سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 114
۞ لَّا خَيْرَ فِى كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَىٰهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَـٰحٍۭ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿114﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allâh’s Cause), or Ma‘rûf (Islâmic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allâh has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allâh, We shall give him a great reward.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ لَّا
lā
(There is) no
خَيْرَ
khayra
good
فِى
fī
in
كَثِيرٍۢ
kathīrin
much
مِّن
min
of
نَّجْوَىٰهُمْ
najwāhum
their secret talk
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَنْ
man
(he) who
أَمَرَ
amara
orders
بِصَدَقَةٍ
biṣadaqatin
charity
أَوْ
aw
or
مَعْرُوفٍ
maʿrūfin
kindness
أَوْ
aw
or
إِصْلَـٰحٍۭ
iṣ'lāḥin
conciliation
بَيْنَ
bayna
between
ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ
l-nāsi
the people
وَمَن
waman
And who
يَفْعَلْ
yafʿal
does
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
ٱبْتِغَآءَ
ib'tighāa
seeking
مَرْضَاتِ
marḍāti
pleasure
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَسَوْفَ
fasawfa
then soon
نُؤْتِيهِ
nu'tīhi
We will give him
أَجْرًا
ajran
a reward
عَظِيمًۭا
ʿaẓīman
great
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
114. 1 By نَجْوَیٰ (secret counsel) is meant those conversations which the hypocrites used to have among themselves against the Muslims or against each other.
114. 2 That is, consultation regarding charity, good deeds (which includes every kind of virtue), and reconciliation between people is based on goodness, as the virtues and importance of these matters have also been mentioned in the ahadith.
114. 3 Because if sincerity (یعنی رضائے الٰہی کا مقصد) is not present, then even the greatest deed will not only be wasted but will become a source of misery.
114. 4 The ahadith mention great virtue for the aforementioned deeds. Even charity given in Allah’s way from lawful earnings equal to a date will become as great as the mountain of Uhud. Spreading good words is also of great virtue. Likewise, reconciling between relatives, friends, and others who are upset with each other is a very great deed. In one hadith, it is stated to be superior even to voluntary fasts, prayers, and voluntary charity. It is said (الا اخبرکم بأفضل من درجۃ الصیام والصلاۃ والصدقۃ ؟ قالوابلیٰ (اصلاح ذات البین،۔ قال۔: وفسادذات البینھی الحالقۃ) (Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Adab; Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr; Musnad Ahmad 6/445, 444) that even lying has been permitted for the one who reconciles between people, so that if he needs to use a beneficial lie to bring them closer, he should not hesitate in doing so (لَیْسَ الْکَذَّابُ الَّذِی یُصْلِحُ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ، فَیُنْمِی خَیْرًا أَوْ یَقُولُ خَیْرًا) (Bukhari). That person is not a liar who spreads good words or says good things to reconcile between people.
114. 2 That is, consultation regarding charity, good deeds (which includes every kind of virtue), and reconciliation between people is based on goodness, as the virtues and importance of these matters have also been mentioned in the ahadith.
114. 3 Because if sincerity (یعنی رضائے الٰہی کا مقصد) is not present, then even the greatest deed will not only be wasted but will become a source of misery.
114. 4 The ahadith mention great virtue for the aforementioned deeds. Even charity given in Allah’s way from lawful earnings equal to a date will become as great as the mountain of Uhud. Spreading good words is also of great virtue. Likewise, reconciling between relatives, friends, and others who are upset with each other is a very great deed. In one hadith, it is stated to be superior even to voluntary fasts, prayers, and voluntary charity. It is said (الا اخبرکم بأفضل من درجۃ الصیام والصلاۃ والصدقۃ ؟ قالوابلیٰ (اصلاح ذات البین،۔ قال۔: وفسادذات البینھی الحالقۃ) (Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Adab; Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr; Musnad Ahmad 6/445, 444) that even lying has been permitted for the one who reconciles between people, so that if he needs to use a beneficial lie to bring them closer, he should not hesitate in doing so (لَیْسَ الْکَذَّابُ الَّذِی یُصْلِحُ بَیْنَ النَّاسِ، فَیُنْمِی خَیْرًا أَوْ یَقُولُ خَیْرًا) (Bukhari). That person is not a liar who spreads good words or says good things to reconcile between people.
