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 al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 114) ➊ {لَا خَيْرَ فِيْ كَثِيْرٍ مِّنْ نَّجْوٰىهُمْ …: ”نَجْوَی“ } means to consult separately from some people; this is a verbal noun and, as an exaggeration, is also used for the plural like {’’ عَدْلٌ ‘‘} and {’’ رِضًي‘‘}, and after {’’ اِلَّا ‘‘ }, {’’ نَجْوَي‘‘} is omitted, meaning { ”إِلاَّ نَجْوَي مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ“ }, that is, in most of their secret talks there is no good, except for the secret talk of the one who enjoins charity.
{ ”بِصَدَقَةٍ“ } Charity refers to the wealth that is spent to seek reward from Allah Almighty. Originally, it is used for voluntary charity, but sometimes it is also used for obligatory charity, such as: «{ اِنَّمَا الصَّدَقٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ }» [ التوبۃ : ۶۰ ] The purpose is that this act is being performed with sincerity of heart. (Raghib) { ”مَعْرُوْفٍ“ } This word includes all good deeds, even to the extent that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Your meeting your brother with a cheerful face is also among the good deeds." [ ترمذی، البر والصلۃ، باب ما جاء فی طلاقۃ الوجہ … : ۱۹۷۰، عن جابر رضی اللہ عنہ و صححہ الألبانی ]
The words of {”اِصْلَاحٍۭ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ“} include ending all kinds of disputes among Muslims; Allah Almighty said: «{ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اَصْلِحُوْا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ }» [ الأنفال : ۱ ] "So fear Allah and set right the relations among yourselves."
Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her) says that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "He is not a liar who tries to reconcile between people and conveys something good or says something good (for this purpose)." [ بخاری، الصلح، باب لیس الکاذب الذی یصلح بین الناس : ۲۶۹۲ ]
➋ The hypocrites who sit separately at night and consult, most of the time they think of evil things, which are devoid of good, because there is no need to hide good and clean matters. However, some deeds are better done secretly, for example, if someone gives charity, he should give it secretly so that the recipient is not embarrassed, or consulting separately about giving charity is also a good deed. Similarly, if secret consultation is done regarding good deeds and especially reconciliation between people, then this too is a virtuous act. But unfortunately, these people do not consult about any of these matters; rather, they consult about things that cause evil and harm to others, and whoever consults about the above-mentioned matters purely for the sake of Allah's pleasure, then these are great virtuous deeds.
{ ”بِصَدَقَةٍ“ } Charity refers to the wealth that is spent to seek reward from Allah Almighty. Originally, it is used for voluntary charity, but sometimes it is also used for obligatory charity, such as: «{ اِنَّمَا الصَّدَقٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ }» [ التوبۃ : ۶۰ ] The purpose is that this act is being performed with sincerity of heart. (Raghib) { ”مَعْرُوْفٍ“ } This word includes all good deeds, even to the extent that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Your meeting your brother with a cheerful face is also among the good deeds." [ ترمذی، البر والصلۃ، باب ما جاء فی طلاقۃ الوجہ … : ۱۹۷۰، عن جابر رضی اللہ عنہ و صححہ الألبانی ]
The words of {”اِصْلَاحٍۭ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ“} include ending all kinds of disputes among Muslims; Allah Almighty said: «{ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اَصْلِحُوْا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ }» [ الأنفال : ۱ ] "So fear Allah and set right the relations among yourselves."
Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her) says that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "He is not a liar who tries to reconcile between people and conveys something good or says something good (for this purpose)." [ بخاری، الصلح، باب لیس الکاذب الذی یصلح بین الناس : ۲۶۹۲ ]
➋ The hypocrites who sit separately at night and consult, most of the time they think of evil things, which are devoid of good, because there is no need to hide good and clean matters. However, some deeds are better done secretly, for example, if someone gives charity, he should give it secretly so that the recipient is not embarrassed, or consulting separately about giving charity is also a good deed. Similarly, if secret consultation is done regarding good deeds and especially reconciliation between people, then this too is a virtuous act. But unfortunately, these people do not consult about any of these matters; rather, they consult about things that cause evil and harm to others, and whoever consults about the above-mentioned matters purely for the sake of Allah's pleasure, then these are great virtuous deeds.
