سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 86
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا ﴿86﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allâh is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
حُيِّيتُم
ḥuyyītum
you are greeted
بِتَحِيَّةٍۢ
bitaḥiyyatin
with a greeting
فَحَيُّوا۟
faḥayyū
then greet
بِأَحْسَنَ
bi-aḥsana
with better
مِنْهَآ
min'hā
than it
أَوْ
aw
or
رُدُّوهَآ ۗ
ruddūhā
return it
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
of
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
حَسِيبًا
ḥasīban
an Accountant
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 86){ وَ اِذَا حُيِّيْتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوْا بِاَحْسَنَ مِنْهَاۤ … :} After commanding jihad, now some rulings regarding peace are mentioned. Thus, it is stated that if the disbelievers propose to end the war and make peace, then you should respond with something better or at least accept the proposal to that extent. Elsewhere it is stated: «{ وَ اِنْ جَنَحُوْا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَ تَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ }» [ الأنفال : ۶۱ ] "And if they incline towards peace, then you also incline towards it and put your trust in Allah." One application of this verse is that during the journey of jihad, if someone, to express obedience or to declare acceptance of Islam, greets you with salam, then do not kill him saying, "You are not a believer." (See Nisa: 94) And another application is what is clearly evident from the explicit words of the verse: when someone greets you with salam, respond with words better than that. { ”تَحِیَّۃٌ“ ’’حَيَاةٌ‘‘} is a verbal noun from the bab taf'il, meaning to pray for life or safety, i.e., salam is meant. The explanation of giving a better reply is mentioned in the hadith as follows: in response to {’’اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ‘‘}, add {’’ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘}, and in response to {’’ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ ‘‘}, add {’’ وَ بَرَكَاتُهٗ ‘‘}, but if someone says all these words, then reply with the same. The addition of {”وَمَغْفِرَتُهُ وَ رِضْوَانُهُ“} and the like is not established from any Sahih hadith. With every additional word, ten more good deeds are added. [ أحمد : 439/4، ۴۴۰، ح : ۱۹۹۷۰ ] Thus, it is obligatory to reply with as much as the salam that is given, and anything extra is recommended.
