Author: sftwr2020

4-153 The People of the Book ask thee to bring down to them a Book from heaven; indeed they demanded of Moses a greater thing than that, for they said: Show us Allah manifestly. So destructive punishment overtook them on account of their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf (for a god), after clear signs had come to them, but We pardoned this. And We gave Moses clear authority.

يَسۡـَٔلُكَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ كِتَـٰبً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ‌ۚ فَقَدۡ سَأَلُواْ مُوسَىٰٓ أَكۡبَرَ مِن ذَٲلِكَ فَقَالُوٓاْ أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهۡرَةً۬ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ بِظُلۡمِهِمۡ‌ۚ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذُواْ ٱلۡعِجۡلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ فَعَفَوۡنَا عَن ذَٲلِكَ‌ۚ وَءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَىٰ سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا مُّبِينً۬ا (١٥٣)

4-154 And We raised the mountain above them at their covenant. And We said to them: Enter the door making obeisance. And We said to them: Violate not the Sabbath; and We took from them a firm covenant.

وَرَفَعۡنَا فَوۡقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَـٰقِهِمۡ وَقُلۡنَا لَهُمُ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡبَابَ سُجَّدً۬ا وَقُلۡنَا لَهُمۡ لَا تَعۡدُواْ فِى ٱلسَّبۡتِ وَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡہُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظً۬ا (١٥٤)

4-155 Then for their breaking their covenant and their disbelief in the messages of Allah and their killing the prophets wrongfully and their saying, Our hearts are covered; nay, Allah has sealed them owing to their disbelief, so they believe not but a little:

بِمَا نَقۡضِہِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمۡ وَكُفۡرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتۡلِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيۡرِ حَقٍّ۬ وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ قُلُوبُنَا غُلۡفُۢ‌ۚ بَلۡ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہَا بِكُفۡرِهِمۡ فَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ (١٥٥)

4-155a: Demand for a Book in written form to be brought down from heaven and response: All of these affairs have previously been narrated in Surah Baqarah. Because the transgression of the Jews against Jesus is now going to be the focus of the discussion and as a preliminary to it, the previous transgressions of the Jews are repeated. The demand for a written Book is that a Book fully transcribed on paper written by God with His own hand should come down from heaven. It is stated that this is a demand similar to the one they made to Moses to see God with their physical eye. Just as God cannot be seen with the physical eye, his commands too do not come down in writing like books made by men. Instead it is the angel Gabriel that conveys the messages of Allah to the heart of the prophet. This response is given clearly in the first verse of the next ruku: إِنَّآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ كَمَآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ۬ (Surely We have revealed to thee as We revealed to Noah) (4:163), that is the Quran has been revealed in the same manner as Books to previous prophets.

4-156 And for their disbelief and for their uttering against Mary a grievous calumny:

وَبِكُفۡرِهِمۡ وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ عَلَىٰ مَرۡيَمَ بُہۡتَـٰنًا عَظِيمً۬ا (١٥٦)

4-156a: By their disbelief is meant their rejection of Jesus as is mentioned later, and the grievous calumny against Mary was that they accused her (I seek Allah’s protection from stating this) of fornication. It does not appear from the Jewish traditions that they accused Mary of premarital relationship with Joseph. However, sometimes back, a biography of Jesus from the Jewish viewpoint was published (Jewish Life of Jesus) in which Mary was accused of fornicating with a Jew named Panther. Quran has called such an accusation as a great calumny and thereby exonerated Mary and testified to her purity. Christians should have been greatly thankful to the Holy Prophet for this favor but the reward this unthankful nation gave was to levy unholy accusations on the Chief of pious persons, the Holy Prophet. It is so true that pious people speak pious talk and unholy people utter unholy talk. 

4-157 And for their saying: We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah, and they killed him not, nor did they cause his death on the cross, but he was made to appear to them as such.^a And certainly those who differ therein are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge about it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for certain:^b

وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ إِنَّا قَتَلۡنَا ٱلۡمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ۬ مِّنۡهُ‌ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ‌ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينَۢا (١٥٧)

4-157a: قَتَلُوهُ – قتل means to put a person to death by hitting him, or by striking him with a stone, or by poisoning or by any other way (LA – T), or to part the soul from the body (R).

صَلَبُوهُ – The meaning of صَلَب is الصدید الذی یسیل من المیت that is the bone marrow or pus that exudes out of a dead body. Another meaning of صَلَب is given as:: و الصَّلب ھٰذہ القتلة المعروفة مشتق من ذٰلك لَانّ وَدَکه و صدیدہ یسیل (he put him to death in a certain well-known manner, (that does not require explanation). This meaning is derived from the original definition of صَلَب because bone marrow and pus exudes from the body) (LA). Taj al Arus has the same definition. So, صَلَب is not to hang someone on the cross but to kill the person, that is to cause him to die or to separate the soul from the body according to a special way. As an analogy, the statement that a person was not killed by an attack means that he did not die from the attack but does not rule out that he was not struck by a sword. Similarly مَا صَلَبُوهُ only negates that Jesus did not die as a result of crucifixion and not that Jesus was not put on the cross at all. 

Jewish method of crucifixion: The manner of crucifixion among the Jews was that a person was hung on a wooden cross in the shape of the letter T by nailing him through the hands and feet. It is stated in the encyclopedia of the Bible that the body was left on the Cross until it became completely dried up and that death occurred from starvation and waning strength. The body was left on the cross sometimes for three days but if death had to be expedited, the legs of the crucified person were broken. According to the terminology of the Arabs, Jews and the Bible, only such a person could be called مصلوب or crucified who died as a result of this method.

Jesus’ death by killing and crucifixion negated: The statement negates the death of Jesus both by killing and crucifixion and the statement structure is one of going from the general (that is killing) to the specific (that is the method of killing, namely crucifixion). In other words, it is stated that the soul of Jesus did not leave his body by any one of these two methods that is neither by killing or by crucifixion. The question is whether this is proof that Jesus is still alive. If it is stated about a person that he did not die either from being killed or from being crucified, does it follow that he has not died? Such an idea is inconceivable. It is surprising however that in the case of Jesus, a negation of his killing or crucifixion is considered to be a negation of his death. If Jesus was not killed or crucified, then what happened? Quran itself narrates what happened. It says: وَلَـٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡ (…but he was made to appear to them as such).  It is incorrectly understood to mean that a person was made to resemble Jesus. This clear mistake is made on the basis of a story ingrained in the minds of people otherwise the actual words of the Quran lends no support to it. The pronoun he in شُبِّهَ can only refer to Jesus who is the subject of the narration in this verse and not to an unknown person who died in place of Jesus about whom there is no reference in the Quran anywhere nor in any authentic hadith. Even more surprising is that if this meaning is adopted here, then there is no rational answer for مَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ because there is no connection between the two things that Jesus did not die by killing or crucifixion and that another person got transformed to a Jesus look alike and was crucified. There is not even an indication of this unknown person getting killed or crucified.

Testimony of Gospels that Jesus was crucified but survived: If the historical facts are perused, it becomes abundantly clear that the meaning of the Quranic words as interpreted here are correct. The following events reveal that Jesus was hung on the cross but did not die and was taken down alive. However as a result of the trauma on the cross, his appearance began to resemble that of a person  who has been killed or met his death on the cross. First, according to Mark, Jesus stayed on the cross for six hours (15:25) and according to John less than three hours (19:14). Second, it is proven from John 19:32 that the two thieves who had been put on the cross at the same time as Jesus were alive when they were taken down and their legs were broken to expedite their death. Jesus was put on the cross and taken down at the same time as the two thieves but his legs were not broken. Third, one of the soldiers poked Jesus on the side of his body with a lance and blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). This is a sure sign of life. Fourth, when somebody told Pontius Pilot that Jesus had died on the cross, he expressed surprise, and doubted that he could have died so soon (Mark 15:44). Fifth, Jesus was not buried but was taken to a spacious tomb hewn in the side of a rock and a stone was rolled in front of it which allowed for ventilation (Mark 15:46). Ventilation is not required for a person who is buried. Sixth, when Mary Magdalene and others came to the cave on the third day, the stone had been rolled away from the mouth of the cave (Mark 16;4). This shows that the stone was removed to allow Jesus to come out. Seventh, John 20:15 proves that Mary Magdalene saw Jesus and mistook him for a gardener which shows that he had disguised himself. Eighth, when the disciples saw Jesus  after many days, there were still wounds on his hands from the nails (John 20:25-28). Ninth, it is evident from Lucas 24:39-44 that after the event of crucifixion, Jesus ate roasted fish and honey in the company of his disciples. Ten, he travelled to Galilee on foot (Mathew 28:10).

Convincing proofs from historical events: On the one hand there are these historical events which show that Jesus was put on the cross, appeared to have died on the cross but did not die. In response to this, it is said that these statements are from the Gospels which are Books that have been changed and tampered with and therefore not acceptable. It is a gross mistake to consider changed and tampered to mean that the historical events mentioned in such Books are totally fictitious from the beginning to the end. Tampering generally occurs in matters of belief, and historical events which are agreed upon by all the Gospels cannot be rejected on the basis of tampering. If the canonical Gospels are tampered with, what is the testament from the Quran or Hadith that the Gospel of Barnabas has not been tampered with. The purport here in the Quran is to provide unrebuttable arguments against the Jews and Christians. In the matter of disputed beliefs, one must contend with arguments but in the matter of historical events one can only contend on the basis of the accepted history of the nation. The accepted history is the one that is accepted by the Christians. One can argue with them on the basis of their Books that the events they accept clearly show that Jesus did not die on the cross. However, if a new story is presented to them that a person resembling Jesus was crucified and Jesus was raised to heaven, this may be of some satisfaction to the presenter of the story but will fail to convince the person from the other religion. The surprising thing with the Quran is that it provides convincing arguments against the Christians from their own history. It would be impossible for an unlettered person to bring out such fine details from the Books of another religion. It is the work of Allah the Knower of the unseen. 

The story of Jesus look alike: The story that is presented on the other hand is found neither in the Quran nor in the Hadith, nor in the Bible, nor in any book of history. It is stated that someone was made to look like Jesus so that the Jews may crucify this look alike. What was the need for this? If God had raised Jesus to heaven could the Jews have followed him there to bring him back. So, what was the need of making a Jesus look alike to deceive the Jews? Further, the made up narrative is contradictory. According to one version, Jesus asked a disciple to agree to become his look alike and the disciple accepted and was crucified. For a prophet to save himself and send his innocent disciple to his death is not only meaningless but highly objectionable. So, a second version was made that the look alike was a hypocrite. A third version is that the one who came to arrest Jesus was made his look alike. It is strange that in the latter two versions, the look alike did not raise a hue and cry and inform the crowd who he was. This is even stranger than the first version of the story. Yet another version is that when the Jews could not find Jesus, they grabbed one from among themselves and crucified him so that people may not find out that Jesus had risen to the heaven. It is further stated that they did not allow anyone to come close to the site of crucifixion so that people may not know about their deception. These are only conjectures. When an objection is made against one version, a new version is manufactured. If Jesus had gone missing from where he was detained, would the conclusion be that he was raised to heaven or that he had escaped and run away? There is not a single witness who saw Jesus rise to the heaven. Is it believable that finding Jesus missing from the place of his detention, people would be led to believe that he had risen to the heaven?

No mention in the Quran about Jesus being raised to heaven: Further it is proven from the Quran what happened to Jesus if he was not killed or met his death on the cross. There is a clear promise made in Surah Ale Imran in the statement: يَـٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ (O Jesus, I will cause thee to die…) (3:55) that God was about to cause Jesus to die a natural death. This promise was made at a time when the Jews were planning to kill Jesus as stated in the verses prior to (3:55) and their plan was to crucify Jesus. So, Allah stated that Jesus will not die on the cross but would die a natural death. In Surah Maidah, there is a mention of the fulfilment of this promise where Jesus says: فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيۡتَنِى (…but when Thou didst cause me to die) (5:117). There is neither a promise that Jesus would be raised to heaven alive nor is there a mention that he was raised alive to heaven. Thus, the whole issue has been clarified by negating that Jesus was killed or died on the cross, but was only made to resemble as if he had been killed or died on the cross, and then by mentioning that he will die a natural death.

4-157b: وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينَۢا : The meaning of   مَا قَتَلُهُ يَقِينَۢا (they killed him not for certain) is clear, that is the Jews were not certain that they had killed Jesus and had doubts about it which is confirmed by historical narrations. Imam Raghib has taken the meaning to be: ما علمو اکونه  

 مصلوباً علماً یقیناً(They did not know that he had died on the cross with the knowledge of certainty) and this meaning too is correct given the context of the passage because there is mention of doubt at the end of the passage. Some have taken the pronoun in قَتَلُوهُ to be a stand in for knowledge because قتلت العلم  and قتلت کذا علمًا mean obtained full knowledge of it. (R). Whichever meaning is taken, the conclusion is the same. The first meaning implies that they did not kill him for certain and remained doubtful about the killing. The second meaning is that they were not certain that Jesus had been killed and remained in doubt. There is no mention about the killing of another person.

