Surah Nisa ayat 143 Tafsir Quran 4:143

﴿مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ لَا إِلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَلَا إِلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلًا﴾
[ النساء: 143]

4:143 Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to the believers nor to the disbelievers. And whoever Allah leaves astray - never will you find for him a way.

Wavering hesitant all the time between that unbelief and belief — not belonging to these disbelievers neither to those believers; and he whom God sends astray you will never find for him a way a path back to guidance.

Reticent, they are swayed, in their opinions and their actions, in their conduct and in their thoughts between you people - the Muslims - and their people - the infidels - while in truth they belong neither to you nor to them. And he whom Allah does not guide to the path of righteousness, never shall you find out a way to guide him thereto

The Hypocrites Try to Deceive Allah and Sway Between Believers and Disbelievers In the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah 2, we mentioned Allah's statement, يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا ( They (think to ) deceive Allah and those who believe).
Here, Allah states, إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ ( Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. ) There is no doubt that Allah can never be deceived, for He has perfect knowledge of the secrets and what the hearts conceal.
However, the hypocrites, due to their ignorance, scarce knowledge and weak minds, think that since they were successful in deceiving people, using Islamic Law as a cover of safety for themselves, they will acquire the same status with Allah on the Day of Resurrection and deceive Him too.
Allah states that on that Day, the hypocrites will swear to Him that they were on the path of righteousness and correctness thinking that such statement will benefit them with Allah.
For instance, Allah said, يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ( On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you ) Allah's statement, وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ ( but it is He Who deceives them ) means, He lures them further into injustice and misguidance.
He also prevents them from reaching the truth in this life and on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah said, يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ ( On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!" ) until, وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ( And worst indeed is that destination ).
A Hadith states;
«مَن سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللهُ بِهِ، وَمَنْ رَاءَى رَاءَى اللهُ بِه»
( Whoever wants to be heard of, Allah will make him heard of, and whoever wants to be seen, Allah will show him. ) Allah's statement, وَإِذَا قَامُواْ إِلَى الصَّلَوةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَى ( And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness ).
This is the characteristic of the hypocrites with the most honored, best and righteous act of worship, the prayer.
When they stand for prayer, they stand in laziness because they neither truly intend to perform it nor do they believe in it, have humility in it, or understand it.
This is the description of their outward attitude! As for their hearts, Allah said, يُرَآءُونَ النَّاسَ ( to be seen of men ) meaning, they do not have sincerity when worshipping Allah.
Rather, they show off to people so that they gain closeness to them.
They are often absent from the prayers that they can hide away from, such as the `Isha' prayer and the Dawn prayer that are prayed in darkness.
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«أَثْقَلُ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا، وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَتُقَامُ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ، ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِيَ بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ، إِلى قَوْمٍ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلَاةَ، فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّار»
.
( The heaviest prayers on the hypocrites are the `Isha' and Dawn prayers.
If they know their rewards, they will attend them even if they have to crawl.
I was about to order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer, then order someone to lead the prayer for the people, then order some men to collect fire-wood (fuel ); then I would burn the houses around men who did not attend the ( compulsory congregational ) prayer.) In another narration, the Prophet said,
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ عَلِمَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَرْقًا سَمِينًا أَوْ مِرْمَاتَيْنِ حَسَنَتَيْنِ، لَشَهِدَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَلَوْلَا مَا فِي الْبُيُوتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالذُّرِّيَّـةِ لَحَرَّقْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّار»
( By Him, in Whose Hand my soul is, if anyone of them had known that he would get a bone covered with good meat or two (small ) pieces of meat between two ribs, he would have turned up for the prayer, and had it not been that the houses have women and children in them, I would burn their homes around them.) Allah's statement, وَلاَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ( And they do not remember Allah but little ) means, during the prayer they do not feel humbleness or pay attention to what they are reciting.
Rather, during their prayer, they are inattentive, jesting and avoid the good that they are meant to receive from prayer.
Imam Malik reported that Al-`Ala' bin `Abdur-Rahman said that Anas bin Malik said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ، تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ، تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ، يَجْلِسُ يَرْقُبُ الشَّمْسَ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيِ الشَّيْطَانِ، قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا، لَا يَذْكُرُ اللهَ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا»
( This is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of the hypocrite.
He sits watching the sun until when it goes down between the two horns of the devil, he stands up pecks out four Rak`ahs (for `Asr ) without remembering Allah during them except little.) Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded it.
At-Tirmidhi said "Hasan Sahih".
Allah's statement, مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ لاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاءِ ( (They are ) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these) means that the hypocrites are swaying between faith and disbelief.
So they are neither with believers inwardly or outwardly nor with disbelievers inwardly or outwardly.
Rather, they are with the believers outwardly and with the disbelievers inwardly.
Some of them would suffer fits of doubt, leaning towards these sometimes and towards those sometimes, كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ ( Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still ).
Mujahid said; مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ لاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاءِ ( (They are ) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these) "The Companions of Muhammad ﷺ , وَلاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاءِ ( nor to those ): the Jews." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Prophet said,
«مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِ الْعَائِرَةِ بَيْنَ الْغَنَمَيْنِ، تَعِيرُ إِلى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً، وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً، وَلَا تَدْرِي أَيَّتَهُمَا تَتْبَع»
( The example of the hypocrite is the example of the sheep wandering between two herds, sometimes she goes to one of them, and sometimes the other, confused over whom she should follow. ) Muslim also recorded it.
This is why Allah said afterwards, وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً ( and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way. ) meaning, whomever He leads astray from the guidance, فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ( For him you will find no Wali (guiding friend ) to lead him ( to the right path )) because, مَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ ( Whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide him ).
So the hypocrites whom Allah has led astray from the paths of safety will never find a guide to direct them, nor someone to save them.
There is none who can resist Allah's decision, and He is not asked about what He does, while they all will be asked.

