سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 66
وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ ٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ أَوِ ٱخْرُجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِكُم مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُوا۟ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا ﴿66﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if We had ordered them (saying), "Kill yourselves (i.e. the innocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave your homes," very few of them would have done it; but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith);
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
أَنَّا
annā
[that] We
كَتَبْنَا
katabnā
(had) decreed
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
on them
أَنِ
ani
that
ٱقْتُلُوٓا۟
uq'tulū
Kill
أَنفُسَكُمْ
anfusakum
yourselves
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱخْرُجُوا۟
ukh'rujū
Go forth
مِن
min
from
دِيَـٰرِكُم
diyārikum
your homes
مَّا
mā
not
فَعَلُوهُ
faʿalūhu
they would have done it
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلٌۭ
qalīlun
a few
مِّنْهُمْ ۖ
min'hum
of them
وَلَوْ
walaw
But if
أَنَّهُمْ
annahum
[that] they
فَعَلُوا۟
faʿalū
had done
مَا
mā
what
يُوعَظُونَ
yūʿaẓūna
they were advised
بِهِۦ
bihi
with [it]
لَكَانَ
lakāna
surely (it) would have been
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
لَّهُمْ
lahum
for them
وَأَشَدَّ
wa-ashadda
and stronger
تَثْبِيتًۭا
tathbītan
strengthen(ing)
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.
66. 1. In this verse, by referring to those same disobedient people, it is being said that if they were commanded to kill one another or to leave their homes, then, when they could not act upon simple matters, how could they act upon this? Or Allah Almighty has stated about them according to His knowledge, which is certainly in accordance with the facts. The meaning is that it is indeed difficult to act upon strict commands, but Allah Almighty is very compassionate and merciful, and His commands are also easy. Therefore, if they follow those commands which they are advised, it will be better for them and a cause of steadfastness. Because faith increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience; from goodness, the path to more goodness opens, and from evil, more evil is born, meaning its path becomes wide and easy.
