16. An-Nahl

The Bee · Meccan · 128 ayahs

سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ

Reading Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas

Ayahs 91–100 of 128

وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا عَٰهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا۟ ٱلْأَيْمَٰنَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken it, [O believers], and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allah, over you, a witness. Indeed, Allah knows what you do.

(Fulfil the covenant of Allah when ye have covenanted). This verse was revealed about the tribes of Kindah and Murad; it is also said that this means: honour your pledges when you swear by Allah, (and break not your oaths) i.e. the pledges that you pledge between yourselves (after the asseveration of them) after ascertaining and confirming them, (and after ye have made Allah surety over you) i.e. a Witness over you; it is also said that this means: a Guardian over you. Meaning: both parties made their pledge and said: Allah is witness that we will honour our pledge. (Lo! Allah knoweth what ye do) whether you break or honour your pledges.

An-Nahl 16:91Listen in Qur'an →

وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّتِى نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَٰثًۭا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِىَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allah only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ.

(And be not) in terms of breaking pledges (like unto her) i.e. Ra'itah, the fool (who unravelleth the thread, after she has made it strong, to thin filaments, making your oaths) your pledges (a deceit) and treachery (between you because of a nation) a group (being more numerous than (another) nation) another group. (Allah only trieth you thereby) He tests you with your numerousness; and it is also said: He tests you with the breaking of pledges, (and He verily will explain to you on the Day of Resurrection that wherein ye differed) in the matter of religion.

An-Nahl 16:92Listen in Qur'an →

وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ وَلَٰكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.

(Had Allah willed He could have made you (all) one nation) He could have made you followers of one religion: the religion of Islam, (but He sendeth whom He will astray) from His religion; he who is not deserving of it (and guideth whom He will) to His religion; he who is deserving of it, (and ye will indeed be asked) on the Day of Judgement (of what ye used to do) of good or evil in your states of disbelief or faith; it is also said that this means: of what you used to do in terms of honouring or breaking your pledges.

An-Nahl 16:93Listen in Qur'an →

وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌۢ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِهَا وَتَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِمَا صَدَدتُّمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌۭ

And do not take your oaths as [means of] deceit between you, lest a foot slip after it was [once] firm, and you would taste evil [in this world] for what [people] you diverted from the way of Allah, and you would have [in the Hereafter] a great punishment.

(Make not your oaths) your pledges (a deceit) cheating, plotting and trickery (between you, lest a foot should slip) lest you should slip from Allah's obedience as a person's foot slips (after being firmly planted and ye should taste evil) hell (forasmuch as ye debarred (men) from the way of Allah) from Allah's religion and obedience, (and yours should be an awful doom) in the Hereafter.

An-Nahl 16:94Listen in Qur'an →

وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And do not exchange the covenant of Allah for a small price. Indeed, what is with Allah is best for you, if only you could know.

(And purchase not a small gain at the price of Allah's covenant) i.e. swearing by Allah falsely to obtain a small worldly gain. (Lo! that which Allah hath) of reward (is better for you) than what you have of wealth, (if ye did but know) the reward of Allah; it is also said that this means: if you believe in the reward of Allah.

An-Nahl 16:95Listen in Qur'an →

مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ بَاقٍۢ ۗ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوٓا۟ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do.

(That which ye have) of wealth (is wasted away, and that which Allah hath) of reward (remaineth. And verily We shall pay those who are steadfast) in refraining from making a false pledge and acknowledge the Truth (a recompense) their reward in the Hereafter (in proportion to the best of what they used to do) because of their beneficence in this worldly life.

An-Nahl 16:96Listen in Qur'an →

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.

(Whosoever doeth right) sincerely between him and his Lord and acknowledges the Truth, (whether male or female, and is a believer) and, in addition, a sincere one, (him verily We shall quicken with good life) spent in obedience; it is also said that this means: a good life spent in contentment; and it is also said that this means: a good life spent in Paradise, (and We shall pay them a recompense) their reward in the Hereafter (in proportion to the best of what they used to do) because of their beneficence in this worldly life. This verse was revealed about 'Abdan Ibn al-Ashu' and Imra' al-Qays al-Kindi regarding a dispute over a plot of land.

An-Nahl 16:97Listen in Qur'an →

فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ

So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].

(And when thou recitest the Qur'an) so if you want, O Muhammad, to recite the Qur'an at the beginning of the prayer or at any other time, (seek refuge in Allah) say: I seek refuge in Allah (from Satan the outcast) the accursed, the one stoned with a shooting star, the debarred from Allah's mercy.

An-Nahl 16:98Listen in Qur'an →

إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ سُلْطَٰنٌ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

Indeed, there is for him no authority over those who have believed and rely upon their Lord.

(Lo! he hath no power) a way or overpowering (over those who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an (and put trust in their Lord) and not in anyone else and further consign all their matters to Allah.

An-Nahl 16:99Listen in Qur'an →

100

إِنَّمَا سُلْطَٰنُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِهِۦ مُشْرِكُونَ

His authority is only over those who take him as an ally and those who through him associate others with Allah.

(His power) way and overpowering (is only over those who make a friend of him) those who obey him, (and those who ascribe partners unto Him (Allah)).

An-Nahl 16:100Listen in Qur'an →

Commentary: Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas. Qur'an text and translation via AlQuran Cloud.