Surah 4. An-Nisa

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Verses [Section]: 1-10[1], 11-14 [2], 15-22 [3], 23-25 [4], 26-33 [5], 34-42 [6], 43-50 [7], 51-56 [8], 57-70 [9], 71-76 [10], 77-87 [11], 88-91 [12], 92-96 [13], 97-100 [14], 101-104 [15], 105-112 [16], 113-115 [17], 116-126 [18], 127-134 [19], 135-141 [20], 142-152 [21], 153-162 [22], 163-171 [23], 172-176 [24]

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Quran Text of Verse 88-91فَمَاSo whatلَكُمْ(is the matter) with youفِیconcerningالْمُنٰفِقِیْنَthe hypocrites (that)فِئَتَیْنِ(you have become) two partiesوَ اللّٰهُWhile Allahاَرْكَسَهُمْcast them backبِمَاfor whatكَسَبُوْا ؕthey earnedاَتُرِیْدُوْنَDo you wishاَنْthatتَهْدُوْاyou guideمَنْwhomاَضَلَّis let astrayاللّٰهُ ؕ(by) Allahوَ مَنْAnd whoeverیُّضْلِلِis let astrayاللّٰهُ(by) Allahفَلَنْthen neverتَجِدَwill you findلَهٗfor himسَبِیْلًا a way وَدُّوْاThey wishلَوْifتَكْفُرُوْنَyou disbelieveكَمَاasكَفَرُوْاthey disbelievedفَتَكُوْنُوْنَand you would beسَوَآءًalikeفَلَاSo (do) notتَتَّخِذُوْاtakeمِنْهُمْfrom themاَوْلِیَآءَalliesحَتّٰیuntilیُهَاجِرُوْاthey emigrateفِیْinسَبِیْلِ(the) wayاللّٰهِ ؕ(of) AllahفَاِنْBut ifتَوَلَّوْاthey turn backفَخُذُوْهُمْseize themوَ اقْتُلُوْهُمْand kill themحَیْثُwhereverوَجَدْتُّمُوْهُمْ ۪you find themوَ لَاAnd (do) notتَتَّخِذُوْاtakeمِنْهُمْfrom themوَلِیًّاany allyوَّ لَاand notنَصِیْرًاۙany helper اِلَّاExceptالَّذِیْنَthose whoیَصِلُوْنَjoinاِلٰی[to]قَوْمٍۭa groupبَیْنَكُمْbetween youوَ بَیْنَهُمْand between themمِّیْثَاقٌ(is) a treatyاَوْorجَآءُوْكُمْthose who come to youحَصِرَتْrestrainingصُدُوْرُهُمْtheir heartsاَنْthatیُّقَاتِلُوْكُمْthey fight youاَوْorیُقَاتِلُوْاthey fightقَوْمَهُمْ ؕtheir peopleوَ لَوْAnd ifشَآءَ(had) willedاللّٰهُAllahلَسَلَّطَهُمْsurely He (would have) given them powerعَلَیْكُمْover youفَلَقٰتَلُوْكُمْ ۚand surely they (would have) fought youفَاِنِSo ifاعْتَزَلُوْكُمْthey withdraw from youفَلَمْand (do) notیُقَاتِلُوْكُمْfight against youوَ اَلْقَوْاand offerاِلَیْكُمُto youالسَّلَمَ ۙ[the] peaceفَمَاthen notجَعَلَ(has) madeاللّٰهُAllahلَكُمْfor youعَلَیْهِمْagainst themسَبِیْلًا a way سَتَجِدُوْنَYou will findاٰخَرِیْنَothersیُرِیْدُوْنَwishingاَنْthatیَّاْمَنُوْكُمْthey be secure from youوَ یَاْمَنُوْاand they be secure fromقَوْمَهُمْ ؕtheir peopleكُلَّEverytimeمَاthatرُدُّوْۤاthey are returnedاِلَیtoالْفِتْنَةِthe temptationاُرْكِسُوْاthey are plungedفِیْهَا ۚinto itفَاِنْSo ifلَّمْnotیَعْتَزِلُوْكُمْthey withdraw from youوَ یُلْقُوْۤاand offerاِلَیْكُمُto youالسَّلَمَ[the] peaceوَ یَكُفُّوْۤاand they restrainاَیْدِیَهُمْtheir handsفَخُذُوْهُمْthen seize themوَ اقْتُلُوْهُمْand kill themحَیْثُwhereverثَقِفْتُمُوْهُمْ ؕyou find themوَ اُولٰٓىِٕكُمْAnd thoseجَعَلْنَاWe madeلَكُمْfor youعَلَیْهِمْagainst themسُلْطٰنًاan authorityمُّبِیْنًا۠clear

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Translation of Verse 88-91

88. Why should you be divided into two parties about the hypocrites,¹⁵⁹ whereas Allah has cast them back for their evil deeds.¹⁶⁰ Would you guide those whom Allah has sent astray? And whom Allah has sent astray never shall you find the way for him.