The presence of doubt negatives the ascend of Jesus to heaven: The dissenters include both Jews and Christians. History testifies that both these communities are in doubt and neither is certain about the killing. The taking down from the cross after a brief period of three hours, the fact that his legs were not broken, the doubts expressed by Pontius Pilot, the removal of the stone at the mouth of the tomb, and secret meetings with the disciples are clear events that create doubt in the hearts of both the parties. If Jesus had ascended to heaven and a look alike had been crucified then what is the meaning of having doubt, and not having knowledge and what were the reasons for lack of belief? If the Jews had seen Jesus ascending to heaven, then they would be certain that Jesus did not die on the cross. If they did not see Jesus ascending, they would be sure that Jesus had been crucified. There is no doubt in both these conditions. As for the Christians, they should have been certain because a person became a look alike of Jesus in their presence and the actual Jesus was not crucified. They too should not have had any doubt. The only condition in which there can be doubt is the one that has been explained above and certain proof of which exists in the Bible.

4-158 Nay, Allah exalted him in His presence. And Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.^a

بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمً۬ا (١٥٨)

4-158a: بَل – It is used either as a disavowal or disclaimer of the previous idea or as a transition from the previous topic to the next topic. An example of the first use is: وَقَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وَلَدً۬ا‌ۗ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَلۡ عِبَادٌ۬ مُّكۡرَمُونَ (And they say: The Beneficent has taken to Himself a son. Glory be to Him! Nay, they are honored servants) (21:26) and an example of the second use is: قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ بَلۡ تُؤۡثِرُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا  (He indeed is successful who purifies himself, and remembers the name of His Lord, then prays, but you prefer the life of this world) (87:14-16).

رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ – See 3:55b. Ibn Jarir has narrated from Ibn Jarij that the meaning of رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ is: فرفعه ایاہ توفیه ایاہ و تطھیرہ من الذین کفروا that is, the meaning of Allah raising the Messiah is to cause him to die and to purify him from (the charges levied by) the disbelievers.

What is the connection between the events of the previous verses and the raising of Jesus: The connection that most commentators have made is that Jesus was not killed or died on the cross and Allah elevated him alive to heaven. However, this interpretation of رفع is contrary to the lexicon and is unacceptable. The reality is that there is a mention in the previous verse that the Jews considered Jesus to have been killed and that he met his death on the cross but both Jews and Christians are not certain of this. This uncertainty is resolved by the statement that Allah granted him رفع , that is an elevated status. Now whether بَل is considered to be disavowal or a transition of the previous discussion, the meaning is that the Ahle Kitab by considering Jesus to have died on the cross consider him cursed, that is distanced from God but God granted Jesus nearness to him. Now, nearness to Allah and being cursed by death on the cross are polar opposite of each other because the Jews used to crucify people who falsely claimed to be the Messiah and also because a person who died on the cross according to Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13 dies a cursed death. The meaning of cursed is being distanced from Allah. Hence, to contradict a cursed death, mention is made of رفع because curse is being distanced from Allah and رفع is being near to Allah.

4-159 And there is none of the People of the Book but will believe in this before his death; and on the day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.

وَإِن مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤۡمِنَنَّ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ مَوۡتِهِۦ‌ۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ شَہِيدً۬ا (١٥٩)

4-159a: A narration by Abu Huraira: According to a narration allegedly by Abu Huraira, after mentioning the coming down of the Son of Mary, he states فاقرؤان شئتم و ان من أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ  . Thus, along with the statement of the Holy Prophet that the Son a of Mary will be a just arbiter when he descends, will break the cross, will kill the swine, and will be your Imam from amongst you, Abu Huraira appends this statement from himself that if one wants, one can read this verse: And there is none of the People of the Book but will believe in this before his death. This has been interpreted to mean that all Jews will believe in Jesus in his second coming. Now, a person who believes that the Son of Mary who will come will be your Imam from among you cannot keep the contradictory belief that the second coming of Jesus will be that of the Israelite Jesus. So, Abu Huraira’s intention in drawing attention to this verse cannot be that all Jews will believe in Jesus when he comes the second time. In addition, it has been specifically stated: يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ شَہِيدً۬ا (…on the day of Resurrection he will be witness against them). The question is against whomwill he be a witness? It cannot be the Jews because the Quran states in another place the people against whom Jesus will be witness: وَكُنتُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ شَہِيدً۬ا مَّا دُمۡتُ فِيہِمۡ‌ۖ (and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them) (5:117), that is the Christians, who identify as his followers. So, it is not the Jews who are meant here by Ahle Kitab but the Christians. Further, it is meaningless for the Jews to believe in Jesus in his second coming.

If Jesus was to come again people will not believe in him but believe in the Holy Prophet: Even if a second coming of Jesus is accepted, people will believe in the Holy Prophet and not in Jesus. Believing in Jesus at that time will mean that Jesus is the prophet of that time and even according to the commonly held belief, Jesus will only be a Mujaddid or reformer and not a prophet. Further, it is stated here that Jesus will be a witness on the day of Resurrection against those who believe in him. Thus a large section of the Holy Prophet’s ummah who will become Muslims through Jesus will have Jesus as a witness for them and not the Holy Prophet. The Quran, however, states in another place: فَكَيۡفَ إِذَا جِئۡنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةِۭ بِشَهِيدٍ۬ وَجِئۡنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَہِيدً۬ا  (But how will it be when We bring from every people a witness and bring thee as a witness against these?) (4:41). Thus, for every ummah their prophet will be a witness and the Holy Prophet will be witness for his ummah. Those who seek to bring back Jesus imply that Jesus will be a witness for a substantial part of the Holy Prophet’s ummah and the Holy Prophet will be a witness for the rest. تِلۡكَ إِذً۬ا قِسۡمَةٌ۬ ضِيزَىٰٓ (This indeed is an unjust division) (53:22). If only Muslims looked at it rationally, the issue of the second advent of Jesus could be resolved easily.

Then, there is the reliance that all Jews will believe in Jesus. To begin with millions of Jews would have died before the second advent. How will they be able to believe? Further, the Quran states: وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوۡقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌  (and make those who follow thee above those who disbelieve to the day of Resurrection) (3:55). So those who reject Jesus will be there till the day of Resurrection and the belief that all Jews will believe in Jesus is belied by this verse.

As has been shown above, it is the Christians who are meant by Ahle Kitab here. This is the reason why in the next verse when the discussion returns to a mention of Jews, it is not considered sufficient to use a pronoun and neither is the word Ahle Kitab used there, as was used before, instead the words used are: فَبِظُلۡمٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ (So for the inequity of the Jews) . The meaning is clear that although the Christians themselves are doubtful about the death of Jesus on the cross but even so each one of them believes in this before their death. Foundational to Christianity is the death of Jesus on the cross. If Jesus did not die on the cross then he neither took over the curse of the sins of people and neither is there atonement for their sins. The term before their death is added because it is necessary before death that the Christian clergyman makes the dying man to reaffirm the Christian belief. So the meaning is very clear and is consistent with the context that the Christians themselves are uncertain whether Jesus died on the cross or not but even so reiterate their belief in it before their death. It is thus made manifest that their belief is against their own historical records and Jesus will be a witness against them on the Day of Resurrection and will tell them how they acted against his teachings and manufactured their belief contrary to the events.

If it is said that Abu Huraira did not understand its correct meaning [that is all Jews will believe in Jesus before Jesus’ natural death after his second coming] then Ibn Abbas has contradicted this. There are several narrations that show that Ibn Abbas took the meaning to be that every Jew before his own death in the final moments of life comes to believe in Jesus that he was a messenger of God. Further the alternative reading قبل موتہم (before their death) [instead of قبل موته  (before his death)] supports this interpretation (IK). In any case, Ibn Abbas has a greater understanding of the Quran as compared to Abu Huraira.

In the translation I have done, the transition of the subject is towards the Christians as is clear from يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ شَہِيدً۬ا , and at the start of the next section also there is a mention of the erroneous Jewish belief. Thus, the Quran on the one hand mentions the under exaggeration of the Jews and on the other has made the Christians liable for their over exaggeration.

4-160 So for the iniquity of the Jews, We forbade them the good things which had been made lawful for them, and for their hindering many (people) from Allah’s way.

فَبِظُلۡمٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ حَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتۡ لَهُمۡ وَبِصَدِّهِمۡ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرً۬ا (١٦٠)

4-161 And for their taking usury — though indeed they were forbidden it — and their devouring the property of people falsely. And We have prepared for the disbelievers from among them a painful chastisement.^a

وَأَخۡذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ وَقَدۡ نُہُواْ عَنۡهُ وَأَكۡلِهِمۡ أَمۡوَٲلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ‌ۚ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡہُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمً۬ا (١٦١)

4-161a: What are the good things that were forbidden and why? The reasons for forbidding are disclosed as follows: for their iniquity, for taking usury and falsely taking the property of others. By taking usury and the property of others, their love of this life overwhelmed them at the expense of the attributes of selflessness and sacrifice. In another place, it is stated: أَمۡ لَهُمۡ نَصِيبٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ فَإِذً۬ا لَّا يُؤۡتُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ نَقِيرًا (Or have they a share in the kingdom? But then they would not give to people even the speck on a date-stone) (4:53). How can they get a kingdom because they would not give even a speck on a date stone to people. Such niggardly people do not get a kingdom to govern. These are the good things that were forbidden to them and instead they have a painful chastisement which is the chastisement of getting despised and scattered. 

4-162 But the firm in knowledge among them and the believers believe in that which has been revealed to thee and that which was revealed before thee, and those who keep up prayer and give the poor-rate and the believers in Allah and the Last Day — these it is to whom We shall give a mighty reward.^a

 لَّـٰكِنِ ٱلرَّٲسِخُونَ فِى ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مِنۡہُمۡ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ‌ۚ وَٱلۡمُقِيمِينَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ‌ۚ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ سَنُؤۡتِيہِمۡ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمًا (١٦٢)

4-162a: Jews and Christians who are well established in knowledge and do not just conform with issues but analyze and research them find their way to the Quran and believe in it. مُقِيمِينَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ‌ is in Arabic grammar terminology of the form نصب علی المدح which means that there is a special emphasis on prayer because here again the mention is of finding the truth and that is not possible unless one turns to Allah.     

4-142 The hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, and He will requite their deceit to them.^a And when they stand up for prayer, they stand up sluggishly — they do it only to be seen of men and remember Allah but little,^b

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمۡ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ (١٤٢)

4-142a: يُخَـٰدِعُونَ – خادع – By يُخَـٰدِعُونَ or مخادعة is meant they attempt to deceive. See 2-9a. خادع is a third participle noun from خَدۡع  and its meaning is: خَتَله و ارادبه المکروہ من حیث لا یعلم  (Furtively got him and devised to do with him what he did not like in a way about which he has no knowledge). In simple words, its meaning is the stealthy visitation of an odious affair.

The use of خَدۡع when Allah is the subject: Keeping in view the explanation given in 2-15a, when Allah is the subject of an action, it is only the result which is meant and the means by which the result is brought about is missing. By assigning the action of خَدۡع to Allah, the purport is only that He will inflict them with an action that they will not like. It will be in accordance with what is stated elsewhere جَزَٲٓؤُاْ سَيِّئَةٍ۬ سَيِّئَةٌ۬ مِّثۡلُهَا‌ (And the recompense of evil is punishment like it) (42:40) and all it means is that Allah will punish them for their خَدۡع (LA). When خَدَعتُه is said opposite مخادعة the meaning is ظفرت به (LA), that is overcame him. Whichever meaning is taken out of these three, the implication is the same. The dictionary meanings of خَدۡع results in the word being used in many different contexts. Thus, خدعت الضب means the lizard hid itself and the meaning of خَدۡع الریقُ فی الفم  is the saliva dried up, The meaning of خَدۡع in کان فلان الکریم ثم خَدۡع is اَمۡسَكَ (stopped). The meaning of خَدۡع المطر is it rained a little, and السنون الخرادع means the years of famine in which there is not much good because there is no rain. The statement in a hadith: الحرب خَدۡعةٌ means the foot of a party slips when it gets tricked in battle, that is one should protect oneself from a surprise attack of the enemy or the word is خُدۡعَةٌ and the meaning is that he is someone who will deceive his family (N).

At the end of last section, mention is made of the deception of hypocrites and how they invited the enemies of Muslims to march against them, but they tell the Muslims that they are with them. It is now stated that by deceiving the Muslims in this way, they are trying to deceive God, but they will not be able to deceive and in the end they will lose and suffer great harm. In the beginning part of Surah Bakarah it is stated about the hypocrites: يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ (They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe) (2:9) and here it is only يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ (seek to deceive Allah) but the meaning is the same. Their punishment in the earlier reference is given as: وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ (and they deceive only themselves). Here instead of those words, it is stated: وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمۡ  (and He will requite their deceit to them). The sense is the same, that is the result of this deception is going to be an evil one for them.

4-142b: كُسَالَىٰ – It is the plural of کسلان and the meaning of کَسَل is laziness or to be heavily burdened by a matter in which sluggishness is not appropriate (R).

يُرَآءُونَ – The meaning of رای is saw and مُراأۃ or رئاء is to show to others and to publicize (R). That is to do a thing so that others may see it.

