النساء
The Women
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wayaqūlūna ṭāʿatun fa-idhā barazū min ʿindika bayyata ṭāifatun min'hum ghayra alladhī taqūlu wal-lahu yaktubu mā yubayyitūna fa-aʿriḍ ʿanhum watawakkal ʿalā l-lahi wakafā bil-lahi wakīlan
And they say, "[We pledge] obedience." But when they leave you, a group of them spend the night determining to do other than what you say. But Allāh records what they plan by night. So leave them alone and rely upon Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
afalā yatadabbarūna l-qur'āna walaw kāna min ʿindi ghayri l-lahi lawajadū fīhi ikh'tilāfan kathīran
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān? If it had been from [any] other than Allāh, they would have found within it much contradiction.
wa-idhā jāahum amrun mina l-amni awi l-khawfi adhāʿū bihi walaw raddūhu ilā l-rasūli wa-ilā ulī l-amri min'hum laʿalimahu alladhīna yastanbiṭūnahu min'hum walawlā faḍlu l-lahi ʿalaykum waraḥmatuhu la-ittabaʿtumu l-shayṭāna illā qalīlan
And when there comes to them something [i.e., information] about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.
faqātil fī sabīli l-lahi lā tukallafu illā nafsaka waḥarriḍi l-mu'minīna ʿasā l-lahu an yakuffa basa alladhīna kafarū wal-lahu ashaddu basan wa-ashaddu tankīlan
So fight, [O Muḥammad], in the cause of Allāh; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allāh will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allāh is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.
man yashfaʿ shafāʿatan ḥasanatan yakun lahu naṣībun min'hā waman yashfaʿ shafāʿatan sayyi-atan yakun lahu kif'lun min'hā wakāna l-lahu ʿalā kulli shayin muqītan
Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share [i.e., reward] therefrom; and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a portion [i.e., burden] therefrom. And ever is Allāh, over all things, a Keeper.
wa-idhā ḥuyyītum bitaḥiyyatin faḥayyū bi-aḥsana min'hā aw ruddūhā inna l-laha kāna ʿalā kulli shayin ḥasīban
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, an Accountant.
al-lahu lā ilāha illā huwa layajmaʿannakum ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati lā rayba fīhi waman aṣdaqu mina l-lahi ḥadīthan
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.
famā lakum fī l-munāfiqīna fi-atayni wal-lahu arkasahum bimā kasabū aturīdūna an tahdū man aḍalla l-lahu waman yuḍ'lili l-lahu falan tajida lahu sabīlan
What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allāh has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allāh has sent astray? And he whom Allāh sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance].
waddū law takfurūna kamā kafarū fatakūnūna sawāan falā tattakhidhū min'hum awliyāa ḥattā yuhājirū fī sabīli l-lahi fa-in tawallaw fakhudhūhum wa-uq'tulūhum ḥaythu wajadttumūhum walā tattakhidhū min'hum waliyyan walā naṣīran
They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allāh. But if they turn away [i.e., refuse], then seize them and kill them [for their betrayal] wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper,
illā alladhīna yaṣilūna ilā qawmin baynakum wabaynahum mīthāqun aw jāūkum ḥaṣirat ṣudūruhum an yuqātilūkum aw yuqātilū qawmahum walaw shāa l-lahu lasallaṭahum ʿalaykum falaqātalūkum fa-ini iʿ'tazalūkum falam yuqātilūkum wa-alqaw ilaykumu l-salama famā jaʿala l-lahu lakum ʿalayhim sabīlan
Except for those who take refuge with a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty or those who come to you, their hearts strained at [the prospect of] fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allāh had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allāh has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them.
satajidūna ākharīna yurīdūna an yamanūkum wayamanū qawmahum kulla mā ruddū ilā l-fit'nati ur'kisū fīhā fa-in lam yaʿtazilūkum wayul'qū ilaykumu l-salama wayakuffū aydiyahum fakhudhūhum wa-uq'tulūhum ḥaythu thaqif'tumūhum wa-ulāikum jaʿalnā lakum ʿalayhim sul'ṭānan mubīnan
You will find others who wish to obtain security from you and [to] obtain security from their people. Every time they are returned to [the influence of] disbelief, they fall back into it. So if they do not withdraw from you or offer you peace or restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you overtake them. And those - We have made for you against them a clear authorization.