89. They wish that you should also reject faith as they have done¹⁶¹, and thus be on the same footing. So take no friends from amongst them until they migrate in the cause of Allah¹⁶²; if they turn back (to enmity), seize them and slay them¹⁶³ wherever you find them, and take no friend or helper from amongst them;

90. Except those who join a people between whom and you there is a treaty, or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people ¹⁶⁴. Had Allah willed, He could have given them power over you and they would have fought you¹⁶⁵. So if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has opened no way for you to act against them.

91. You will find others who desire that they may be secure from you and may be secure from their own people. And yet whenever brought back to the temptation, they succumb there to l⁶⁶. So if they withdraw not from you, neither offer you peace, nor hold back their hands, then seize them and slay them wherever you find them. And We have given you clear authority against them ¹⁶⁷.

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Commentary

159. It refers to the hypocrites of the Darul harab (enemy Country) who had apparently embraced Islam but really were interested in infidelity. They used to work with the infidels in their activities against the Muslims and they had so much love of their homes and families that they were not prepared to migrate to be with the Prophet and his companions. There were two kinds of opinions about dealing with these hypocrites, one group said that they should be dealt with in the same manner in which the infidels were being dealt with. but the other group. in the hope that they would become better Muslims. wanted to treat them leniently. On this occasion, Quran warns them that there is no hope of their becoming good Muslims, on the contrary they wish to make the Muslims infidels like themselves, if they are sincere, let them migrate and join the Prophet else Muslims should wage a war against them.

160. That is: After embracing Islam they have become opportunists and have advanced towards rejection of faith. Therefore Allah has cast them back towards rejection of faith and infidelity.

They wish that you should also reject faith as they have done, and thus be on the same footing. So take no friends from amongst them until they migrate in the cause of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity), seize them and slay them wherever you find them, and take no friend or helper from amongst them; (Al-Quran)

161. It shows that here the condition' of those persons is being described who had accepted Islam for the sake of appearance but in their heart of hearts were infidels and they desired that Muslims should also turn to rejection of faith. It was their unbelief which had restrained them from migrating because for migration great sincerity for sacrifice was needed.

162. If they migrate then it can be hoped that they would become sincere Muslims and it would surprise no one if Allah is pleased by their sacrifice and guides them to become sincere Muslim. It may be noted that here the condition of in the way of Allah is attached to the direction of migrating, that is migrating in the cause of Allah. In other words, their migration should be for safeguarding faith and for meeting its demands. On their fulfilling condition only they can be taken as friends.

163. That is: In such a case you should consider them as allies of the enemy and so wherever you find them catch them and kill them. This command applies to those hypocrites who may ally with the infidel nation and fight against Muslims. See Note 159 above.

164. Here instructions are given in the case of those who have been exempted from being slain that is those hypocrites who may join a community who has a treaty with the Muslims and to honour the treaty no action would be taken against these hypocrites. Similarly no action would be taken against those hypocrites who would remain neutral that means those who would not fight Muslims in company of their people or who would join Muslims to fight against their own people.

165. That is: If Allah had given them sufficient courage they would have fought Muslims but it did not happen.Therefore be satisfied with this and as long as they do not fight you maintain peace with them and do not fight them till they do not take up arms against you.

166. By ‘fitna’ (Temptation) is meant the hostile activities in which the infidels were indulging against the Muslims.

167. These instructions are against those who wanted to be secure from the danger of Muslims as well as from the danger of their own community. But when the pressure of their community on them increased, they used to join them and fight against the Muslims. The people of the tribes Asad and Ghatfan had come to Madina and embraced Islam. They had also made a treaty with the Prophet but when they returned to their people, on being pressed by them they joined their community in the hostile activities against the Muslims. About such people, Quran says that they do not deserve any concession; Allah has given full authority to the Muslims to capture them and to kill them wherever they are found.