سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 83
وَإِذَا جَآءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْنِ أَوِ ٱلْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰٓ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَٱتَّبَعْتُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿83﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people); if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allâh upon you, you would have followed Shaitân (Satan), save a few of you.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
جَآءَهُمْ
jāahum
comes to them
أَمْرٌۭ
amrun
a matter
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَمْنِ
l-amni
the security
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱلْخَوْفِ
l-khawfi
[the] fear
أَذَاعُوا۟
adhāʿū
they spread
بِهِۦ ۖ
bihi
[with] it
وَلَوْ
walaw
But if
رَدُّوهُ
raddūhu
they (had) referred it
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلرَّسُولِ
l-rasūli
the Messenger
وَإِلَىٰٓ
wa-ilā
and to
أُو۟لِى
ulī
those
ٱلْأَمْرِ
l-amri
(having) authority
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
among them
لَعَلِمَهُ
laʿalimahu
surely would have known it
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يَسْتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ
yastanbiṭūnahu
draw correct conclusion (from) it
مِنْهُمْ ۗ
min'hum
among them
وَلَوْلَا
walawlā
And if not
فَضْلُ
faḍlu
(had been the) bounty
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
on you
وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ
waraḥmatuhu
and His Mercy
لَٱتَّبَعْتُمُ
la-ittabaʿtumu
surely you (would have) followed
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ
l-shayṭāna
the Shaitaan
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a few
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 83) ➊ { وَ اِذَا جَآءَهُمْ اَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْاَمْنِ اَوِ الْخَوْفِ …:} The news of peace is that the Muslims achieved victory, or the enemy’s army retreated, due to which the Muslims become carefree and reduce their preparations, etc. And the news of fear is that at such and such place the Muslims were defeated, or the enemy is about to attack in great numbers, which spreads fear and panic among the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to send various expeditions (military detachments) for battle, so such rumors often reached Madinah. But the hypocrites and the careless type of Muslims, instead of first conveying them to him (peace be upon him) or to his responsible companions, would themselves start spreading these rumors. This very behavior of theirs is being condemned here. (Fath al-Qadeer, Qurtubi)
➋ { يَسْتَنْۢبِطُوْنَهٗ:} Its root is {’’ نَبْطٌ ‘‘}. { ’’ نَبْطٌ ‘‘} is the water that comes out first when digging a well, therefore { ’’استنباط ‘‘} is used for investigation and reaching the depth of a matter. Similarly, to discover and reveal the reality of a hidden matter is also called {’’ نَبْطٌ ‘‘ } and { ”اِسْتِنْبَاطٌ“ }. To extract a mineral from the depth of a mine is also called {”اِسْتِنْبَاطٌ“}. «{ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَنْۢبِطُوْنَهٗ مِنْهُمْ}» Muslims are being told that if, instead of spreading the news of peace or fear without investigation, they had conveyed it to the Messenger of Allah and the leaders among the Muslims, then first of all, they would have considered and investigated whether the news was authentic or false, because conveying something without investigation has been declared a lie by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Thus, he said: [كَفٰي بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُّحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَّا سَمِعَ ] [ مسلم، المقدمۃ، باب النھی عن الحدیث بکل ما سمع : ۵ ] “It is enough for a man to be a liar that he narrates everything he hears (without investigation).” Then those responsible persons would decide whether the news should be published or not. After that, if it was worthy of publication, they would spread it, otherwise they would stop it. Acting upon this guidance is extremely necessary in individual life generally and in collective life especially, otherwise this carelessness can cause great harm, particularly in times of war, when news and rumors have more impact than military operations. The front of news should also be considered a powerful front of war and should be dealt with accordingly.
➌ { اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا:} Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that this statement: “If it were not for Allah’s grace upon you, you would have followed Satan except a few,” means that if the commands of training were not constantly reaching, few people would remain steadfast on guidance. (Muwadhih)
➋ { يَسْتَنْۢبِطُوْنَهٗ:} Its root is {’’ نَبْطٌ ‘‘}. { ’’ نَبْطٌ ‘‘} is the water that comes out first when digging a well, therefore { ’’استنباط ‘‘} is used for investigation and reaching the depth of a matter. Similarly, to discover and reveal the reality of a hidden matter is also called {’’ نَبْطٌ ‘‘ } and { ”اِسْتِنْبَاطٌ“ }. To extract a mineral from the depth of a mine is also called {”اِسْتِنْبَاطٌ“}. «{ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَنْۢبِطُوْنَهٗ مِنْهُمْ}» Muslims are being told that if, instead of spreading the news of peace or fear without investigation, they had conveyed it to the Messenger of Allah and the leaders among the Muslims, then first of all, they would have considered and investigated whether the news was authentic or false, because conveying something without investigation has been declared a lie by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Thus, he said: [كَفٰي بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُّحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَّا سَمِعَ ] [ مسلم، المقدمۃ، باب النھی عن الحدیث بکل ما سمع : ۵ ] “It is enough for a man to be a liar that he narrates everything he hears (without investigation).” Then those responsible persons would decide whether the news should be published or not. After that, if it was worthy of publication, they would spread it, otherwise they would stop it. Acting upon this guidance is extremely necessary in individual life generally and in collective life especially, otherwise this carelessness can cause great harm, particularly in times of war, when news and rumors have more impact than military operations. The front of news should also be considered a powerful front of war and should be dealt with accordingly.
➌ { اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا:} Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that this statement: “If it were not for Allah’s grace upon you, you would have followed Satan except a few,” means that if the commands of training were not constantly reaching, few people would remain steadfast on guidance. (Muwadhih)
