سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 94
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُوا۟ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰٓ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا ﴿94﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! When you go (to fight) in the Cause of Allâh, verify (the truth), and say not to anyone who greets you (by embracing Islâm): "You are not a believer"; seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allâh. Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allâh conferred on you His Favours (i.e. guided you to Islâm), therefore, be cautious in discrimination. Allâh is Ever Well-Aware of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believe[d]
إِذَا
idhā
When
ضَرَبْتُمْ
ḍarabtum
you go forth
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَتَبَيَّنُوا۟
fatabayyanū
then investigate
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَقُولُوا۟
taqūlū
say
لِمَنْ
liman
to (the one) who
أَلْقَىٰٓ
alqā
offers
إِلَيْكُمُ
ilaykumu
to you
ٱلسَّلَـٰمَ
l-salāma
(a greeting of) peace
لَسْتَ
lasta
You are not
مُؤْمِنًۭا
mu'minan
a believer
تَبْتَغُونَ
tabtaghūna
seeking
عَرَضَ
ʿaraḍa
transitory gains
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
(of) the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
فَعِندَ
faʿinda
for with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَغَانِمُ
maghānimu
(are) booties
كَثِيرَةٌۭ ۚ
kathīratun
abundant
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Like that
كُنتُم
kuntum
you were
مِّن
min
from
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
فَمَنَّ
famanna
then conferred favor
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ ۚ
fatabayyanū
so investigate
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرًۭا
khabīran
All-Aware
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 94) ➊ {فَتَبَيَّنُوْا وَ لَا تَقُوْلُوْا …:} Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that a man was with his few goats, some Muslims passed by there, he said {’’اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ‘‘} but the Muslims killed him and took his goats. Upon this, Allah Almighty revealed this verse, in which it is said: «{ تَبْتَغُوْنَ عَرَضَ الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا }» "Do you desire the goods of this world?" By this is meant those few goats. [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : { ولا تقولوا لمن ألقیٰ… }: ۴۵۹۱ ]
➋ {فَتَبَيَّنُوْا :} Here, the command of tabayyun, that is, making investigation, is mentioned along with travel, but here the restriction of travel is for the context of the incident, meaning that the incident regarding which the verse was revealed happened during travel, otherwise the command to investigate is just as applicable in residence as it is in travel. (Qurtubi)
➌ { كَذٰلِكَ كُنْتُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلُ:} That is, this was your own condition before; you used to live in the city of the disbelievers and would conceal your faith, Allah Almighty favored you by making the religion dominant. (Qurtubi)
➋ {فَتَبَيَّنُوْا :} Here, the command of tabayyun, that is, making investigation, is mentioned along with travel, but here the restriction of travel is for the context of the incident, meaning that the incident regarding which the verse was revealed happened during travel, otherwise the command to investigate is just as applicable in residence as it is in travel. (Qurtubi)
➌ { كَذٰلِكَ كُنْتُمْ مِّنْ قَبْلُ:} That is, this was your own condition before; you used to live in the city of the disbelievers and would conceal your faith, Allah Almighty favored you by making the religion dominant. (Qurtubi)
