Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 74

(Ayah 74) ➊ {فَلْيُقَاتِلْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ … :} In the previous two verses, after the condemnation of those who stayed behind from jihad and those who prevented others, that is, {’’ مُبَطِّئِيْنَ‘‘}, now the sincere ones are being encouraged. The meaning of {’’ شَرَي يَشْرِيْ ‘‘} is both to sell and to buy; here, it has been translated as "to sell," and most commentators have preferred this. However, if it is taken in the meaning of "to buy," then the meaning of the verse would be that those hypocrites who, by staying at home, are buying the world in exchange for the Hereafter, it is obligatory upon them to go out for jihad in the way of Allah and not to gain the world by losing the Hereafter. (Fath al-Qadeer, Tabari)

➋ { فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيْهِ اَجْرًا عَظِيْمًا:} That is, it is obligatory upon Muslims not to focus on worldly life, but rather to desire the Hereafter and to understand that there is benefit in every way in the command of Allah. (Muwaddih) The meaning is that there can only be two outcomes in fighting in the way of Allah: martyrdom or victory, and both are pleasing for the Muslims, because in both there is the promise of a great reward from Allah. Allah has said: «{ قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُوْنَ بِنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ }» [ التوبۃ : ۵۲ ] "Say, what do you await for us except one of the two best things?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah has guaranteed for the person who goes out for jihad in His way, and nothing drives him out except jihad in His way and belief in His words, that He will admit him to Paradise, or return him to his home from where he departed, with the reward and spoils he has obtained." [ بخاری، فرض الخمس، باب قول النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : أحلت لکم الغنائم : ۳۱۲۳، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]

74. 1. شَرَیٰ یشٰریٰ, means both to sell and to buy. In the text, the first translation has been chosen; in this regard, the subject of (فلیقاتل) is (الَّذِيْنَ يَشْرُوْنَ الْحَيٰوةَ الدُّنْيَا) 4:74. If its meaning is taken as "to buy," then in that case الذین will become the object, and the subject of فلیقاتل will be المومن النافر (the believer who sets out in the path of jihad), which is omitted. Believers should fight those who have sold the Hereafter and bought the world. That is, those who have sold their religion for a small amount of worldly wealth. The reference is to the hypocrites and disbelievers (Ibn Kathir has explained this meaning).

74. So let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And whoever fights in the way of Allah, whether he is killed or achieves victory, We shall soon grant him a great reward. [103]

[103] In this verse, Muslims are encouraged to fight solely for the pleasure of Allah and the elevation of Islam, and it is explained that whether a Muslim is martyred in battle or returns home safely, in both cases he benefits. Please see the following hadiths in the explanation of this verse:
1.
Encouragement, Importance, and Benefits of Jihad:

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ narrates that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "One person fights for war booty, another for fame and reputation, another to show his bravery, and another out of anger and national pride. Which of these is fighting in the way of Allah?" He ﷺ replied, "The one who fights so that the word of Allah is exalted is the only one fighting in the way of Allah."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد۔ باب من قاتل لتکون کلمۃ اللہ ہی العلیا۔۔ مسلم۔ کتاب الامارۃ۔ باب من قاتل لتکون کلمۃ اللہ ہی العلیا فھو فی سبیل اللہ۔۔ بخاری۔ کتاب العلم۔ باب من سأال و ہو قائم عالما جالسا]

2. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever dies without having fought in the way of Allah or even having the intention of doing so in his heart, dies on a branch of hypocrisy."
[مسلم، کتاب الامارۃ۔ باب ذم من مات ولم یغز ولم یحدث نفسہ بالغزو]

3. Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ was asked, "Who among the people is the best?" He replied, "The one who strives in the way of Allah with his life and wealth."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد، باب افضل الناس مومن مجاھد بنفسہ و مالہ]

4. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "If it were not difficult for my Ummah, I would never stay behind from any expedition, and I wish that I be killed in the way of Allah, then brought back to life, then killed again, then brought back to life, ."
[بخاری، کتاب الایمان، باب الجہاد من الایمان۔۔ مسلم۔ کتاب الجہاد۔ باب فضل الجہاد]

5. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "In Paradise there are one hundred levels which Allah has prepared (in accordance with the ranks) for the Mujahideen in the way of Allah, and the distance between each level is as great as that between the heavens and the earth."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد۔ باب درجات المجاهدين فى سبيل الله۔۔ مسلم، كتاب الامارة۔ باب بيان ما اعد الله تعالىٰ للمجاهد فى الجنة من الدرجات]

6. The Prophet ﷺ said, "If a servant's feet become dusty in the way of Allah, then the Fire will never touch him."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب من اغبرت قد ماه فى سبيل الله]

7. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Know well! Paradise is under the shade of swords."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الجنة تحت بارقة السيوف]

8. The Prophet ﷺ said, "A morning or an evening spent in the way of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد۔ باب الغدوة والروحة فى سبيل الله مسلم، كتاب الامارة فضل الغدوة والروحة فى سبيل الله]

9. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever leaves his home with the pure intention of striving in the way of Allah and with certainty in Allah's promises, Allah will either grant him martyrdom and admit him to Paradise, or return him to his home with reward and war booty, safe and sound."
[بخاری، کتاب التوحید باب ولقد سبقت کلمتنا]