduct of the hypocrites.

Verse 74

The recompense for the Martyrs is a mighty or a grand reward.

Verse 75

The object of the fight in the way of God is explained in this verse. It is for the Muslims to defend themselves and their faith. When in Mecca the Muslims wanted the Holy Prophet to permit them to fight their enemies and the Holy Prophet had said that he had not yet received any command from God. But in Madina when God’s command had come and they were commanded to fight, most of them were not ready.

Most of the Muslims who had means, escaped from Mecca and still there remained those poor men, women and children who were persecuted by the heathens. Mecca is referred to as the city of the oppressors. The Muslims at Madina had not only to defend themselves but also to be mindful of those poor souls still at Mecca who had to be delivered.

Verse 76

It is prophesied here that the friends of Satan, the heathens who were fighting the Muslims, shall be vanquished.

• 1. Get to arms (5th holy Imam)
• 2. Refer to Verses 11:17, 13:43.
• 3. Lag behind.
• 4. Love.
• 5. Pray.
• 6. Ar. ‘Zaalim’ oppressors.
• 7. of Thy choice.
• 8. Ar. ‘Taghoot’.
• 9. Strategy.