Laziness in prayer and tranquility: In the discussion about the deception of the hypocrites it is added that even when they come for prayer, ostensibly to be close to Allah, their purpose is to deceive people into thinking that they are Muslims. Hence their prayer has neither conviction nor joy. This also shows that unless there is conviction and joy in prayer, the prayer is only for show. Prayer is an audience with God and must be offered with great humility, conviction, and joy so that it becomes a magnetic attraction towards which one is drawn inexorably. Unless this is the nature of a person’s prayer, the real objective of prayer is not accomplished. If a few rakahs of prayer are said as a burden, then there is a great similarity of such a prayer with the prayer of hypocrites. The sign of true faith is that one should feel joy and pleasure in prayer and a state is achieved which is described in قرۃ عینی فی الصلوٰۃ (Coolness of my eyes is in prayer).  

4-143 Wavering between that (and this) — (belonging) neither to these nor to those. And whomsoever Allah leaves in error, thou wilt not find a way for him.^a

مُّذَبۡذَبِينَ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ لَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَلَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ‌ۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ ۥ سَبِيلاً۬ (١٤٣)

4-143a: مذبذب – The meaning of ذَبّ is to expel and it is also to stop. Another meaning is طَرۡد (to drive away) (LA). So مَذَبۡذَب is one who is driven from each side (LA). Imam Raghib however states that by مَذَبۡذَب is meant confused because ذَبۡذَبَة is in reality the sound of a thing that is hanging. Metaphorically it is spoken about any situation of restlessness and anguish; it also means movement (R). ذُباب (singular ذبابة ) is from the same root and means a fly.

It is stated here that a hypocrite cannot form a firm opinion. Sometimes he swings to one side and sometimes to the other. Allah has likened belief to firmness and stability which creates tranquility in the heart أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ (Now surely in Allah’s remembrance do hearts find rest) (13:28) and has likened Kalima Tayyaba (good word) to a tree that has firm roots  أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ (whose root is firm) and an evil word with an evil tree that has no stability (مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ ). So, this is the measure of belief. 

4-144 O you who believe, take not the disbelievers for friends rather than the believers. Do you desire to give Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?^a

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجۡعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا مُّبِينًا (١٤٤)

4-144a: For preferring disbelievers over believers as friends see 3-28a. The restatement of this injunction in the context of hypocrites shows that this is an attribute of hypocrites. It has been mentioned previously that the hypocrites seek respect by making friends with the disbelievers and this desire to seek respect from the enemies is also their attribute. 

4-145 The hypocrites are surely in the lowest depths of the Fire, and thou wilt find no helper for them,^a

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا (١٤٥)

4-145a: دَرۡك – It conveys the same sense as دَرۡج that is class or rank, but the difference is that moving up in class is called دَرۡج and moving down in class is called دَرۡك. Hence the grades of heaven are دَرۡج and that of hell دَرۡك. The extreme depth of the ocean is also called دَرۡك (R). From the same root are words like ادراك )realization; perception) etcetera. 

A hypocrite witnesses signs of the truth of Islam but still internally professes disbelief and surreptitiously is an enemy of Islam. This puts him in the lowest grade. The most despicable people are those who say one thing and do another. How much sincerity is there today in the Islam of Muslims? The next verse indicates this by bringing in the word sincerity. 

4-146 Save those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and are sincere in their obedience to Allah — these are with the believers. And Allah will soon grant the believers a mighty reward.

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۖ وَسَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (١٤٦) 

4-147 Why should Allah chastise you if you are grateful and believe? And Allah is ever Multiplier of rewards, Knowing.

مَّا يَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِڪُمۡ إِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ وَءَامَنتُمۡ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاڪِرًا عَلِيمً۬ا (١٤٧) 

4-147a: Punishment is meant to reform: In the last verse, the hypocrites were informed that they would be in the lowest level of hellfire. In this verse, it is stated that despite this dire promise if the hypocrites are thankful and truly believe then there is no need for Allah to punish them. This shows that the real purpose of punishment is to reform people and not anything else. If a person reforms himself, the punishment is lifted. The punishment of hell is meant to rectify the deficit created by the lack of thankfulness and belief. The thankfulness deficit is because of not appreciating the blessings of Allah and for not using the God gifted powers in accordance with the needs of the time and place. See 2-52a. The belief deficit is because of not acting on the guidance sent by Allah. 

4-148 Allah loves not the public utterance of hurtful speech, except by one who has been wronged. And Allah is ever Hearing, Knowing.

 لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡجَهۡرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا (١٤٨)

4-148a: ٱلۡجَهۡرَ – جَہۡر is spoken about the manifestation of a thing whether through the sense of sight or hearing. An example of the first is: حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهۡرَةً۬ (…till we see Allah manifestly) (2:55) and: أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهۡرَةً۬ (Show us Allah manifestly) (4:153) where the use is in the sense of hearing, as also in:  مَّنۡ أَسَرَّ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِ (among you is he who conceals the word and he who speaks openly) (13:10); يَعۡلَمُ ٱلۡجَهۡرَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ (knows what is spoken) (21:110); وَلَا تَجۡهَرۡ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتۡ بِہَا (And utter not thy prayer loudly nor be silent in it) (17:110); وَلَا تَجۡهَرُواْ لَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ كَجَهۡرِ بَعۡضِڪُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ (…nor speak loudly to him as you speak loudly one to another) (49:2) and جھیرالصوت is a person with a loud voice (R). The meaning here is to make an announcement whether it is verbal or written. This verse is the basis of the law of defamation. It is stated here that no one has the right to publicize something bad, that is defamatory, about anybody else except by a person who has been wronged. If a person has suffered a loss, he has a right to make a defamatory announcement against the person who has done him injustice. However, what is meant is that only such defamatory things can be made public that are true and there is no right to say anything that is false.

What is the relationship of this verse in a discussion of hypocrites? In a number of previous sections, Allah mentioned the particulars of the hypocrites and revealed their secret nefarious activities. Now in winding up this topic, Allah has stated that He would not have made a public announcement of their deceitful activities if they had not been unjust. Their mischief had to be exposed because they were being unjust to the Muslims and wanted to destroy them. Bringing in God’s attributes of hearing and Knowing, the purport is to indicate the goodness of the Muslims. 

4-149 If you do good openly or keep it secret or pardon an evil, Allah surely is ever Pardoning, Powerful.^a

إِن تُبۡدُواْ خَيۡرًا أَوۡ تُخۡفُوهُ أَوۡ تَعۡفُواْ عَن سُوٓءٍ۬ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّ۬ا قَدِيرًا (١٤٩)

4-149a: Allah has expanded on his rule in this verse that if someone has done a good deed, it may be announced openly or kept a secret while evil deeds should be forgiven as far as possible. This is the behavior that Allah likes. Thus, Allah has not only prohibited that a bad act should not be announced but has recommended its forgiveness as well. However, if some bad actor does not reform himself despite the forgiveness and persists and exceeds the limit then he can be exposed. 

4-150 Those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and desire to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers and say: We believe in some and disbelieve in others; and desire to take a course in between —

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيۡنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤۡمِنُ بِبَعۡضٍ۬ وَنَڪۡفُرُ بِبَعۡضٍ۬ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ سَبِيلاً (١٥٠)

4-151 These are truly disbelievers; and We have prepared for the disbelievers an abasing chastisement.

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۚ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابً۬ا مُّهِينً۬ا (١٥١)

4-151a: The hypocrites had good relations with the Jews and Christians. As the discussion of the hypocrites is brought to an end, the subject turns to a discussion of the Jews and the Christians from the next section. In these last few verses, a commonality is established between the hypocrites and the Jews and Christians to provide a transition to the new topic. Apart from their social interactions, the commonality in terms of their religious position was that the hypocrites and Jews etcetera were treading a path between belief and disbelief which is indicated by: وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ سَبِيلاً (desire to take a course in between) (4:150). The hypocrites were on this path because they sometimes believed and sometimes disbelieved or because overtly they believed but inwardly remained disbelievers, and the Jews and Christians because they believed in some Messengers and rejected others. The statement: We believe in some and disbelieve in others, does not only mean belief in God but rejection of all Messengers as is the case with Brahmu Samaj, but also belief in some Messengers and rejection of others as is the case with all the Ahle Kitab because the rejection of any Messenger of Allah is tantamount to rejecting Allah.  

4-152 And those who believe in Allah and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them, to them He will grant their rewards. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَمۡ يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ سَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِيهِمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (١٥٢)

4-135 O you who believe, be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah, even though it be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives — whether he be rich or poor, Allah has a better right over them both. So follow not (your) low desires, lest you deviate. And if you distort or turn away from (truth), surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ‌ۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا‌ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ وَإِن تَلۡوُ ۥۤاْ أَوۡ تُعۡرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا (١٣٥)

4-135a: قَوَّٲمِينَ – There are two ways in which the word قیام is used, namely the privileges of a thing or its care and safety, and secondly the resolve and determination to do a thing. Here the meaning is the care and safety of a thing (R). Because قوام is in the superlative case, the meaning is one who takes the safeguarding of justice to perfection and since قِسۡطِ is part of justice, hence the meaning is safeguarding the discharge of all kinds of rights.

شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ – Be witnesses for Allah that is to be so truthful in giving evidence that the only consideration in giving testimony is that Allah should be pleased. 

أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا – أَوۡلَىٰ is in the sense of احریٰ – more worthy and deserving. The meaning is that currying favor with a wealthy person or taking pity on a poor person should not cause a person to deviate from the truth because in the matter of the wealthy, the pleasure of Allah and in the matter of a poor person, the mercy of Allah is greater than currying favor with the rich or taking pity on the poor.

تَلۡوُ – The meaning of لَوِیَ is to lie and also to incline. Because two commands are given together so a dual meaning word تَلۡوُ is used which encompasses lying in the matter of giving testimony and inclining away from fairness in the matter of dispensing justice.

An exhortation to be equitable and just: The main topic of discussion is about hypocrites and in that discussion while making a comparison between a polytheist and a monotheist mention is made of treating women with equity and justice. This verse generalizes this latter command and in sharp contrast to the behavior of hypocrites urges the believers to be maintainers of justice, who adhere strictly to fairness and fulfill all rights in a just manner. Judicial decision making occurs only in specific situations and it is only a certain number of people who get to make such decisions. The words of the Quran, however, encompass all kinds of rights, There is no doubt that judicial decision making is a great test and trial. In another place, this is expressed as follows: لَا يَجۡرِمَنَّڪُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْ‌  (let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably) (5:8). This is the most trying situation in dispensing justice. When a decision has to be rendered that affects you personally or those near to you or when one of the parties is your enemy, it becomes very hard to be just. Similarly, it is difficult to give true testimony particularly when it will affect you or your parents or near ones. Sometimes a person in deference to a rich person is partial in the decision he renders or the testimony he gives in order to please him and similarly may favor a poor man out of pity. It is stated that a person should have no regard for either of these situations. Allah’s right over them is greater than the person’s right, and Allah’s right is that truth be manifested and there should be no partiality.

One is bestowed with the attribute of justice only when one abandons one’s own desires. Hence it is stated that to reach this high station one must give up following one’s desires.

4-136 O you who believe, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book which He has revealed to His Messenger and the Book which He revealed before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers and the Last Day, he indeed strays far away.^a

  يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلاَۢ بَعِيدًا (١٣٦) 

4-136a: By first believe is meant overt belief, that is verbal acceptance with the tongue and by the second believe is meant completion of belief which includes verification by the heart and actions in accordance with belief. See 2-3a. Because the underlying topic is about hypocrites, it is stated that just verbal belief is of no benefit unless there is action to back it up.

4-137 Those who believe then disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve, then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them nor guide them in the (right) way.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ ٱزۡدَادُواْ كُفۡرً۬ا لَّمۡ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغۡفِرَ لَهُمۡ وَلَا لِيَہۡدِيَہُمۡ سَبِيلاَۢ (١٣٧)

4-137a: The reference here is to hypocrites and the next verse clears this further. The statement: who believe than disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve, is not just to count their reversions but the purport is to show their vacillation and this vacillation was exhibited openly and manifestly by some hypocrites and for others it was only an internal wavering. The statement ثُمَّ ٱزۡدَادُواْ كُفۡرً۬ا shows that ultimately they kept progressing in their disbelief. Allah does not protect and guide such persons because when a person adopts the wrong way, Allah does not force them to do good just as Allah does not force a good person to do evil.

4-138 Give news to the hypocrites that for them is a painful chastisement—

بَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا (١٣٨)

4-139 Those who take disbelievers for friends rather than believers. Do they seek for might from them? Might surely belongs wholly to Allah.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۚ أَيَبۡتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا (١٣٩)

4-140 And indeed He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah’s messages disbelieved in and mocked at, sit not with them until they enter into some other discourse, for then indeed you would be like them. Surely Allah will gather together the hypocrites and the disbelievers all in hell—^a

وَقَدۡ نَزَّلَ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ أَنۡ إِذَا سَمِعۡتُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يُكۡفَرُ بِہَا وَيُسۡتَہۡزَأُ بِہَا فَلَا تَقۡعُدُواْ مَعَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُواْ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيۡرِهِۦۤ‌ۚ إِنَّكُمۡ إِذً۬ا مِّثۡلُهُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا (١٤٠)

4-140a: يَخُوضُواْ – The meaning of خَوۡض is to make one’s way through the water and to cross it. It is used metaphorically to enter into an issue or a conversation, and its most frequent use is in a situation of reproach or censure, as in: ڪُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلۡعَبُ‌ۚ (We were talking idly and sporting) (9:65) and  وَخُضۡتُمۡ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓاْ‌ (and you indulge in idle talk as they did) (9:69) (R). The meaning is to enter idle or false conversations. خَوۡض is talk that is false and futile (LA).