wamā kāna limu'minin an yaqtula mu'minan illā khaṭa-an waman qatala mu'minan khaṭa-an fataḥrīru raqabatin mu'minatin wadiyatun musallamatun ilā ahlihi illā an yaṣṣaddaqū fa-in kāna min qawmin ʿaduwwin lakum wahuwa mu'minun fataḥrīru raqabatin mu'minatin wa-in kāna min qawmin baynakum wabaynahum mīthāqun fadiyatun musallamatun ilā ahlihi wataḥrīru raqabatin mu'minatin faman lam yajid faṣiyāmu shahrayni mutatābiʿayni tawbatan mina l-lahi wakāna l-lahu ʿalīman ḥakīman
And never is it for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake - then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment [diyah] presented to his [i.e., the deceased's] family [is required], unless they give [up their right as] charity. But if he [i.e., the deceased] was from a people at war with you and he was a believer - then [only] the freeing of a believing slave; and if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty - then a compensation payment presented to his family and the freeing of a believing slave. And whoever does not find [one or cannot afford to buy one] - then [instead], a fast for two months consecutively, [seeking] acceptance of repentance from Allāh. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
waman yaqtul mu'minan mutaʿammidan fajazāuhu jahannamu khālidan fīhā waghaḍiba l-lahu ʿalayhi walaʿanahu wa-aʿadda lahu ʿadhāban ʿaẓīman
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allāh has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
yāayyuhā alladhīna āmanū idhā ḍarabtum fī sabīli l-lahi fatabayyanū walā taqūlū liman alqā ilaykumu l-salāma lasta mu'minan tabtaghūna ʿaraḍa l-ḥayati l-dun'yā faʿinda l-lahi maghānimu kathīratun kadhālika kuntum min qablu famanna l-lahu ʿalaykum fatabayyanū inna l-laha kāna bimā taʿmalūna khabīran
O you who have believed, when you go forth [to fight] in the cause of Allāh, investigate; and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace, "You are not a believer," aspiring for the goods of worldly life; for with Allāh are many acquisitions. You [yourselves] were like that before; then Allāh conferred His favor [i.e., guidance] upon you, so investigate. Indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.
lā yastawī l-qāʿidūna mina l-mu'minīna ghayru ulī l-ḍarari wal-mujāhidūna fī sabīli l-lahi bi-amwālihim wa-anfusihim faḍḍala l-lahu l-mujāhidīna bi-amwālihim wa-anfusihim ʿalā l-qāʿidīna darajatan wakullan waʿada l-lahu l-ḥus'nā wafaḍḍala l-lahu l-mujāhidīna ʿalā l-qāʿidīna ajran ʿaẓīman
Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujāhideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allāh with their wealth and their lives. Allāh has preferred the mujāhideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to all [i.e., both] Allāh has promised the best [reward]. But Allāh has preferred the mujāhideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -
darajātin min'hu wamaghfiratan waraḥmatan wakāna l-lahu ghafūran raḥīman
Degrees [of high position] from Him and forgiveness and mercy. And Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
inna alladhīna tawaffāhumu l-malāikatu ẓālimī anfusihim qālū fīma kuntum qālū kunnā mus'taḍʿafīna fī l-arḍi qālū alam takun arḍu l-lahi wāsiʿatan fatuhājirū fīhā fa-ulāika mawāhum jahannamu wasāat maṣīran
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
illā l-mus'taḍʿafīna mina l-rijāli wal-nisāi wal-wil'dāni lā yastaṭīʿūna ḥīlatan walā yahtadūna sabīlan
Except for the oppressed among men, women, and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they directed to a way -
fa-ulāika ʿasā l-lahu an yaʿfuwa ʿanhum wakāna l-lahu ʿafuwwan ghafūran
For those it is expected that Allāh will pardon them, and Allāh is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
waman yuhājir fī sabīli l-lahi yajid fī l-arḍi murāghaman kathīran wasaʿatan waman yakhruj min baytihi muhājiran ilā l-lahi warasūlihi thumma yud'rik'hu l-mawtu faqad waqaʿa ajruhu ʿalā l-lahi wakāna l-lahu ghafūran raḥīman
And whoever emigrates for the cause of Allāh will find on the earth many [alternative] locations and abundance. And whoever leaves his home as an emigrant to Allāh and His Messenger and then death overtakes him - his reward has already become incumbent upon Allāh. And Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.