سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 77
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ قِيلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ ٱلنَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةً ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لِمَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْقِتَالَ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ ۗ قُلْ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا ﴿77﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Have you not seen those who were told to hold back their hands (from fighting) and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât but when the fighting was ordained for them, behold! a section of them fear men as they fear Allâh or even more. They say: "Our Lord! Why have you ordained for us fighting? Would that You had granted us respite for a short period?" Say: "Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better for him who fears Allâh, and you shall not be dealt with unjustly even equal to a scalish thread in the long slit of a date-stone.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Have not
تَرَ
tara
you seen
إِلَى
ilā
[towards]
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
قِيلَ
qīla
(when) it was said
لَهُمْ
lahum
to them
كُفُّوٓا۟
kuffū
Restrain
أَيْدِيَكُمْ
aydiyakum
your hands
وَأَقِيمُوا۟
wa-aqīmū
and establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
l-ṣalata
the prayer
وَءَاتُوا۟
waātū
and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
l-zakata
the zakah
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
كُتِبَ
kutiba
was ordained
عَلَيْهِمُ
ʿalayhimu
on them
ٱلْقِتَالُ
l-qitālu
the fighting
إِذَا
idhā
then
فَرِيقٌۭ
farīqun
a group
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
of them
يَخْشَوْنَ
yakhshawna
[they] fear
ٱلنَّاسَ
l-nāsa
the people
كَخَشْيَةِ
kakhashyati
as (they) fear
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
أَوْ
aw
or
أَشَدَّ
ashadda
more intense
خَشْيَةًۭ ۚ
khashyatan
fear
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
and they said
رَبَّنَا
rabbanā
Our Lord
لِمَ
lima
why
كَتَبْتَ
katabta
have You ordained
عَلَيْنَا
ʿalaynā
upon us
ٱلْقِتَالَ
l-qitāla
[the] fighting
لَوْلَآ
lawlā
Why not
أَخَّرْتَنَآ
akhartanā
You postpone (it for) us
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَجَلٍۢ
ajalin
a term
قَرِيبٍۢ ۗ
qarībin
near
قُلْ
qul
Say
مَتَـٰعُ
matāʿu
Enjoyment
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
قَلِيلٌۭ
qalīlun
(is) little
وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ
wal-ākhiratu
and the Hereafter
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لِّمَنِ
limani
for whoever
ٱتَّقَىٰ
ittaqā
fears (Allah)
وَلَا
walā
and not
تُظْلَمُونَ
tuẓ'lamūna
you will be wronged
فَتِيلًا
fatīlan
(even as much as) a hair on a date-seed
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.
77. 1. In Makkah, since the Muslims were not capable of fighting in terms of numbers and resources, they were restrained from combat despite their desire, and two things were constantly emphasized: first, that they should endure the oppressive behavior of the disbelievers with patience and perseverance, and act with forgiveness and forbearance. Second, that they should be diligent in performing prayer, zakat, and other acts of worship and teachings, so that their connection and relationship with Allah Almighty would be established on a strong foundation. But after migration, when the strength of the Muslims was consolidated in Madinah, then they were granted permission to fight, and when permission was given, some people expressed weakness and lack of courage. In this verse, by reminding them of their desire during the Makkan period, it is being said: why are these Muslims now frightened upon hearing the command of jihad, when this command of jihad is in accordance with their own wish. Distortion in the verses of the Quran: The first part of the verse, in which the command of "kuffu aydikum" (restraining hands from fighting) is given.
77. 2. Its second translation has also been made as asking why this command was not postponed for some more time, i.e., by "ajal qareeb" is meant death or the period of obligatory jihad (Ibn Kathir).
77. 2. Its second translation has also been made as asking why this command was not postponed for some more time, i.e., by "ajal qareeb" is meant death or the period of obligatory jihad (Ibn Kathir).
