سُوْرَةُ الْمُجَادَلَةِ
Surah Al-Mujaadila (58) — Ayah 9
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَـٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿9﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! When you hold secret counsel, do it not for sin and wrong-doing, and disobedience towards the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), but do it for Al-Birr (righteousness) and Taqwâ (virtues and piety); and fear Allâh unto Whom you shall be gathered.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you who believe
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
O you who believe
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
O you who believe
إِذَا
idhā
When
تَنَـٰجَيْتُمْ
tanājaytum
you hold secret counsel
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟
tatanājaw
hold secret counsel
بِٱلْإِثْمِ
bil-ith'mi
for sin
وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ
wal-ʿud'wāni
and aggression
وَمَعْصِيَتِ
wamaʿṣiyati
and disobedience
ٱلرَّسُولِ
l-rasūli
(to) the Messenger
وَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟
watanājaw
but hold secret counsel
بِٱلْبِرِّ
bil-biri
for righteousness
وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ
wal-taqwā
and piety
وَٱتَّقُوا۟
wa-ittaqū
And fear
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
ٱلَّذِىٓ
alladhī
the One Who
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to Him
تُحْشَرُونَ
tuḥ'sharūna
you will be gathered
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 9){ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ … :} As mentioned in the benefits of verse (7), the word {’’نَجْوٰی‘‘} is generally used for whisperings with evil intentions, which are forbidden, but sometimes { ’’نَجْوٰي‘‘} (secret consultation) can also be for good purposes, its permission is granted, rather it is encouraged and it is a source of reward. (See Nisa: 114) In this verse, those who claim to have faith are forbidden from whisperings and secret gatherings involving sin, transgression, and disobedience to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), because this is contrary to the claim of faith, and permission is granted, rather advice is given, for whisperings involving righteousness and piety. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade every form of whispering that would cause distress to a Muslim. Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلاَثَةً فَلاَ يَتَنَاجٰی رَجُلاَنِ دُوْنَ الْآخَرِ حَتّٰی تَخْتَلِطُوْا بِالنَّاسِ، أَجْلَ أَنْ يُّحْزِنَهُ ] [بخاري، الاستئذان، باب إذا کانوا أکثر من ثلاثۃ فلا بأس بالمسارّۃ المناجاۃ : ۶۲۹۰۔ مسلم : ۲۱۸۴ ] "When you are three people, then two should not whisper to each other excluding the third, until you join other people, because this will make him sad." From this hadith, it is understood that if there are more than three people, then any two can whisper to each other. However, if four, five, or more people leave one person alone and whisper separately, then it is inevitable that the one left alone will be saddened and distressed, so according to this hadith, that is also impermissible. If two out of three people start speaking in a language that the third does not know, then according to this hadith, that is also not permissible. However, if two people take permission from the third and then whisper to each other, then this is permissible, as narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلاَثَةً فَلاَ يَتَنَاجَ اثْنَانِ دُوْنَ الثَّالِثِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَإِنَّ ذٰلِكَ يُحْزِنُهُ ] [مسند أحمد: 146/2، ح : ۶۳۳۸۔ مصنف عبد الرزاق، ح : ۱۹۸۰۶، وسندہ صحیح ] "When you are three people, then two should not whisper to each other excluding the third, except with his permission, because this will make him sad."