This command has previously been revealed in Surah Al-Anaam: وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡہُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُواْ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيۡرِهِ (And when thou seest those who talk nonsense about Our messages, withdraw from them until they enter into some other discourse) (6:68). In Makkah the idolaters used to make fun and ridicule the Quran in their gatherings and in Madinah the Jews and hypocrites did the same. The rationale for non-participation in such gatherings has been explained because otherwise they would become like them. When someone adopts an attitude of mockery and derision, then anyone who listens to it joyfully has his heart colored with the same coloring. It has not been forbidden to sit down with unbelievers and to talk to them but what is prohibited is to listen to the rules of the faith and its holy men being mocked and ridiculed. In contrast, the Muslims are taught not to ridicule and disparage their deities: وَلَا تَسُبُّواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّه (And abuse not those whom they call upon besides Allah) (6:108). The hypocrites sat down with the unbelievers to make fun of Allah’s commands, and the Muslims have been stopped from being in such gatherings lest they get caught in their snare.

4-141 Those who wait (for misfortunes) for you. Then if you have a victory from Allah they say: Were we not with you? And if there is a chance for the disbelievers, they say: Did we not prevail over you and defend you from the believers? So Allah will judge between you on the day of Resurrection. And Allah will by no means give the disbelievers a way against the believers.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمۡ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡ فَتۡحٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ نَكُن مَّعَكُمۡ وَإِن كَانَ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ۬ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ نَسۡتَحۡوِذۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَنَمۡنَعۡكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۗ وَلَن يَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً (١٤١)

4-141a: يَتَرَبَّصُونَ – ربص is the root and تَرَبّصُ is to wait for something. If it happens to be inventory for sale, it is the waiting for the prices to rise, or waiting for the prices to fall before buying or waiting for the final outcome of an issue or for an issue to go away, as in:  وَٱلۡمُطَلَّقَـٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصۡنَ (divorced women should keep themselves in waiting…) (2:228) and تَرَبَّصُواْ فَإِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُتَرَبِّصِينَ  (Wait, I too wait along with you) (52:31).

نَسۡتَحۡوِذۡ – The meaning of حَوۡذ is a camel driver who drives the camel by beating the backside of the camel, and the meaning of حاذ الابل is drove the camels harshly. Derived from it is استحوذ as in: ٱسۡتَحۡوَذَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ (The devil has gained the mastery over them) (58:19) and is driving them. The meaning here is the same that it is with great inducement and persuasion that the hypocrites have brought the unbelievers against the Muslims.

نَمۡنَعُ – مَنۡع is the opposite of giving, as in: مَّنَّاعٍ۬ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ (Forbidder of Good) (50:25) and يَمۡنَعُونَ ٱلۡمَاعُونَ (refrain from acts of kindness) (107:7). The word also occurs in the sense of حمایة or defense and protection and it is used in this sense here (R).

The two-faced strategy of the hypocrites is mentioned here. On the one side, they stayed intermingled with the believers and if the believers were successful, the hypocrites told them that they were with them, and on the other side if the unbelievers had an upper hand in a battle, the hypocrites reminded them that they were the real cause of their success because they had persuaded the unbelievers to come out for the fight  and then deserted the believers and protected the unbelievers from the believers because the desertion left the believers with an insufficient force to attack the unbelievers and thus they protected them. The hypocrites argued that whatever the unbelievers gained was because of them. This was the mischief of the hypocrites because of which they are warned of an evil end in the next section.

There is also another point worth remembering. In the ups and downs of the fighting that was going on between the Muslims and the disbelievers, Allah has used the word victory for the success of the Muslims but for the unbelievers the word used is  نصیب (a small portion) which goes to show that the unbelievers were never victorious against the Muslims. They were only able to inflict some distress to the Muslims. 

4-127 And they ask thee a decision about women. Say: Allah makes known to you His decision concerning them; and that which is recited to you in the Book is concerning widowed women, whom you give not what is appointed for them, while you are not inclined to marry them, nor to the weak among children, and that you should deal justly with orphans. And whatever good you do, Allah is surely ever Knower of it.

وَيَسۡتَفۡتُونَكَ فِى ٱلنِّسَآءِ‌ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفۡتِيڪُمۡ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ فِى يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا تُؤۡتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرۡغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ وَٱلۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلۡوِلۡدَٲنِ وَأَن تَقُومُواْ لِلۡيَتَـٰمَىٰ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمً۬ا (١٢٧)

4-127a: يَسۡتَفۡتُونَ – یفتی – The meaning of فتیٰ is a youth and فتویٰ is a decree on an issue that is difficult (R). استفتاء is to ask for a decree (فتویٰ ) on an issue, as in:  أَفۡتُونِى فِىٓ أَمۡرِى (advise me respecting my affair) (27:32) and فَٱسۡتَفۡتِہِمۡ (So ask them…) (37:11).

يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ – It can be interpreted in two ways, that is orphan children of widows and orphan women. According to Lisan al-Arab, a woman is called an orphan who does not have a husband. Another reading of this term is ییامی النساء and ییامیٰ is the plural of ایّم which means the woman who has no husband and the plural form is found in the Quran: وَأَنكِحُواْ ٱلۡأَيَـٰمَىٰ (And marry those among you who are single) (24:32).

مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ – It means the portion that has been appointed for them and what is meant is not the dower or the marital gift settled on the wife but her portion in the inheritance which can be deduced because of the mention of weak children in the discussion of the topic. The Arabs did not give women and children a share in the inheritance as has been mentioned in 4-7a. Hence some people were resentful when the Quranic revelation came that determined a share for women in inheritance (IJ). 

وَتَرۡغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ – For the meaning of رغب see 2-130a. There is no conjunction here and so it can be interpreted in two ways, that is you have a strong desire to marry them and also that you do not want them to marry. Ibn Jarir has given both types of narrations, but the majority of commentators prefer the second meaning and the context too requires it because they did not want such women to marry so that they may take their inheritance.

 Further light on the issue of polygamy: This section has a relationship with the beginning of this Chapter where the issue of polygamy is discussed. Verse 129 makes this issue clear where it is stated that you cannot do justice between women. Its relation with the last chapter is that in it amongst the mention of the hypocrites who were drifting towards polytheism there is a mention of the believers and it is stated that complete obedience of Allah and doing goodness towards his creation are the two pillars of religion and accordingly in this section there is a mention of women and an exhortation to be good to them.

In the beginning of this verse, there is an indication from the use of the words استفتاء (ask thee for a decision) and افتاء (makes known his decision) that there are some difficulties regarding women among the populace. In response to the question, it is stated firstly that Allah gives you His decision which is given further on and secondly a reference is given to مَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ (that which is recited to you in the Book)  which indicates that this verse was revealed later in time. It is further stated that that which is recited earlier is with regard to يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ by which, according to the lady Ayesha as recorded in Bukhari, is meant an orphan girl whose guardian joins her property with his and then neither marries her himself nor approves of her marriage with someone else for fear of losing control over her property. There is another narration by Ibn Abbas in which he states that this verse was revealed in the matter of Umm Kahat who had orphan children. The truth is that Quran lays great stress and clarifies matters relating to women and orphan children and repeatedly reminds what is the real subject of the chapter. Women and children were subject to such bad treatment that the need arose to once again reveal this command and its meaning is that the previously given command that you can marry two, three or four wives is with regard to يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ , that is with regard to such women who have been left without husbands such as widows who lost their husband in wars. If the alternate interpretation of يَتَـٰمَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ is taken, that is orphan children of women, then the meaning of verse 3 becomes that if you cannot do justice with the orphan children of women then marry such women who are their mothers. This brings clarity to the rationale for allowing polygamy, namely that this permission was given to solve this problem. When many women were left without husbands or many women were left with orphan children who had no well-wisher, Allah gave permission to marry two, three or four wives. That the matter discussed in this verse relates to polygamy is made clear by the fact that the following verse exhorts the doing of justice. The statement in the current verse that you do not give them their prescribed share nor to young children is a reference to the old custom prevalent among the Arabs that they excluded women and young children from inheritance. Further it appears from تَرۡغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ  (you are not inclined to marry them) that their reluctance to marry such women was because they did not want to take on the responsibility of rearing their children. Hence Islam gave two commands. Women and weak children were to be given their inheritance and such women who have orphan children should be taken as wives. In order to accomplish these objectives, permission was given for polygamy because not to do so would have spelled disaster for the nation. The matter is further emphasized by stating at the end of the verse to do justice with orphans. It was the imperative of looking after widows and the rearing of orphan children that polygamy was permitted.

4-128 And if a woman fears ill-usage from her husband or desertion no blame is on them if they effect a reconciliation between them. And reconciliation is better. And avarice is met with in (men’s) minds. And if you do good (to others) and keep your duty, surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.^a

وَإِنِ ٱمۡرَأَةٌ خَافَتۡ مِنۢ بَعۡلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوۡ إِعۡرَاضً۬ا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡہِمَآ أَن يُصۡلِحَا بَيۡنَہُمَا صُلۡحً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱلصُّلۡحُ خَيۡرٌ۬‌ۗ وَأُحۡضِرَتِ ٱلۡأَنفُسُ ٱلشُّحَّ‌ۚ وَإِن تُحۡسِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا (١٢٨)

4-128a: شحّ – It is niggardness mixed with greed, as in: وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِ (And whoever is saved from the niggardliness of his soul) (59:9) and أَشِحَّةً عَلَى ٱلۡخَيۡرِ‌ (…being covetous of wealth) (33:19) (R).

Recalcitrance of the husband towards his wife: The situation described here is one in which the wife is afraid of the husband’s high handedness or disinclination. The cases of recalcitrance on the part of the wife and شقاق بینھما (quarrel between husband and wife) have already been discussed earlier. The mention of this special situation where the wife is afraid of the husband appears to be a case of quarrels emanating from multiplicity of wives and hence this has been mentioned separately from the earlier two situations. The mention of equitable treatment of wives in the next verse gives further credence to this being the subject. So, what is stated is that when the wife is afraid that a husband’s second marriage will cause him to be disinclined from her or to treat her badly then they should seek a resolution, and the resolution can take one of two forms. Either the husband can give up the idea of a second marriage or the husband can try to convince his wife that she will not suffer any harm on account of his second marriage. It is further added that a resolution of the differences resulting in domestic peace is better. However, such a peace is at the expense of شحّ (niggardliness mixed with greed). Niggardliness is that a person does not wants to give up his right and greed is that he wants to snatch somebody else’s right. If there is no niggardliness and greed and a person gives up on some of his rights and also gives up on appropriating another’s right, then a resolution to a dispute can easily be found. It is for this reason that doing good and being righteous is urged, that is to do good to others and not to appropriate the right of others. It is therefore especially recommended to be good to women, not to be unjust with them and to avoid averseness and non-fulfilment of marital duties. 

4-129 And you cannot do justice between wives, even though you wish (it), but be not disinclined (from one) with total disinclination, so that you leave her in suspense. And if you are reconciled and keep your duty, surely Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.^a

وَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعُوٓاْ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ بَيۡنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتُمۡ‌ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُواْ ڪُلَّ ٱلۡمَيۡلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَٱلۡمُعَلَّقَةِ‌ۚ وَإِن تُصۡلِحُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (١٢٩)

4-129a: تَمِيلُواْ – مَیۡل is to bend to one side from the middle and its use is in a situation of cruelty. The meaning of مِلۡت علیه is to attack someone, as in:  فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيۡڪُم مَّيۡلَةً۬ (…that they may attack you with a sudden attack) (4:102), and مال (wealth) is so called because it bends away, that is keeps going into other hands, being with someone today and with someone else the next day (R).

مُعَلَّقَةِ‌ۚ – عَلَق is to hang from something or to get trapped in it (R). Derived from it is علقة , the clot from which the baby develops, and the meaning of معلقة is الّتی فقِد زوجہا (a woman whose husband has gone missing) and she is لا اَیّم و لا ذات بعل neither without a husband nor with a husband (LA).

Equitable treatment of wives: There are two ways in which a husband can do justice with his wives. One is in manifest ways such as in giving them money or in giving them turns, and the second is in love. It is stated in the beginning of this chapter that if a person fears that he will not be able to treat his wives equitably then even if there is a need, he should remain monogamous  and be content with one wife. The mention there is in manifest ways. Here the mention is about affection and love. Hence the inability to do justice mentioned in وَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعُوٓاْ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ has to do with the relationship of love, and it is stated that it is not humanly possible for a person who has two wives to love them equally. This is not a negation of the physical equal treatment of wives which is in the ability of a person to do. It is not right to assume that first polygamy is permitted and then it is negated by tying it to a condition which is declared to be impossible to meet. The permission for polygamy was granted to meet certain objective conditions which have been described previously. Far be it from the glory of God’s words to first mention a dire need and then impose an impossible condition for the fulfilment of that need. If there is a need for multiplicity of wives, then it cannot be negated by the condition that a person cannot do justice between them. Is this not a criticism of God that on the one hand He mentions the need for having more than one wife and on the other He negates it by tying it to a condition impossible to fulfill? The meaning of this verse is clear, namely that the command for physical justice between wives has been given but a person is not constrained by the same rule of equity as far as love is considered. However, it is prohibited to be so disinclined towards a wife that she is left hanging between women who have a husband and women who do not have a husband. 

