سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 84
فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا ﴿84﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then fight (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the Cause of Allâh, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight along with you), it may be that Allâh will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers. And Allâh is Stronger in Might and Stronger in punishing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَقَـٰتِلْ
faqātil
So fight
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
لَا
lā
not
تُكَلَّفُ
tukallafu
are you responsible
إِلَّا
illā
except
نَفْسَكَ ۚ
nafsaka
(for) yourself
وَحَرِّضِ
waḥarriḍi
And encourage
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
عَسَى
ʿasā
perhaps
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَن
an
will
يَكُفَّ
yakuffa
restrain
بَأْسَ
basa
(the) might
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ
kafarū
disbelieved
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
(is) Stronger
بَأْسًۭا
basan
(in) Might
وَأَشَدُّ
wa-ashaddu
and Stronger
تَنكِيلًۭا
tankīlan
(in) punishment
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 84) ➊ {فَقَاتِلْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ اِلَّا نَفْسَكَ … :} In the previous verses, encouragement for jihad was given, then the activities of the hypocrites were mentioned, and now in this verse it is stated that you should not care whether these hypocrites are with you or not; your responsibility is that you yourself set out for jihad and also encourage other believers. Abu Ishaq narrates that I asked Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him): "The person who attacks the polytheists, does he throw himself into destruction?" He replied: "No, because Allah Almighty sent His Messenger and said to him: «{ فَقَاتِلْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ اِلَّا نَفْسَكَ }» And the verse you are referring to: «{ وَ لَا تُلْقُوْا بِاَيْدِيْكُمْ اِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۹۵ ] that relates to spending (or not spending) in the way of Allah." [ مسند أحمد : 281/4، ح : ۱۸۵۰۶ ] From this it is understood that people make up many conditions for jihad on their own.
➋ { عَسَى اللّٰهُ اَنْ يَّكُفَّ بَاْسَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا: } For Allah Almighty, the word {”عَسَى“} is used in the sense of certainty, so in the verse it is being promised that soon the power of the disbelievers will be broken and the Muslims will be granted dominance.
➋ { عَسَى اللّٰهُ اَنْ يَّكُفَّ بَاْسَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا: } For Allah Almighty, the word {”عَسَى“} is used in the sense of certainty, so in the verse it is being promised that soon the power of the disbelievers will be broken and the Muslims will be granted dominance.