(4:143) They dangle between the one and the other (faith and disbelief), and belong neither to these nor to those completely. And he whom Allah lets go astray, for him you can find no way. *173

Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to the meaning

*173).
Here an important fact has been stated about the person who remained unguided to the Truth despite his acquaintance with the Book of God and with the life of His Prophet ( peace be on him ).
He was a person who was so disinclined to the Truth and so infatuated with error that even God let him go forth along the same erroneous direction that he had chosen for himself, a person on whom the door of true guidance had been shut and the way towards error had been made smooth by God.
It is virtually beyond the power of human-beings to direct such a person to the Truth.

We may be able to grasp this if we consider the case of man's livelihood.
God controls all the sources of man's livelihood.
Thus, anyone who receives any portion of livelihood receives it from God alone.
At the same time, God grants every man livelihood through the means he has himself sought.
If a man seeks his livelihood through lawful means and strives accordingly, God opens the door to honest living to him and closes the avenues of dishonest earnings in proportion to his earnestness.
On the other hand, there is the person who is bent upon fattening himself on dishonest earnings and strives accordingly.
God permits such a person to continue making an unlawful living, and no one has the power to help him secure an honest means of living.

The same applies to man's belief and conduct in this life.
In this respect too, the ultimate control rests with God.
No human being can proceed along any path, whether it be good or evil, unless God lets him proceed along it, and bestows upon him the means to do so.
However, it is up to man himself to choose his own path, and after he has made the choice, God will let him proceed along it, and will even pave the way for him.
If a person really cares about God, genuinely seeks the truth and earnestly tries to pursue the path charted by God, God permits him to follow his choice, and even provides the means necessary to proceed along his chosen path.
On the other hand, God shuts the door of true guidance on the person who chooses error and strives to proceed only along wrong paths, and further enables him to follow the path of his choice.
It is beyond the power of any human being to prevent such a person from thinking wrongly, acting wrongly and using up his energies in wrong directions.
If a man loses the road to his success and is subsequently deprived of true guidance by God, in whose power does it lie, then, to restore to him his lost treasure?
 