4-130 And if they separate, Allah will render them both free from want out of His ampleness. And Allah is ever Ample-giving, Wise.^a

وَإِن يَتَفَرَّقَا يُغۡنِ ٱللَّهُ ڪُلاًّ۬ مِّن سَعَتِهِۦ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعًا حَكِيمً۬ا (١٣٠)

4-130a: If the dislike becomes so great that there is no concord or affinity then separation is the best alternative for the couple. In such an eventuality, Allah can make things better for both.

4-131 And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And certainly We enjoined those who were given the Book before you and (We enjoin) you too to keep your duty to Allah. And if you disbelieve, surely to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And Allah is ever Self-sufficient, Praiseworthy.

 وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۗ وَلَقَدۡ وَصَّيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ وَإِيَّاكُمۡ أَنِ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ وَإِن تَكۡفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدً۬ا (١٣١)

4-132 And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And Allah suffices as having charge of affairs.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلاً (١٣٢)

4-133 If He please, He will take you away, O people, and bring others. And Allah is ever Powerful to do that.

إِن يَشَأۡ يُذۡهِبۡڪُمۡ أَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَيَأۡتِ بِـَٔاخَرِينَ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٲلِكَ قَدِيرً۬ا (١٣٣)

4-134 Whoever desires the reward of this world — then with Allah is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. And Allah is ever Hearing, Seeing.^a

مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ ثَوَابُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا (١٣٤) 

4-134a: In the last four verses of this section there is an exhortation to be righteous and attention is drawn to Allah’s majesty and His omnipotence because it is this that can keep a person righteous. A person can only keep due regard for the rights of others when he has full belief in the power and majesty of Allah otherwise even goodness has a color of selfishness.

4-116 Surely Allah forgives not setting up partners with Him, and He forgives all besides this to whom He pleases. And whoever sets up a partner with Allah, he indeed goes far astray.^a

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلاَۢ بَعِيدًا (١١٦)

4-116a: In the discussion about hypocrites at the end of last section, it is stated that the correct path is the one on which the righteous are treading. In this section, a comparison is drawn between a polytheist and a monotheist, the strategy adopted by the hypocrites is described and it is stated that they cannot be successful. Polytheism is mentioned because it is the root of all sins, See 4-48a for polytheism being an unforgivable sin. It is also revealed here why Allah does not forgives setting up partners with Him, namely because such a person errs so greatly and strays so far from righteousness that it is difficult for him to come back. There is no spiritual disease whose roots are deeper than polytheism and idol worship. 

4-117 Besides Him they call on nothing but female divinities and they call on nothing but a rebellious devil,^a

إِن يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ إِنَـٰثً۬ا وَإِن يَدۡعُونَ إِلَّا شَيۡطَـٰنً۬ا مَّرِيدً۬ا (١١٧)

4-117a: اناث – It is the plural of انثیٰ . All those besides God to whom the polytheists turn for their needs to be fulfilled are called اناث . Another reason they are called اناث may be because in pre-Islamic Arabia, the idols had female names, such as Lat, Uzza and Manaat (R). According to Hassan, every tribe had an idol which was called انثیٰ بن فلان that is, the goddess of so and so tribe and this nomenclature was used because those things that do not have a spirit are called اناث (IJ). Imam Raghib has also taken اناث to mean inorganic matter because it is passive, that is it accepts external influences only and he says that by using this word for their gods the idolaters have been warned of their ignorance that they call for help from things that can neither see, nor hear nor have the power to do anything. A similarity of this is the saying of Abraham: لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ وَلَا يُبۡصِرُ وَلَا يُغۡنِى عَنكَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا (O my sire, why worshippest thou that which hears not, nor sees, nor can it avail thee aught?) (19:42). In another place it is stated: وَجَعَلُواْ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عِبَـٰدُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ إِنَـٰثًا‌ۚ (And they make the angels, who are the servants of the Beneficent, females (43:19). This is with relation to their calling the angels daughters of Allah (R).

مرید – It is derived from مرد – شجرٌ اَمۡردُ is a tree that does not have leaves and امرد is a man whose facial hair have not appeared yet. Hence مرید and مارد is one from among the jinn and men who is devoid of any goodness, as in: وَحِفۡظً۬ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مَّارِدٍ۬ (And (there is) a safeguard against every devil)) (37:7). In one narration, the term اھل الجنة مُردٌ is used and is taken to mean that they will be free of any defects and harm, and the meaning of:  مَرَدُواْ عَلَى ٱلنِّفَاقِ (9:101) is that they will be free of any goodness and persist in hypocrisy.

The meaning of worshipping the devil: By the statement that they call on nothing but a rebellious devil is meant that those whom they call upon as gods did not claim being gods and it is only on the instigation of the devil that they worship them. Thus they listen and obey the devil and thus it is the devil that they really worship. 

4-118 Whom Allah has cursed. And he said: Certainly I will take of Thy servants an appointed portion;

لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنۡ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبً۬ا مَّفۡرُوضً۬ا (١١٨)

4-119 And certainly I will lead them astray and excite in them vain desires and bid them so that they will slit the ears of the cattle,^a and bid them so that they will alter Allah’s creation.^b And whoever takes the devil for a friend, forsaking Allah, he indeed suffers a manifest loss.

وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمۡ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمۡ وَلَأَمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ وَلَأَمُرَنَّہُمۡ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ وَلِيًّ۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ خَسِرَ خُسۡرَانً۬ا مُّبِينً۬ا (١١٩)

4-119a: لَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ- The root of يُبَتِّكَ is بَتۡك , and بَتۡك and بَتّ have the same meaning but they are used in separate contexts. بَتۡك is used for the cutting of hair or limbs while بَتّ is used for the severance of relationships and resources (R). 

The custom of slitting the ears of cattle: It was the custom during the Days of Ignorance that when a she camel had given birth to five calves and if the fifth happened to be a male, the she camel’s ear was slit and she was let out to pasture and she was neither ridden or put to other use. This was a polytheistic custom and was done in the name of idols. This was called بحیرہ  and it is also mentioned elsewhere: مَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَحِيرَةٍ۬ وَلَا سَآٮِٕبَةٍ۬  (Allah has not ordained a bahirah or a saibah ) (5:103). Some have said that it was part of the worship of an idol that the ears of animals were slit.

4-119b: What is meant by خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ : The Quran itself has explained this term elsewhere: فِطۡرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيۡہَا‌ۚ لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ  (the nature made by Allah in which he has created men. There is no altering Allah’s creation – that is the right religion) (30:30). So by altering خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ is meant altering the religion of Allah, and this is the meaning adopted by Hassan, Dahak, Mujahid and many other religious leaders (IK, IJ). There is a hadith found in the two most authentic Books of Hadith which states: کل مولود یولد علی الفطرۃ (Every child is born on Fitrah (natural disposition; or true faith of Islam to worship none but Allah)). Thus, on the one hand, an obvious type of polytheistic practice is pointed out, that is slitting the ears of animals, on the other hand its subtlest form is also pointed out, that is changing Allah’s religion, by which is meant making prohibited what Allah has made permissible and making permissible what Allah has prohibited. Its explanation as: لعن ٱللَّه الواشمات  (May Allah curse tattoos) is not correct, because there is no change in the creation of Allah and further such an interpretation will make any kind of adornment as change in the creation of Allah. The intention of the hadith appears to be only that the Holy Prophet cursed those women who try to seduce men by ornamenting their hands with blue dye. Another interpretation of change in خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ is a change in the purpose for which Allah has created a thing. For example, animals have been created to ride them and worshipping them by making them bahirah or saibah is change in خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ and Allah has subjugated the sun and moon to humans and worshipping them is altering خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ. 

4-120 He promises them and excites vain desires in them. And the devil promises them only to deceive.^a

يَعِدُهُمۡ وَيُمَنِّيہِمۡ‌ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا (١٢٠)

4-120a: Devil’s promises are a deception: These words are noteworthy and not only are the promises of devils and jinns false and deceptive but also those of devilish men who when they lead people on the wrong path do so by deceptive promises. A person who incites another towards evil adorns that evil path and that is the reason why those who keep the company of evil persons end up destroying themselves because they believe their lies.

4-121 These — their refuge is hell, and they will find no way of escape from it.

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ عَنۡہَا مَحِيصً۬ا (١٢١)

4-122 And those who believe and do good, We shall make them enter Gardens in which rivers flow, to abide therein for ever. It is Allah’s promise, in truth. And who is more truthful in word than Allah?

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَنُدۡخِلُهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ أَبَدً۬ا‌ۖ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَصۡدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ قِيلاً۬ (١٢٢)

4-123 It will not be in accordance with your vain desires nor the vain desires of the People of the Book. Whoever does evil, will be requited for it and will not find for himself besides Allah a friend or a helper.^a

لَّيۡسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمۡ وَلَآ أَمَانِىِّ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ‌ۗ مَن يَعۡمَلۡ سُوٓءً۬ا يُجۡزَ بِهِۦ وَلَا يَجِدۡ لَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّ۬ا وَلَا نَصِيرً۬ا (١٢٣)

4-123a: What a pure religion! There is no reward for desires and wishes regardless of whether the person is a Muslim, Jew or Christian. Those Muslims who are only Muslims in name and do not make the Quran their way of life are only following their desires, and this verse of the Quran is decisive in that just desires are not enough unless they are backed deeds. If a Muslim commits an evil act, he will be punished and if a non-Muslim does a good deed, he will be rewarded. Right belief does not exempt a person from doing good deeds. In fact, the whole purpose of right belief is to put a person on the path of right actions. 

4-124 And whoever does good deeds, whether male or female, and he (or she) is a believer — these will enter the Garden, and they will not be dealt with a whit unjustly.

وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَڪَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ۬ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ نَقِيرً۬ا (١٢٤)

4-124a: Equity in reward for men and women: There is complete equity between men and women in terms of reward for deeds. Just as there are blessings in heaven for men, there are the same blessings in heaven for women as well. The Quran has kept no difference in the blessings for the two and has not stated anywhere that there are more blessings for men than for women. If the Christians have wrongly accused Islam that according to Islamic teachings women have no soul, many Muslims too harbor similar feelings that men will have blessings in heaven which the women will not. Quran has established complete equity between men and women for the results of their actions.

4-125 And who is better in religion than he who submits himself entirely to Allah while doing good (to others) and follows the faith of Abraham, the upright one? And Allah took Abraham for a friend.^a

وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ دِينً۬ا مِّمَّنۡ أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُ ۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٌ۬ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ حَنِيفً۬ا‌ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ خَلِيلاً۬ (١٢٥)

4:125a: خَلِيل – It is derived from خُلّة which means affection because it enters a person’s soul and خَلَل is a crevice between two things or the middle of a thing, as in: فَتَرَى ٱلۡوَدۡقَ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلَـٰلِهِ (…then piles them up, so that thou seest the rain coming forth from their midst) (24:43) and فَجَاسُواْ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ‌ (…so they made havoc in (your) houses) (17:5).

Allah took Abraham as His friend because when a person loves Allah, He loves him in return. However, the glad tidings given here is not that Allah took Abraham as a friend but that whoever follows the faith of Abraham and focuses his attention on being perfectly obedient to Allah and  acts with goodness towards the creation of Allah becomes a friend of Allah and wins His affection.

What is meant by ٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ (follows the faith of Abraham)? Here it is only being upright which is called the faith of Abraham, that is those rules of religion which avoid extremes. See 2-135a, and those rules of religion have also been specified here, that is: أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُ ۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٌ۬ (submits entirely to Allah and does good to others). So, the requirement is to follow these rules which are also the essential rules of Islam. In fact, these rules were universal to all religions when they existed in their pristine form. They all espoused the worship of one God and acting with goodness towards the creation of Allah.

4-113 And were it not for Allah’s grace upon thee and His mercy, a party of them had certainly designed to ruin thee. And they ruin only themselves, and they cannot harm thee in any way. And Allah has revealed to thee the Book and the Wisdom, and taught thee what thou knewest not, and Allah’s grace on thee is very great.^a

وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكَ وَرَحۡمَتُهُ ۥ لَهَمَّت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَن يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَہُمۡ‌ۖ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِن شَىۡءٍ۬‌ۚ وَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمۡ تَكُن تَعۡلَمُ‌ۚ وَكَانَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكَ عَظِيمً۬ا (١١٣)

4-113a: يُضِلُّوكَ – One of the meanings of اضلال is اِھلاك meaning perdition or ruin اَضَلَّه – ضَیَّعَه و اھلکه (T) and this is the meaning here, just as in: إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ وَسُعُرٍ۬  (Surely the guilty are in error and distress) (54:47) the meaning of ضلال is ruination (T). When mention is made of their attempt to ruin, a consolatory response is given that they will not be able to harm the Holy Prophet a whit. In the previous verses also, there is a mention of the secret counsels and plans of the hypocrites. Given the context, the above meaning is correct. If the meaning is taken to be to lead astray, then that too would be alright.

