النساء
The Women
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wa-idhā ḍarabtum fī l-arḍi falaysa ʿalaykum junāḥun an taqṣurū mina l-ṣalati in khif'tum an yaftinakumu alladhīna kafarū inna l-kāfirīna kānū lakum ʿaduwwan mubīnan
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
wa-idhā kunta fīhim fa-aqamta lahumu l-ṣalata faltaqum ṭāifatun min'hum maʿaka walyakhudhū asliḥatahum fa-idhā sajadū falyakūnū min warāikum waltati ṭāifatun ukh'rā lam yuṣallū falyuṣallū maʿaka walyakhudhū ḥidh'rahum wa-asliḥatahum wadda alladhīna kafarū law taghfulūna ʿan asliḥatikum wa-amtiʿatikum fayamīlūna ʿalaykum maylatan wāḥidatan walā junāḥa ʿalaykum in kāna bikum adhan min maṭarin aw kuntum marḍā an taḍaʿū asliḥatakum wakhudhū ḥidh'rakum inna l-laha aʿadda lil'kāfirīna ʿadhāban muhīnan
And when you [i.e., the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allāh has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
fa-idhā qaḍaytumu l-ṣalata fa-udh'kurū l-laha qiyāman waquʿūdan waʿalā junūbikum fa-idhā iṭ'manantum fa-aqīmū l-ṣalata inna l-ṣalata kānat ʿalā l-mu'minīna kitāban mawqūtan
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allāh standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
walā tahinū fī ib'tighāi l-qawmi in takūnū talamūna fa-innahum yalamūna kamā talamūna watarjūna mina l-lahi mā lā yarjūna wakāna l-lahu ʿalīman ḥakīman
And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering - so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allāh that which they expect not. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
innā anzalnā ilayka l-kitāba bil-ḥaqi litaḥkuma bayna l-nāsi bimā arāka l-lahu walā takun lil'khāinīna khaṣīman
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allāh has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate.
wa-is'taghfiri l-laha inna l-laha kāna ghafūran raḥīman
And seek forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
walā tujādil ʿani alladhīna yakhtānūna anfusahum inna l-laha lā yuḥibbu man kāna khawwānan athīman
And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allāh loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.
yastakhfūna mina l-nāsi walā yastakhfūna mina l-lahi wahuwa maʿahum idh yubayyitūna mā lā yarḍā mina l-qawli wakāna l-lahu bimā yaʿmalūna muḥīṭan
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allāh, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allāh, of what they do, encompassing.
hāantum hāulāi jādaltum ʿanhum fī l-ḥayati l-dun'yā faman yujādilu l-laha ʿanhum yawma l-qiyāmati am man yakūnu ʿalayhim wakīlan
Here you are - those who argue on their behalf in [this] worldly life - but who will argue with Allāh for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will [then] be their representative?
waman yaʿmal sūan aw yaẓlim nafsahu thumma yastaghfiri l-laha yajidi l-laha ghafūran raḥīman
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allāh will find Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
waman yaksib ith'man fa-innamā yaksibuhu ʿalā nafsihi wakāna l-lahu ʿalīman ḥakīman
And whoever earns [i.e., commits] a sin only earns it against himself. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
waman yaksib khaṭīatan aw ith'man thumma yarmi bihi barīan faqadi iḥ'tamala buh'tānan wa-ith'man mubīnan
But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself a slander and manifest sin.
walawlā faḍlu l-lahi ʿalayka waraḥmatuhu lahammat ṭāifatun min'hum an yuḍillūka wamā yuḍillūna illā anfusahum wamā yaḍurrūnaka min shayin wa-anzala l-lahu ʿalayka l-kitāba wal-ḥik'mata waʿallamaka mā lam takun taʿlamu wakāna faḍlu l-lahi ʿalayka ʿaẓīman
And if it was not for the favor of Allāh upon you, [O Muḥammad], and His mercy, a group of them would have determined to mislead you. But they do not mislead except themselves, and they will not harm you at all. And Allāh has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. And ever has the favor of Allāh upon you been great.
lā khayra fī kathīrin min najwāhum illā man amara biṣadaqatin aw maʿrūfin aw iṣ'lāḥin bayna l-nāsi waman yafʿal dhālika ib'tighāa marḍāti l-lahi fasawfa nu'tīhi ajran ʿaẓīman
No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allāh - then We are going to give him a great reward.
waman yushāqiqi l-rasūla min baʿdi mā tabayyana lahu l-hudā wayattabiʿ ghayra sabīli l-mu'minīna nuwallihi mā tawallā wanuṣ'lihi jahannama wasāat maṣīran
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
inna l-laha lā yaghfiru an yush'raka bihi wayaghfiru mā dūna dhālika liman yashāu waman yush'rik bil-lahi faqad ḍalla ḍalālan baʿīdan
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly gone far astray.
in yadʿūna min dūnihi illā ināthan wa-in yadʿūna illā shayṭānan marīdan
They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan,
laʿanahu l-lahu waqāla la-attakhidhanna min ʿibādika naṣīban mafrūḍan
Whom Allāh has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion.
wala-uḍillannahum wala-umanniyannahum walaāmurannahum falayubattikunna ādhāna l-anʿāmi walaāmurannahum falayughayyirunna khalqa l-lahi waman yattakhidhi l-shayṭāna waliyyan min dūni l-lahi faqad khasira khus'rānan mubīnan
And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allāh." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allāh has certainly sustained a clear loss.
yaʿiduhum wayumannīhim wamā yaʿiduhumu l-shayṭānu illā ghurūran
He [i.e., Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.