سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 74
۞ فَلْيُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَن يُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ أَوْ يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿74﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allâh, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allâh, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ فَلْيُقَـٰتِلْ
falyuqātil
So let fight
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يَشْرُونَ
yashrūna
sell
ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ
l-ḥayata
the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ
bil-ākhirati
for the Hereafter
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يُقَـٰتِلْ
yuqātil
fights
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَيُقْتَلْ
fayuq'tal
then he is killed
أَوْ
aw
or
يَغْلِبْ
yaghlib
achieves victory
فَسَوْفَ
fasawfa
then soon
نُؤْتِيهِ
nu'tīhi
We will grant him
أَجْرًا
ajran
a reward
عَظِيمًۭا
ʿaẓīman
a great
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
74. So let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And whoever fights in the way of Allah, whether he is killed or achieves victory, We shall soon grant him a great reward. [103]
[103] In this verse, Muslims are encouraged to fight solely for the pleasure of Allah and the elevation of Islam, and it is explained that whether a Muslim is martyred in battle or returns home safely, in both cases he benefits. Please see the following hadiths in the explanation of this verse:
1.
Encouragement, Importance, and Benefits of Jihad:
Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ narrates that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "One person fights for war booty, another for fame and reputation, another to show his bravery, and another out of anger and national pride. Which of these is fighting in the way of Allah?" He ﷺ replied, "The one who fights so that the word of Allah is exalted is the only one fighting in the way of Allah."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد۔ باب من قاتل لتکون کلمۃ اللہ ہی العلیا۔۔ مسلم۔ کتاب الامارۃ۔ باب من قاتل لتکون کلمۃ اللہ ہی العلیا فھو فی سبیل اللہ۔۔ بخاری۔ کتاب العلم۔ باب من سأال و ہو قائم عالما جالسا]
2. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever dies without having fought in the way of Allah or even having the intention of doing so in his heart, dies on a branch of hypocrisy."
[مسلم، کتاب الامارۃ۔ باب ذم من مات ولم یغز ولم یحدث نفسہ بالغزو]
3. Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ was asked, "Who among the people is the best?" He replied, "The one who strives in the way of Allah with his life and wealth."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد، باب افضل الناس مومن مجاھد بنفسہ و مالہ]
4. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "If it were not difficult for my Ummah, I would never stay behind from any expedition, and I wish that I be killed in the way of Allah, then brought back to life, then killed again, then brought back to life, ."
[بخاری، کتاب الایمان، باب الجہاد من الایمان۔۔ مسلم۔ کتاب الجہاد۔ باب فضل الجہاد]
5. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "In Paradise there are one hundred levels which Allah has prepared (in accordance with the ranks) for the Mujahideen in the way of Allah, and the distance between each level is as great as that between the heavens and the earth."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد۔ باب درجات المجاهدين فى سبيل الله۔۔ مسلم، كتاب الامارة۔ باب بيان ما اعد الله تعالىٰ للمجاهد فى الجنة من الدرجات]
6. The Prophet ﷺ said, "If a servant's feet become dusty in the way of Allah, then the Fire will never touch him."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب من اغبرت قد ماه فى سبيل الله]
7. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Know well! Paradise is under the shade of swords."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الجنة تحت بارقة السيوف]
8. The Prophet ﷺ said, "A morning or an evening spent in the way of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد۔ باب الغدوة والروحة فى سبيل الله مسلم، كتاب الامارة فضل الغدوة والروحة فى سبيل الله]
9. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever leaves his home with the pure intention of striving in the way of Allah and with certainty in Allah's promises, Allah will either grant him martyrdom and admit him to Paradise, or return him to his home with reward and war booty, safe and sound."
[بخاری، کتاب التوحید باب ولقد سبقت کلمتنا]
[103] In this verse, Muslims are encouraged to fight solely for the pleasure of Allah and the elevation of Islam, and it is explained that whether a Muslim is martyred in battle or returns home safely, in both cases he benefits. Please see the following hadiths in the explanation of this verse:
1.
Encouragement, Importance, and Benefits of Jihad:
Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ narrates that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "One person fights for war booty, another for fame and reputation, another to show his bravery, and another out of anger and national pride. Which of these is fighting in the way of Allah?" He ﷺ replied, "The one who fights so that the word of Allah is exalted is the only one fighting in the way of Allah."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد۔ باب من قاتل لتکون کلمۃ اللہ ہی العلیا۔۔ مسلم۔ کتاب الامارۃ۔ باب من قاتل لتکون کلمۃ اللہ ہی العلیا فھو فی سبیل اللہ۔۔ بخاری۔ کتاب العلم۔ باب من سأال و ہو قائم عالما جالسا]
2. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever dies without having fought in the way of Allah or even having the intention of doing so in his heart, dies on a branch of hypocrisy."
[مسلم، کتاب الامارۃ۔ باب ذم من مات ولم یغز ولم یحدث نفسہ بالغزو]
3. Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ was asked, "Who among the people is the best?" He replied, "The one who strives in the way of Allah with his life and wealth."
[بخاری، کتاب الجہاد، باب افضل الناس مومن مجاھد بنفسہ و مالہ]
4. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "If it were not difficult for my Ummah, I would never stay behind from any expedition, and I wish that I be killed in the way of Allah, then brought back to life, then killed again, then brought back to life, ."
[بخاری، کتاب الایمان، باب الجہاد من الایمان۔۔ مسلم۔ کتاب الجہاد۔ باب فضل الجہاد]
5. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "In Paradise there are one hundred levels which Allah has prepared (in accordance with the ranks) for the Mujahideen in the way of Allah, and the distance between each level is as great as that between the heavens and the earth."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد۔ باب درجات المجاهدين فى سبيل الله۔۔ مسلم، كتاب الامارة۔ باب بيان ما اعد الله تعالىٰ للمجاهد فى الجنة من الدرجات]
6. The Prophet ﷺ said, "If a servant's feet become dusty in the way of Allah, then the Fire will never touch him."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب من اغبرت قد ماه فى سبيل الله]
7. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Know well! Paradise is under the shade of swords."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد، باب الجنة تحت بارقة السيوف]
8. The Prophet ﷺ said, "A morning or an evening spent in the way of Allah is better than the world and whatever is in it."
[بخاري، كتاب الجهاد۔ باب الغدوة والروحة فى سبيل الله مسلم، كتاب الامارة فضل الغدوة والروحة فى سبيل الله]
9. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever leaves his home with the pure intention of striving in the way of Allah and with certainty in Allah's promises, Allah will either grant him martyrdom and admit him to Paradise, or return him to his home with reward and war booty, safe and sound."
[بخاری، کتاب التوحید باب ولقد سبقت کلمتنا]