What is conveyed here is that the hypocrites not only show their weakness by not participating in wars but they are also the secret enemies of Islam who are continually thinking of ways to destroy it. There is a consolatory message given with it that the Messenger has been sent with the Book and Wisdom whose teachings he has to impart to the world. So, there is no way that he can be killed. In another place, it is stated: هَمُّواْ بِمَا لَمۡ يَنَالُواْ‌ۚ  (and they purposed that which they could not attain) (9:74). Whatever effort the hypocrites make, they will never be able to achieve this objective. 

4-114 There is no good in most of their secret counsels except (in) him who enjoins charity or goodness or reconciliation between people. And whoever does this, seeking Allah’s pleasure, We shall give him a mighty reward.^a

لَّا خَيۡرَ فِى ڪَثِيرٍ۬ مِّن نَّجۡوَٮٰهُمۡ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ مَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ إِصۡلَـٰحِۭ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوۡفَ نُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (١١٤)

4-114a: نجویٰ – Its root is the same as the root of  نجاۃ and the meaning of ناجیتُه is he secretly sought his advice. Its root is نجوۃ  which means high ground or he was alone with him there. Derived from this is the verbal noun نجویٰ  meaning conferring secretly.

It is stated with reference to the secret counsels of the hypocrites that their agenda does not include anything beneficial in it because when they confer secretly, it is always to cause harm. That is why the word ڪَثِيرٍ۬ is used here. When they meet, instead of doing beneficial things like exhorting people to give charity, giving them good advice, undertaking works of social reformation, their agenda is always against these things.

Social reformation: Hadith gives a lot of importance to social reformation. In a hadith that is reported in Abu Daud, Tirmazi and Ahmad, it is stated that the Holy Prophet once said to his Companions: Should I tell you of an action that is higher than prayer and fasting. The Companions replied in the affirmative. The Holy Prophet said: Reforming the people. He did not say reforming Muslims but reforming all the people. There is great need for the Muslims to follow this advice in these times because the key to progress is unity and discipline. There are many today who sow seeds of dissention but there is an absence of social reformers.

In this verse all the beneficial things that one person can do for another are put together in one place. Top of the list is charity, that is to render financial assistance to one who is in need of help. The second kind of beneficial action is to provide guidance to someone, that is to put someone on the path of righteousness. The third is to remove mischief, quarrel and discord and to make peace among people. This is the work that the Holy Prophet and his companions were doing.^a 

4-115 And whoever acts hostilely to the Messenger after guidance has become manifest to him and follows other than the way of the believers, We turn him to that to which he (himself) turns and make him enter hell; and it is an evil resort.^a

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعۡ غَيۡرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصۡلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ‌ۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا (١١٥)

4-115a: نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ – تولیة is creating a close relationship with another. So, the meaning of نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ is We will allow him to have a relationship with whom he himself creates a relationship. 

Allah’s dealing with men is in accordance with their actions: The law of nature regarding relationships that Allah has created manifests itself in the observation that with whatever one wants to create a relationship, one develops an attachment of affection with it. If one tries to develop a relationship with pious people, such a relationship materializes and the same is true if one develops a relationship with evil people. So, when a group, despite the guidance having been explained to them and having resided with Muslims day and night, adopts an attitude of hostility towards the Messenger of Allah, God does not force them to adopt a different path. Instead, according to the law of nature they begin to like the path they are treading on but it lands them in hell.

An alternative explanation is that this idiom is from ولیت وجہی کذا  which means I turned my attention to him, that is Allah turns the attention of a person to what he turns his attention to.

Consensus of the Ummah: The consensus of the Ummah on a point is one source of sharia. Imam Shafai writes that he read the Quran three hundred times to find a verse supportive of this as a source of sharia. Finally, he settled on this verse. The objection made against this is that سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ is not a path separate from قال ٱللَّهَ وَقالْ ٱلرَّسُولَ and in fact belief in قال ٱللَّهَ وَقالْ ٱلرَّسُولَ is سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ and it is this same guidance that is mentioned here. In short, there is nothing in this verse that constitutes an argument for consensus of Ummah. If the context of this verse is considered, this objection has merit. The mention here is of enmity with the Holy Prophet in which a person adopts a path of unbelief and enmity instead of one of belief and love which is the way of the believers. There is no further meaning in the use of the term سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ and neither can any meaning be deduced to support consensus of Ummah because how can there be a consensus of all the Muslims on a particular issue except that it is in the Quran or Hadith.

4-105 Surely We have revealed the Book to thee with truth that thou mayest judge between people by means of what Allah has taught thee. And be not one pleading the cause of the dishonest,^a

اِنَّاۤ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَیْكَ الْكِتٰبَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَاۤ اَرٰىكَ اللّٰهُ ؕ وَ لَا تَكُنْ لِّلْخَآىِٕنِیْنَ خَصِیْمًاۙ (۱۰۵) 

4-105a: اَرٰىكَ اللّٰهُ – Its meaning here is علمك اللّٰه (the knowledge that Allah has given you) (R). When رؤیه is transitive towards two objects, its meaning is knowledge (R).

خائن – It means one who breaches a trust, and خیانة and نفاق have a similar meaning. خیانة is a breach with respect to a covenant or trustee property and نفاق is dishonesty with respect to faith. By خیانة is meant secretly opposing the truth in breach of a contract (R) and خوّان which occurs later is its superlative tense.

خَصِیْمً – خَصۡم means to quarrel and خَصِیْمً is one who argues excessively (R).

The incident of Tamah bin Ubairaq: The hypocrites who pretended to be Muslims were under the impression that they would get some concession in a time of need because of ostensibly being Muslims. However, justice is fundamental in the teachings of the Holy Prophet regardless of whether one is dealing with a bitter enemy or a dear friend. This special command was revealed to the Holy Prophet in respect of the hypocrites so that their false expectation of special treatment may be removed. An incident is narrated with respect to this verse. There was an Ansari (Helper) who stole an armor from someone’s house and gave it to a Jew for safekeeping. When investigation started, the armor was tracked to Tamah’s house and finally recovered from the Jew. The Jew pointed the finger to Tamah but he denied the charge and his friends supported his innocence before the Holy Prophet but he gave the decision against Tamah. This verse was revealed for this incident.

Holy Prophet’s extraordinary trustworthiness and truthfulness: To assume from the words: And be not one pleading the cause of the dishonest, that he must have sided with some dishonesty is a supposition of an ignorant. It is definitely not the purpose of any command given to the Holy Prophet that he had acted against it and so it became necessary to give the command. The real purpose of the commands was to educate the Muslims even as the Holy Prophet himself was leading a life committed to the highest code of conduct. Why is the command of keep up prayer given again and again in the Quran? Was it because the Holy Prophet had stopped praying? As is apparent from the narration given above, the Holy Prophet had not pleaded for a dishonest person and in fact had given his decision against the dishonest person. So, the purpose of revealing this verse was to nullify the false expectations of the hypocrites. Holy Prophet’s truthfulness and trustworthiness was well known even before prophethood. Even if there was even an iota of favoritism in the Holy Prophet’s character, a boorish nation like the Arabs would not have given him the title of الامین . If even before prophethood nobody could lift a finger against his trustworthiness and honesty, so to conjecture such thoughts after he was given prophethood is to flatly deny the reality of the events. There is no doubt that events of such magnitude occurred during his life that the steps of even great men would have faltered but such events did not cause even the minutest change in Holy Prophet’s extraordinary honesty and trustworthiness. It was on such occasions that Divine revelation also guided him. The event narrated above about Tamah testifies to this. This occurred at a time when the Jews had become openly hostile to the Holy Prophet and Islam was passing through a period of such great difficulties and hardships that every person who could stand up in its support was a great blessing. There were a number of people who were willing to testify that Tamah was not guilty. However, the Holy Prophet did not care that the Jews were his enemy and that by holding Tamah guilty, he would loose the support of Tamah and a number of his Muslim friends and relatives as well. The Holy Prophet gave his decision against Tamah and in favor of the Jew. It would be hard to find another such instance of justice and fairness in history. 

4-106 And ask the forgiveness of Allah. Surely Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful ^a

وَّ اسْتَغْفِرِ اللّٰهَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِیْمًاۚ (۱۰۶) 

4-106a: When the rule was mandated that the Holy Prophet was not to side with any dishonest fraudster, the existing difficulties increased even more. Hence it is stated that Allah’s protection be sought in difficulties. For this meaning of استغفار see 2-199a and 3-17a. Who is not dependent on God’s protection, and he who considers himself even for a second to be free from the need of God’s protection is in danger of getting destroyed. The meaning of the verse could also be to seek God’s protection for those who make mistakes. The context also requires this meaning.

4-107 And contend not on behalf of those who act unfaithfully to their souls. Surely Allah loves not him who is treacherous, sinful:

  وَ لَا تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِیْنَ یَخْتَانُوْنَ اَنْفُسَهُمْ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُحِبُّ مَنْ كَانَ خَوَّانًا اَثِیْمًاۚۙ(۱۰۷) 

4-108 They seek to hide from men and they cannot hide from Allah, and He is with them when they counsel by night matters which please Him not. And Allah ever encompasses what they do.

یَّسْتَخْفُوْنَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یَسْتَخْفُوْنَ مِنَ اللّٰهِ وَ هُوَ مَعَهُمْ اِذْ یُبَیِّتُوْنَ مَا لَا یَرْضٰی مِنَ الْقَوْلِ ؕ وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا یَعْمَلُوْنَ مُحِیْطًا (۱۰۸) 

4-109 Behold! You are they who may contend on their behalf in this world’s life, but who will contend with Allah on their behalf on the Resurrection day, or who will have charge of their affairs?^a

هٰۤاَنْتُمْ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ جٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِی الْحَیٰوةِ الدُّنْیَا ۫ فَمَنْ یُّجَادِلُ اللّٰهَ عَنْهُمْ یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَةِ اَمْ مَّنْ یَّكُوْنُ عَلَیْهِمْ وَكِیْلً (۱۰۹) 

4-109a: This appears to be about persons who on account of lack of understanding got deceived by the hypocrites and became their advocates, as for example the relatives of Tamah supported him. These people are made to understand that the hypocrites are secretly against Islam and are far removed from truth and righteousness and that they should not become their supporters. Instead, they should be supporters of truth. The address in verse 4-107 is general as the words of verse 4-109 shows: هٰۤاَنْتُمْ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ جٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ (Behold! You are they who may contend on their behalf. 

4-110 And whoever does evil or wrongs his soul, then asks forgiveness of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.

وَ مَنْ یَّعْمَلْ سُوْٓءًا اَوْ یَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهٗ ثُمَّ یَسْتَغْفِرِ اللّٰهَ یَجِدِ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِیْمًا (۱۱۰) 

4-111 And whoever commits a sin, commits it only against himself. And Allah is ever Knowing, Wise.

وَ مَنْ یَّكْسِبْ اِثْمًا فَاِنَّمَا یَكْسِبُهٗ عَلٰی نَفْسِهٖ ؕ وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلِیْمًا حَكِیْمًا (۱۱۱) 

4-112 And whoever commits a fault or a sin, then accuses of it one innocent, he indeed takes upon himself the burden of a calumny and a manifest sin.^a

وَ مَنْ یَّكْسِبْ خَطِیْٓئَةً اَوْ اِثْمًا ثُمَّ یَرْمِ بِهٖ بَرِیْٓـًٔا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَّ اِثْمًا مُّبِیْنًا۠ (۱۱۲) 

4-112a: For the meaning of  خَطِیْٓئَةً and  اِثْمً see 2:82a and 2:85a. The difference in their meaning is that خَطِیْٓئَةً is a mistake that is committed without intent and اِثْمً is a sin committed with intent. This distinction is also made by Ibn Jarir. An alternative distinction is that خَطِیْٓئَةً are those mistakes whose repercussions are confined to the person making the mistake and اِثْمً is that act whose evil consequences affect others.

Quran has associated with hypocrites this kind of a mean action, namely blaming someone for what a person has done. It was not permissible to put the blame for something that someone had done even on a Jew. These are the morals that Quran teaches even towards one’s enemies. How many Muslims are there today who conduct themselves in this manner even with their brothers. Leave alone appropriating the assets of non-Muslims, Muslims declare other Muslims as unbelievers and then consider it justified to unlawfully take their assets. What greater breach of trust can there be!   

