سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 78
أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا۟ يُدْرِككُّمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ ۗ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِكَ ۚ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَالِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا ﴿78﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!" And if some good reaches them, they say, "This is from Allâh," but if some evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)." Say: "All things are from Allâh," so what is wrong with these people that they fail to understand any word?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَيْنَمَا
aynamā
Wherever
تَكُونُوا۟
takūnū
you be
يُدْرِككُّمُ
yud'rikkumu
will overtake you
ٱلْمَوْتُ
l-mawtu
[the] death
وَلَوْ
walaw
even if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
فِى
fī
in
بُرُوجٍۢ
burūjin
towers
مُّشَيَّدَةٍۢ ۗ
mushayyadatin
lofty
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تُصِبْهُمْ
tuṣib'hum
befalls them
حَسَنَةٌۭ
ḥasanatun
any good
يَقُولُوا۟
yaqūlū
they say
هَـٰذِهِۦ
hādhihi
This
مِنْ
min
(is)
عِندِ
ʿindi
from
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
Allah
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تُصِبْهُمْ
tuṣib'hum
befalls them
سَيِّئَةٌۭ
sayyi-atun
any evil
يَقُولُوا۟
yaqūlū
they say
هَـٰذِهِۦ
hādhihi
This
مِنْ
min
(is)
عِندِكَ ۚ
ʿindika
(from) you
قُلْ
qul
Say
كُلٌّۭ
kullun
All
مِّنْ
min
(is)
عِندِ
ʿindi
from
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
Allah
فَمَالِ
famāli
So what (is wrong)
هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ
hāulāi
(with) these
ٱلْقَوْمِ
l-qawmi
[the] people
لَا
lā
not
يَكَادُونَ
yakādūna
do they seem
يَفْقَهُونَ
yafqahūna
(to) understand
حَدِيثًۭا
ḥadīthan
any statement
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.
78. 1 It is being said to explain to such weak Muslims that, firstly, this world is perishable and its benefit is temporary, for which you are seeking some respite. In comparison, the Hereafter is much better and everlasting, for which you will be deserving as a reward for obedience to Allah. Secondly, whether you fight in jihad or not, death will surely come at its appointed time, even if you sit enclosed in strong fortresses. Then what is the benefit of avoiding jihad? By strong towers are meant forts with strong and high walls.
78. 2 From here, the statements of the hypocrites are being mentioned again. Like the deniers of the previous nations, they also said that goodness (prosperity, abundance of crops, wealth, children, etc.) is from Allah, and evil (drought, decrease in wealth and property, etc.), O Muhammad ﷺ, is from you, meaning it has come as a result of adopting your religion. Just as Allah Almighty said about Musa (عليه السلام) and the people of Pharaoh: "When good came to them, they said, 'This is for us,' meaning we are deserving of it, and when any evil befell them, they blamed Musa (عليه السلام) and his followers, meaning, God forbid, they considered it the result of their misfortune." (Al-A'raf: 131)
78. 3 That is, both good and evil are from Allah alone, but due to their lack of understanding and knowledge and abundance of ignorance and injustice, these people are unable to comprehend this.
78. 2 From here, the statements of the hypocrites are being mentioned again. Like the deniers of the previous nations, they also said that goodness (prosperity, abundance of crops, wealth, children, etc.) is from Allah, and evil (drought, decrease in wealth and property, etc.), O Muhammad ﷺ, is from you, meaning it has come as a result of adopting your religion. Just as Allah Almighty said about Musa (عليه السلام) and the people of Pharaoh: "When good came to them, they said, 'This is for us,' meaning we are deserving of it, and when any evil befell them, they blamed Musa (عليه السلام) and his followers, meaning, God forbid, they considered it the result of their misfortune." (Al-A'raf: 131)
78. 3 That is, both good and evil are from Allah alone, but due to their lack of understanding and knowledge and abundance of ignorance and injustice, these people are unable to comprehend this.
