سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 74
۞ فَلْيُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَن يُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ أَوْ يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿74﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allâh, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allâh, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ فَلْيُقَـٰتِلْ
falyuqātil
So let fight
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يَشْرُونَ
yashrūna
sell
ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ
l-ḥayata
the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ
bil-ākhirati
for the Hereafter
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يُقَـٰتِلْ
yuqātil
fights
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَيُقْتَلْ
fayuq'tal
then he is killed
أَوْ
aw
or
يَغْلِبْ
yaghlib
achieves victory
فَسَوْفَ
fasawfa
then soon
نُؤْتِيهِ
nu'tīhi
We will grant him
أَجْرًا
ajran
a reward
عَظِيمًۭا
ʿaẓīman
a 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 74) ➊ {فَلْيُقَاتِلْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ … :} In the previous two verses, after the condemnation of those who stayed behind from jihad and those who prevented others, that is, {’’ مُبَطِّئِيْنَ‘‘}, now the sincere ones are being encouraged. The meaning of {’’ شَرَي يَشْرِيْ ‘‘} is both to sell and to buy; here, it has been translated as "to sell," and most commentators have preferred this. However, if it is taken in the meaning of "to buy," then the meaning of the verse would be that those hypocrites who, by staying at home, are buying the world in exchange for the Hereafter, it is obligatory upon them to go out for jihad in the way of Allah and not to gain the world by losing the Hereafter. (Fath al-Qadeer, Tabari)
➋ { فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيْهِ اَجْرًا عَظِيْمًا:} That is, it is obligatory upon Muslims not to focus on worldly life, but rather to desire the Hereafter and to understand that there is benefit in every way in the command of Allah. (Muwaddih) The meaning is that there can only be two outcomes in fighting in the way of Allah: martyrdom or victory, and both are pleasing for the Muslims, because in both there is the promise of a great reward from Allah. Allah has said: «{ قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُوْنَ بِنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ }» [ التوبۃ : ۵۲ ] "Say, what do you await for us except one of the two best things?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah has guaranteed for the person who goes out for jihad in His way, and nothing drives him out except jihad in His way and belief in His words, that He will admit him to Paradise, or return him to his home from where he departed, with the reward and spoils he has obtained." [ بخاری، فرض الخمس، باب قول النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : أحلت لکم الغنائم : ۳۱۲۳، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
➋ { فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيْهِ اَجْرًا عَظِيْمًا:} That is, it is obligatory upon Muslims not to focus on worldly life, but rather to desire the Hereafter and to understand that there is benefit in every way in the command of Allah. (Muwaddih) The meaning is that there can only be two outcomes in fighting in the way of Allah: martyrdom or victory, and both are pleasing for the Muslims, because in both there is the promise of a great reward from Allah. Allah has said: «{ قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُوْنَ بِنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ }» [ التوبۃ : ۵۲ ] "Say, what do you await for us except one of the two best things?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah has guaranteed for the person who goes out for jihad in His way, and nothing drives him out except jihad in His way and belief in His words, that He will admit him to Paradise, or return him to his home from where he departed, with the reward and spoils he has obtained." [ بخاری، فرض الخمس، باب قول النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : أحلت لکم الغنائم : ۳۱۲۳، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
