4. An-Nisaa

They say that is the hypocrites say when they come to you ‘Our affair is all about Obedience to you’; but when they sally forth when they depart from you a party of them harbour the final tā’ of the feminine-ending in bayyatat ‘harbour’ can either be elided with the following tā’ of tā’ifa ‘a party’ or simply omitted they entertain secretly feelings other than what they say to you in your presence in the way of their obedience in other words they hide disobedience to you. God writes down He commands that it be written what they harbour in their scrolls of deeds so that they will be requited for it. So turn away from them in forgiveness rely on God put your trust in Him for He will suffice you; and God suffices as a Guardian to Whom matters are entrusted.

What do they not ponder do they not contemplate the Qur’ān? and the marvellous truths contained in it. If it had been from other than God surely they would have found therein much inconsistency much contradiction in meaning and irregularity in arrangement.

And when there comes to them an issue news concerning the raiding parties sent by the Prophet s and what has happened to them be it of security through victory or of fear through defeat they broadcast it they make it widely-known this was revealed regarding a group from among the hypocrites or from among the feeble believers who used to do this and so the hearts of the believers would lose courage and the Prophet s would become distressed. If they had referred it the news to the Messenger and to those in authority among them that is the judicious elders among the Companions in other words if they had kept quiet about it until they were fully informed; those among them who are able to think it out those who follow it up and seek knowledge of it the ones who broadcast it would have known it and whether it is a matter that ought be broadcast or not from them from the Prophet s and those of authority. And but for the bounty of God to you through Islam and His mercy to you through the Qur’ān you would surely have followed Satan in the abominations to which he commands you except a few of you.

Whoever intercedes between people with a good intercession one in accordance with the Law shall receive a share of the reward for it because of it; and whoever intercedes with an evil intercession one in contravention of it the Law shall receive the like the share of the sin from it because of it. God conserves He has power over all things and so requites every person according to his deeds.

And when you are greeted with a greeting as when it is said to you ‘Peace be upon you’ greet the one that greeted you with better than it by responding to him with ‘Peace be upon you and God’s mercy and blessings’ or return it by saying back to him what he said; in other words it is a duty to greet in one of these two ways the former being the preferred one. Surely God keeps count of He holds you accountable for all things and requites accordingly including things such as returning a greeting. The Sunna specifies that one should not return the greeting of an disbeliever an innovator a wicked person and of the one that greets a person who is in the act of relieving himself or one in the bath or one eating — indeed it is actually disapproved with the exception of the last. To the disbeliever who says ‘peace be upon you’ one should simply say ‘And upon you’.

God — there is no god except Him and by God He will surely gather you from your graves to on the Day of Resurrection whereof there is no doubt no uncertainty. And who is truer in statement in speech than God? that is no one is.

When a group retreated from Uhud people were at variance over their status. Some said ‘Let us slay them’ while others said ‘No!’ So the following was revealed What is wrong with you what is the matter with you that you have become two parties two groups regarding the hypocrites when God has overthrown them He has turned them back to disbelief for what they earned? in the way of disbelief and acts of disobedience. What do you desire to guide him whom God has sent astray? that is to count them among the guided the interrogative in both places is for disapproval. And he whom God sends astray you will never find for him a way a path to guidance.

They long they wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve so then you and they would be equal in unbelief; therefore do not take friends from among them associating with them even if they should outwardly manifest belief until they emigrate in the way of God a proper emigration that would confirm their belief; then if they turn away and remain upon their ways take them as captives and slay them wherever you find them; and do not take any of them as a patron to associate with or as a helper to assist you against your enemy.

Except those who attach themselves to who seek refuge with a people between whom and you there is a covenant a pledge of security for them and for whoever attaches himself to them in the manner of the Prophet’s s covenant with Hilāl b. ‘Uwaymir al-Aslamī; or those who come to you with their breasts constricted dejected about the prospect of fighting you being on the side of their people or fighting their people siding with you in other words those who come to you refraining from fighting either you or them then do not interfere with them neither taking them as captives nor slaying them this statement and what follows was abrogated by the ‘sword’ verse. Had God willed to give them sway over you He would have given them sway over you by strengthening their hearts so that assuredly they would have fought you but God did not will it and so He cast terror into their hearts. And so if they stay away from you and do not fight you and offer you peace reconciliation that is if they submit then God does not allow you any way against them He does not allow you a means to take them captive or to slay them.