4-101 And when you journey in the earth, there is no blame on you if you shorten the prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve will give you trouble. Surely the disbelievers are an open enemy to you.^a

وَ اِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِی الْاَرْضِ فَلَیْسَ عَلَیْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ تَقْصُرُوْا مِنَ الصَّلٰوةِ ۖۗ اِنْ خِفْتُمْ اَنْ یَّفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْۤا ؕ اِنَّ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ كَانُوْا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِیْنًا (١٠١)

4-101a: What is meant by shorten the prayer: تَقۡصُرُواْ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ – The meaning of قصر is to shorten. It is not clarified here that when the prayer is shortened whether the shortening is in the components of prayer or in the number of rakahs. From the authentic sunnah of the Holy Prophet it is established that the shortening is in rakahs. By using the term مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ , it is communicated that the shortening is for some prayers and not for all prayers. Accordingly, it is only in the Zuhar, Asar, and Isha prayers that two rakahs is prayed instead of four while on a journey. The shortening of prayer is prescribed when a person is journeying. For the meaning of فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ضَرَبۡ see 2-60a, and for what is meant by journeying see 2-184b. Here although shortening of prayer is given as a permission but since the permission is given in a situation of need, it would not be right not to benefit from it. It is well established that the Holy Prophet always shortened the prayers during a journey. The hadith that the Holy Prophet sometimes said the full prayers and sometimes shortened them during journeys is not correct as Ibn Qayyim has written. Hence prayers should be shortened during journeys, that is offer only the obligatory or Farz prayer and even there where there are four rakahs to reduce it to two. When the obligatory prayer is reduced to half, then the voluntary prayer or nawafil stand automatically eliminated. The two rakah sunnah before the morning obligatory prayer which have been emphasized and which were never dropped by the Holy Prophet and the witr should be offered even when on a journey. The relationship of this verse with the previous topic is that when jihad and migration was urged and emphasized then these events require journeying. Hence the rules for prayer during journey and in jihad are given immediately after. 

There is apparently another condition besides journeying for shortening the prayer and that is fear that that those who disbelieve will give trouble. So is the shortening of the prayer allowed in a condition of fear and not in a condition of peace? As has been proven above, authentic evidence shows that the Holy Prophet shortened prayers on a journey in all kinds of conditions and there is unanimity of opinion of the Muslim nation on this point. Ya Ali bin Umayya narrated that he asked Caliph Umar why he shortened prayers during a journey although they were experiencing conditions of peace. He replied that the thing you are wondering about is what I wondered about too and I asked the Holy Prophet about it, and he said: صدقة تصدق اللّٰه بھا علیکم فاقبلو اصدقته (The shortening of prayer is a charity ( صدقه) that Allah has given to you, so accept this charity). This goes to show that the shortening of prayer, two instead of four rakah, is not conditional on being in fear. So, based on this hadith and authentic sunnah it is established that the shortening of prayer is of two types. One type is shortening to two rakahs from four rakahs in zuhar, asar and isha prayers and this is conditional only on being on a journey, and second is the shortening of prayer conditional on a state of fear which is described in the next verse, that is leaving after one rakah in congregation to go face the enemy from a two rakah prayer. This is also what appears from the wording in the Quran because the fear that the unbelievers will inflict harm cannot be revoked just by reducing four rakh prayers to two rakahs. Just this amount of reduction in time is not a remedy for the fear because in the time it takes to say two rakahs, the enemy can attack and inflict great damage. The real remedy for fear is what is stated in the next verse that half the force should stay facing the enemy and when the other half after participating in one rakah goes back to face the enemy, the other half should join the Imam for the second rakah. Thus, the enemy will not be able to attack the Muslims while they are offering congregational prayers. It is obvious that the Imam has offered only two rakahs of prayer and the congregational followers have offered only one rakah each with the Imam. So, the reduction of four rakahs to two is subject to the first condition, that is of journeying, and offering only one rakah in congregation is conditional on the second condition that of fear of the enemy. It is only the second curtailment which is a remedy against the fear of the enemy and not the first curtailment. If the mere reduction from four to two rakahs was an appropriate treatment for the fear of the enemy then the second treatment would not have been mentioned. It is clearly evidenced from this that the spirit of the Quran is exactly what the Holy Prophet understood and practiced, that is to shorten the prayer from four rakahs to two rakahs because of a journey and for fear of an enemy further reduce the prayer to one congregational rakah. If, on the one hand, this shows the Quran to be a Book of great wisdom, on the other hand, it proves the understanding of even the minutest meaning by the Holy Prophet through Divine inspiration (وحی خفی). The pause after مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ supports this interpretation. 

4-102 And when thou art among them and leadest the prayer for them, let a party of them stand up with thee, and let them take their arms. Then when they have performed their prostration, let them go to your rear, and let another party who have not prayed come forward and pray with thee, and let them take their precautions and their arms. Those who disbelieve long that you may neglect your arms and your baggage, that they may attack you with a sudden united attack. And there is no blame on you, if you are inconvenienced on account of rain or if you are sick, to put away your arms; and take your precautions. Surely Allah has prepared abasing chastisement for the disbelievers.

وَ اِذَا كُنْتَ فِیْهِمْ فَاَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلٰوةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآىِٕفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ مَّعَكَ وَ لْیَاْخُذُوْۤا اَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۫ فَاِذَا سَجَدُوْا فَلْیَكُوْنُوْا مِنْ وَّرَآىِٕكُمْ ۪ وَ لْتَاْتِ طَآىِٕفَةٌ اُخْرٰی لَمْ یُصَلُّوْا فَلْیُصَلُّوْا مَعَكَ وَ لْیَاْخُذُوْا حِذْرَهُمْ وَ اَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۚ وَدَّ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَوْ تَغْفُلُوْنَ عَنْ اَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَ اَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَیَمِیْلُوْنَ عَلَیْكُمْ مَّیْلَةً وَّاحِدَةً ؕ وَ لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیْكُمْ اِنْ كَانَ بِكُمْ اَذًی مِّنْ مَّطَرٍ اَوْ كُنْتُمْ مَّرْضٰۤی اَنْ تَضَعُوْۤا اَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۚ وَ خُذُوْا حِذْرَكُمْ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اَعَدَّ لِلْكٰفِرِیْنَ عَذَابًا مُّهِیْنًا (۱۰۱)

4-102a: Being in battle and being on the battlefield are two different conditions: In a state of war when there is fear of the enemy, one situation is as described in: فَإِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ فَرِجَالاً أَوۡ رُكۡبَانً۬ا‌ۖ (But if you are in danger (say your prayer) on foot or on horseback) (2:239). As shown in 2-239a this is a condition of fear in which it is not possible to congregate. The second situation is the one described here. In this situation, it is stated: فَاَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلٰوةَ (…and leadest the prayer for them), that is the situation is such that a congregation can be formed for prayer. However, there is fear of the enemy and it is obvious that the enemy will not waste this opportunity to attack when the Muslims are engaged in prayer. This is the situation where because the two forces are arrayed in the battlefield and there is fear of an enemy attack but the battle has not begun in which even this much will not be possible. This is the reason why in this situation it is allowed even to put down your arms in case of rain etcetera.

Prayer in the battlefield during the Dhat al-Riqa expedition: There is difference of opinion in the narrations regarding the actual nature of the prayer. The preference though is for the narration that Bukhari, Muslim, Imam Hambal and the other three authentic Books of Hadith have accepted. According to this version, Ali, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud and some other Companions held that in the Dhat al-Riqa expedition the Holy Prophet led the prayer thus: One group congregated behind the Prophet and lined up for prayer while the other group stood opposite the enemy. When the Prophet had finished one rakah, he kept standing but the group proceeded to say another rakah on their own and then left to relieve the second group that was facing the enemy. The second group then lined up behind the Prophet and he proceeded to finish the second rakah and when he said the salam, the congregation got up and finished another rakah on their own. In some narrations, there is mention of just one rakah, that is the congregants just said one rakah and finished their prayer. 

4-103 So when you have finished the prayer, remember Allah standing and sitting and reclining. But when you are secure (from danger) keep up (regular) prayer. Prayer indeed has been enjoined on the believers at fixed times.^a

فَاِذَا قَضَیْتُمُ الصَّلٰوةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ قِیٰمًا وَّ قُعُوْدًا وَّ عَلٰی جُنُوْبِكُمْ ۚ فَاِذَا اطْمَاْنَنْتُمْ فَاَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ ۚ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَی الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ كِتٰبًا مَّوْقُوْتًا (۱۰۴)

4-103a: Here this kind of prayer is likened to a missed prayer and the peace time prayer to a regular prayer because keeping up prayer requires fulfilling all the conditions of prayer which cannot be fulfilled in a state of fear. This goes to show that the only difference between shortening of prayer in a journey when there is a state of fear and shortening in a journey when there is peace is that in a state of fear all conditions cannot be satisfied and so this is a different kind of shortening, but there is no shortening of rakahs. This is the reason that the Quran has used a general word for shortening of prayer and has not mentioned a reduction in the number of rakahs. Thus, offering one rakah in congregation instead of two is also in a way shortening of prayer and if it is taken that only one rakah is offered then this is obviously a shortening.

4-104 And be not weak-hearted in pursuit of the enemy. If you suffer they (too) suffer as you suffer, and you hope from Allah what they hope not. And Allah is ever Knowing, Wise.

وَ لَا تَهِنُوْا فِی ابْتِغَآءِ الْقَوْمِ ؕ اِنْ تَكُوْنُوْا تَاْلَمُوْنَ فَاِنَّهُمْ یَاْلَمُوْنَ كَمَا تَاْلَمُوْنَ ۚ وَ تَرْجُوْنَ مِنَ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا یَرْجُوْنَ ؕ وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلِیْمًا حَكِیْمًا۠ (۱۰۴) 

4-104a: The connection of this verse with the previous text is that there is mention in the previous verse to safeguard oneself from the enemy even at the time of prayer and the mention here is that it is necessary to pursue the enemy because if the enemy is pursued vigorously then this in itself is a means of protection. The statement that you hope from Allah what they hope not is a reference to those clear prophecies in which the news was given of the ultimate victory of Islam, and which was a source of great strength for the Muslims.

4-97 (As for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to themselves, (the angels) will say: What were you doing? They will say: We were weak in the earth. (They will) say: Was not Allah’s earth spacious, so that you could have migrated therein? So these it is whose refuge is hell — and it is an evil resort.^a

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ قَالُواْ فِيمَ كُنتُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُواْ كُنَّا مُسۡتَضۡعَفِينَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ تَكُنۡ أَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٲسِعَةً۬ فَتُہَاجِرُواْ فِيہَا‌ۚ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا (٩٧)

4-97a: ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ – Those unjust to themselves can also be those people who sincerely believed the truth of Islam and had the means but did not migrate to join the Muslims. Because of the mastery of the unbelievers, they were not able to express their faith. It can also mean those hypocrites who overtly joined Islam and then also joined with the unbelievers to wage war against Muslims. On the face of it, it appears that it is the first type that is meant.

At the end of the last section, it is stated that waging jihad in the way of Allah is far better than just sitting out the national struggle. For this reason, Quran now addresses those people who because of some weakness considered themselves completely helpless. There were several people in Makkah and in its environs who were Muslims at heart but could not leave their homes and businesses. They had the means to migrate and be of service to the religion of Islam. However, they remained satisfied with their present condition. These people are called unjust to themselves. What is then the condition of those people who have given up hope of the dominance of Islam and are satisfied with their present condition and make no effort to spread Islam? 

4-98 Except the weak from among the men and the women and the children who have not the means, nor can they find a way (to escape);^a

 إِلَّا ٱلۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلۡوِلۡدَٲنِ لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةً۬ وَلَا يَہۡتَدُونَ سَبِيلاً۬ (٩٨)

4-98a: حِيلَة – It is derived from حَوۡل which means a change or alteration in a thing and its separation from another thing. From the same root is the word حال which is the state in which one finds oneself as a result of changes in his body or his soul etcetera. From the same root is حَوۡل meaning strength as in: لا حول و لا قوۃ and also from it is حَالَ meaning intervening or hindering, as in: حِيلَ بَيۡنَہُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ مَا يَشۡتَہُونَ  (a bbarrier is placed between them and that which they desire) (34:54). حِيلَة is also derived from the same root where واؤ has been replaced by   یاand its meaning is: ما یُتَوصَّلُ به الی حالة ما فی خفیة (the stratagem under which a secret plan is made to reach a particular state) (R). See 3-54a. The word حِيلَة is used here because it was not possible to migrate openly given the mastery and oppression of the unbelievers.

In the first verse of this section, mention is made of folks who chose not to get out from under the oppression of the unbelievers despite having the ability to do so. This verse mentions those who had neither the ability nor could find a way to get out of the clutches of the unbelievers. By finding a way is meant finding a way to migrate and by وِلۡدَٲنِ is meant children and could also include male and female slaves. See 4-75a. It is recorded that when the revelation of this verse became known in Makkah Jandab bin Zumra who was extremely old and frail told his sons to carry him to Madinah because he was not among those who did not have the ability not to migrate. His sons put him on a cot and started their journey but he died on the way. The spirit in the Companions to comply with the Divine commands was so great that its like cannot be found in any other nation of the world. 

4-99 So these, it may be that Allah will pardon them. And Allah is ever Pardoning, Forgiving.

فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَعۡفُوَ عَنۡہُمۡ‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورً۬ا (٩٩)

4-100 And whoever flees in Allah’s way, he will find in the earth many a place of escape and abundant resources. And whoever goes forth from his home fleeing to Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

وَمَن يُہَاجِرۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يَجِدۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُرَٲغَمً۬ا كَثِيرً۬ا وَسَعَةً۬‌ۚ وَمَن يَخۡرُجۡ مِنۢ بَيۡتِهِۦ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ يُدۡرِكۡهُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَقَدۡ وَقَعَ أَجۡرُهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (١٠٠)

4-100a: مُرَٲغَمً۬ا – The meaning of رغام  or رَغۡم is dust or fine dust. Derived from it is the idiom: علیٰ رغم انف by which is meant accepting disgrace. Thus, it is narrated in a hadith that when this verse was revealed Moaqil bin Yassar accepted to marry his sister to her ex-husband who had previously divorced her and remarked: رَغۡم انفی لامر اللّٰه تعلیٰ (I accept disgrace for the sake of Allah, the Most High) (T). Metaphorically مراغمة  means to be angry and leave somebody, and مراغم means the place one runs to and the place one goes to and this is what is meant here (T).

The meaning is that when there is actually a need for migration Allah provides a place of refuge as he provided the Muslims a place in Madinah and before that in Abyssinia. When the need for migration arises and there is no alternative to migration, then not doing so because of the idea that there is no place to go to is not the right thing to do. It is then stated that if the migrant dies on the way, the reward of the failed attempt is with Allah. The meaning of this is that the purpose of migration is service of Allah and if the person dies and does not get a chance to serve Islam, Allah will reward him according to his intention. 

Migration under present conditions: The edit of Allah has always proven to be true. So, it is impossible that that there is a need for migration but migration has to be abandoned because there is no place to migrate. It is God’s promise that a place would be found. It therefore follows that the prevailing conditions at the time of the movement for migration in India at the end of the First World War were such that they did not warrant a migration. There were at the time four hundred million Muslims in the world and more or less all of them lived in countries that were under the influence of Christian powers. There is no place that four hundred million could migrate to which clearly shows that at the time the solution to the problem of Muslims was not that all of them migrate out of the countries under Christian control. If this was the remedy in the knowledge of Allah, He would have provided the means to do so. The absence of these means is a testimony that the solution to the problem of Muslims is neither migration nor fighting which is not possible without migration. The solution is self-reformation to which Muslims are not paying attention and hence they have to face failure at every step.

4-92 And a believer would not kill a believer except by mistake. And he who kills a believer by mistake should free a believing slave, and blood-money should be paid to his people unless they remit it as alms.^a But if he be from a tribe hostile to you and he is a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (suffices). And if he be from a tribe between whom and you there is a covenant, the blood-money should be paid to his people along with the freeing of a believing slave; but he who has not the means should fast for two months successively: a penance from Allah. And Allah is ever Knowing, Wise.

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنٍ أَن يَقۡتُلَ مُؤۡمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤۡمِنًا خَطَـًٔ۬ا فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬ وَدِيَةٌ۬ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ أَن يَصَّدَّقُواْ‌ۚ فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوۡمٍ عَدُوٍّ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ۬ فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬‌ۖ وَإِن ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِۭ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ وَبَيۡنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ۬ فَدِيَةٌ۬ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ وَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ شَهۡرَيۡنِ مُتَتَابِعَيۡنِ تَوۡبَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَڪِيمً۬ا (٩٢)

4-92a: دِيَةٌ۬ – Its root is وَدِی یَدِی and the meaning of وَدۡی is to flow. From the same root is the word وادی which is a place where water flows. ھا Has been brought in in exchange of واؤ in دِيَة (T). دِيَة is blood money that is paid to the heirs of a murdered person.

A Muslim killing a Muslim by mistake: After discussing the situation with hypocrites, this section now turns to some other conditions of a like nature. Sometimes people were killed in a situation of doubt. For example, a person may say that he is a Muslim, but it may be that he is just trying to deceive and a Muslim thinking that this is an enemy trying to deceive may kill him. The section is started by first saying that a believer will never purposely kill another believer, but it did sometimes happen that by mistake a believer killed a believer. For example, a tribe was an enemy and fighting against Muslims but one person from the tribe became a Muslim but another did not recognize him as a Muslim brother or the intention was to kill someone else but by mistake killed him. Sometimes such a happening may occur by mistake in the exercise of judgment when fighting erupts between believers and one party thinks the right is on their side and the other thinks it is on their side. This happened in the dispute between Caliph Ali and Muawiyah and the subsequent killing in battle was a shade of killing believers by mistake but a more detailed treatment of this subject will come later in Surah Hujurat where there is a discussion of fighting between two groups of believers. 

4-93 And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is hell, abiding therein; and Allah is wroth with him and He has cursed him and prepared for him a grievous chastisement.

وَمَن يَقۡتُلۡ مُؤۡمِنً۬ا مُّتَعَمِّدً۬ا فَجَزَآؤُهُ ۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَـٰلِدً۬ا فِيہَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ وَلَعَنَهُ ۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ ۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمً۬ا (٩٣)

4-93a: Killing a believer intentionally: A narration states that this verse was revealed when a believer killed another believer and then the murderer reverted to disbelief. However, the words are general and the discussion here has been about whether the repentance of such a person can lead to forgiveness. It is generally accepted from the wordings of this verse that forgiveness will not be granted but this has not been stated specifically.  However, the Quran has established a rule that repentance is accepted for every action: وَإِنِّى لَغَفَّارٌ۬ لِّمَن تَابَ  (And surely I am Forgiving towards him who repents…) (20:82) and specifically about killing a person, it is stated: إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ  (Except him who repents and believes…) (25:70). The Holy Prophet himself forgave those unbelievers who had killed Muslims and they subsequently became Muslims. Hence the claim that the repentance of a killer is not accepted is not sustainable in the light of the Quran and Sunnah.

It is true though that it appears from the words that a deliberate killer of a believer falls in the category of an unbeliever. Just as the Quran has put the murderer of a believer in the category of an unbeliever, the Hadith has put a person who calls a believer as an unbeliever in the category of an unbeliever. The hadith in Bukhari that states this reads: ایما رجل قال لاخیه یا کافر فقد باء بہا احد ھما (He who calls his Muslim brother an unbeliever then that unbelief surely falls on one of the two of them). 

خلود – Its meaning has been explained in 2-25b. Commentators have accepted its meaning here as a long period: و المراد بالخلود المکث الطویل (Bd). 

4-94 O you who believe, when you go forth (to fight) in Allah’s way, make investigation, and say not to any one who offers you salutation, Thou art not a believer, seeking the good of this world’s life. But with Allah there are abundant gains. You too were such before, then Allah conferred a benefit on you; so make investigation.^a Surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.^b

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَنۡ أَلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمَ لَسۡتَ مُؤۡمِنً۬ا تَبۡتَغُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ ڪَثِيرَةٌ۬‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ ڪُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلُ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرً۬ا (٩٤)

4-94a: Killing allowed only in fighting and not for disbelief: This verse lays down that even though Muslims are surrounded by enemies on all sides, a person is not to be killed unless it is proven that he is an enemy combatant. It is obvious from the last section and also from other parts of the Quran that it is permissible to kill an unbeliever only when he is a combatant in a force fighting against Muslims. Hence it is stated in simple words that investigation should be made to determine if a person is an enemy combatant or not and only the enemy combatant should be killed and not a noncombatant.

4-94b: By سلام is meant the Islamic salutation of اسلام علیکم which is a manifest sign of Islam, and this enables a Muslim to immediately recognize if the person  addressing him is a Muslim or not.

مَغَانِم – It is the plural of مَغۡنم . Both terms مایُغۡنَمُ and  غَنَم mean goats. These words do not have a singular and instead شاۃ is used for singular  (T). غَنۡم  which is a verbal noun from it means to find the goats and to take them after being victorious. This word is also used for whatever else is obtained from an enemy, that is spoils of war (R). However, غنم has also been used only in the sense of الفوز بالشئ (to win a thing) (AH and Rz), and in support of this, some verses have been cited and also a hadith which states: الصوم فی الشتاء الغنیمة الباردۃ (Fasting during the winter is an easy reward) in which غنیمة has been used in a wider sense of reward. In another hadith غُنم has been used in the sense of abundance of things (N). Here too مَغَانِم is used in a wider sense. 

Command regarding a person from an enemy tribe who says اسلام علیکم : Mention is made here of a problematic issue which arises when a tribe as a whole is an enemy but one person from the tribe converts to Islam. In such a situation, saying اسلام علیکم is a sufficient proof of a person’s Muslim faith and he should not be killed even if he belongs to an enemy tribe. Some such incidents did occur. When a Muslim made an excuse before the Holy Prophet that his victim had merely said اسلام علیکم to save his life, The Holy Prophet said: ھلّا شققت قلبه (Did you tear his heart to look into it). The statement كَذَٲلِكَ ڪُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلُ is meant to convey that just as reciting the shahadah is enough to admit you into Islam, the same is good enough for another person.

Killing a person for getting spoils of war: The second thing that is stated here is that a person must not be killed out of greed for getting spoils of war. Allah has created better ways to achieve the objective. The spoils of war are here called provisions of this world and in this way, Muslims have been informed that he who is motivated to fight for spoils of war does not fight in the way of Allah. 

اسلام علیکم is the sign of Islam: The Quran states here that a person who says اسلام علیکم is not to be called a nonbeliever. However, the state of Muslims today is such that even if a person has all the requirements of a Muslim, there is no guarantee that he would not be called an unbeliever by some in the Muslim community. This is in total disregard of what the Holy Prophet has said: Did you open his heart to see what is in it. Their excuse for disregarding is that the person they are labelling as an unbeliever is a hypocrite and is pretending to be a Muslim. Quran has prescribed the simple test of اسلام علیکم to be a sufficient test to identity a Muslim but the state of the Muslim scholar’s is such that they take a person’s statement and dissect it in all manner of ways and only stop when they declare the person to be a nonbeliever. 

4-95 The holders-back from among the believers, not disabled by injury, and those who strive hard in Allah’s way with their property and their persons, are not equal. Allah has made the strivers with their property and their persons to excel the holders-back a (high) degree. And to each Allah has promised good. And Allah has granted to the strivers above the holders-back a mighty reward —^a

لَّا يَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡقَـٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ غَيۡرُ أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ‌ۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدِينَ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡقَـٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً۬‌ۚ وَكُلاًّ۬ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُجَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَـٰعِدِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا (٩٥)

4-95a: With the ever-existing danger that one may accidently kill a Muslim during fighting, some people concluded that in such a condition it is better to sit at home rather than to wage jihad. Hence it is stated that jihad is an admirable thing and Allah has given excellence to those who wage jihad over those who do not. The Shia sect has made an error by restricting the meaning of jihad to only fighting and on that basis have concluded that since Caliph Ali took part in more battles than Caliph Abu Bakr the former was more excellent than the latter. The meaning of jihad is much wider. Even the Holy Prophet did not take part in all of the wars but his work far excelled mere waging wars. Caliph Abu Bakr’s services to Islam are far greater than that of Caliph Ali and those services constitute a mighty jihad.

Non participation in jihad is not disobeying God: This verse shows that not participating in jihad is not disobeying God because God has promised good even for those who do not take part in jihad. There will be both type of people in the Islamic community. First, people of high excellence who are continually engaged in jihad along with performing their worldly duties. However, their state is such that they are never unmindful of upholding the commands of Allah. Their wealth and their life is dedicated to the service of the religion of Islam. Their means of livelihood is also part of the service to the faith. Second, those people who are more absorbed in the business of the world but discharge their religious obligations and pay the required amount from their wealth. Both are promised a good end but there is no comparison between the high status of the first group as compared with the second group. This is a description of normal conditions. However, under special conditions of national emergency, it is sometimes necessary for the entire community to wage jihad. In such a condition laggards earn the displeasure of God and the community. For example in the Tabuk campaign, those who stayed behind without a good reason incurred Divine displeasure because they did not care for the order of the Holy Prophet. There is no doubt though that in verse 4-84 only the Holy Prophet is made responsible for the fighting while the other believers are only to be urged to reach those excellent levels that come with waging jihad. They should not be satisfied with an inferior level.

غَيۡرُ أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ – ضرر سوء  means being in a bad state or in a loss whether it is because of a deficiency in a person’s education, or advantage or virtuosity or whether because of a missing bodily part or from lack of wealth or rank (R).

Contextual meaning of أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ and the order: What is meant here by أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ is being physically handicapped and not having necessary resources, that is persons who on account of being blind or lame or having some other bodily defects are unable to go out for jihad and those who do not have the necessary equipment to fight. Taking the more general meaning of jihad, the definition can also include people who lack knowledge. It is not stated here that أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ have an equivalence with the holy warriors because there are different reasons for being in أُوْلِى ٱلضَّرَرِ . This category can include those who lost a limb in a previous war or have fallen sick in the service of Islam. In the eyes of God it is as if these persons are continuing with the actions that debilitated them. Then there are those who sincerely would like to be with the holy warriors but lack the equipment to fight. They are at least better than those who sit out the campaign and they will earn a reward based on their intention, just as a people mentioned in the Quran who could not go to war because they lacked mounts but their intention is made known by their actions: تَوَلَّواْ وَّأَعۡيُنُهُمۡ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمۡعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُواْ مَا يُنفِقُونَ (with their eyes overflowed with tears of grief that they could not find aught to spend) (9:92). 

4-96 (High) degrees from Him and protection and mercy. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

دَرَجَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنۡهُ وَمَغۡفِرَةً۬ وَرَحۡمَةً۬‌ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمًا (٩٦)