The Hypocrites Try to Deceive Allah and Sway Between Believers and Disbelievers In the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah 2, we mentioned Allah's statement, يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا ( They (think to ) deceive Allah and those who believe).
Here, Allah states, إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ ( Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. ) There is no doubt that Allah can never be deceived, for He has perfect knowledge of the secrets and what the hearts conceal.
However, the hypocrites, due to their ignorance, scarce knowledge and weak minds, think that since they were successful in deceiving people, using Islamic Law as a cover of safety for themselves, they will acquire the same status with Allah on the Day of Resurrection and deceive Him too.
Allah states that on that Day, the hypocrites will swear to Him that they were on the path of righteousness and correctness thinking that such statement will benefit them with Allah.
For instance, Allah said, يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ( On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you ) Allah's statement, وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ ( but it is He Who deceives them ) means, He lures them further into injustice and misguidance.
He also prevents them from reaching the truth in this life and on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah said, يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ ( On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!" ) until, وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ( And worst indeed is that destination ).
A Hadith states; «مَن سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللهُ بِهِ، وَمَنْ رَاءَى رَاءَى اللهُ بِه» ( Whoever wants to be heard of, Allah will make him heard of, and whoever wants to be seen, Allah will show him. ) Allah's statement, وَإِذَا قَامُواْ إِلَى الصَّلَوةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَى ( And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness ).
This is the characteristic of the hypocrites with the most honored, best and righteous act of worship, the prayer.
When they stand for prayer, they stand in laziness because they neither truly intend to perform it nor do they believe in it, have humility in it, or understand it.
This is the description of their outward attitude! As for their hearts, Allah said, يُرَآءُونَ النَّاسَ ( to be seen of men ) meaning, they do not have sincerity when worshipping Allah.
Rather, they show off to people so that they gain closeness to them.
They are often absent from the prayers that they can hide away from, such as the `Isha' prayer and the Dawn prayer that are prayed in darkness.
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «أَثْقَلُ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا، وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَتُقَامُ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ، ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِيَ بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ، إِلى قَوْمٍ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلَاةَ، فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّار» .
( The heaviest prayers on the hypocrites are the `Isha' and Dawn prayers.
If they know their rewards, they will attend them even if they have to crawl.
I was about to order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer, then order someone to lead the prayer for the people, then order some men to collect fire-wood (fuel ); then I would burn the houses around men who did not attend the ( compulsory congregational ) prayer.) In another narration, the Prophet said, «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ عَلِمَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَرْقًا سَمِينًا أَوْ مِرْمَاتَيْنِ حَسَنَتَيْنِ، لَشَهِدَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَلَوْلَا مَا فِي الْبُيُوتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالذُّرِّيَّـةِ لَحَرَّقْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّار» ( By Him, in Whose Hand my soul is, if anyone of them had known that he would get a bone covered with good meat or two (small ) pieces of meat between two ribs, he would have turned up for the prayer, and had it not been that the houses have women and children in them, I would burn their homes around them.) Allah's statement, وَلاَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ( And they do not remember Allah but little ) means, during the prayer they do not feel humbleness or pay attention to what they are reciting.
Rather, during their prayer, they are inattentive, jesting and avoid the good that they are meant to receive from prayer.
Imam Malik reported that Al-`Ala' bin `Abdur-Rahman said that Anas bin Malik said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ، تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ، تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ، يَجْلِسُ يَرْقُبُ الشَّمْسَ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيِ الشَّيْطَانِ، قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا، لَا يَذْكُرُ اللهَ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا» ( This is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of the hypocrite.
He sits watching the sun until when it goes down between the two horns of the devil, he stands up pecks out four Rak`ahs (for `Asr ) without remembering Allah during them except little.) Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i also recorded it.
At-Tirmidhi said "Hasan Sahih".
Allah's statement, مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ لاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاءِ ( (They are ) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these) means that the hypocrites are swaying between faith and disbelief.
So they are neither with believers inwardly or outwardly nor with disbelievers inwardly or outwardly.
Rather, they are with the believers outwardly and with the disbelievers inwardly.
Some of them would suffer fits of doubt, leaning towards these sometimes and towards those sometimes, كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ ( Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still ).
Mujahid said; مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ لاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاءِ ( (They are ) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these) "The Companions of Muhammad ﷺ , وَلاَ إِلَى هَـؤُلاءِ ( nor to those ): the Jews." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Prophet said, «مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِ الْعَائِرَةِ بَيْنَ الْغَنَمَيْنِ، تَعِيرُ إِلى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً، وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً، وَلَا تَدْرِي أَيَّتَهُمَا تَتْبَع» ( The example of the hypocrite is the example of the sheep wandering between two herds, sometimes she goes to one of them, and sometimes the other, confused over whom she should follow. ) Muslim also recorded it.
This is why Allah said afterwards, وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً ( and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way. ) meaning, whomever He leads astray from the guidance, فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ( For him you will find no Wali (guiding friend ) to lead him ( to the right path )) because, مَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ ( Whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide him ).
So the hypocrites whom Allah has led astray from the paths of safety will never find a guide to direct them, nor someone to save them.
There is none who can resist Allah's decision, and He is not asked about what He does, while they all will be asked.

( Swaying between this (and that )) wavering between faith and disbelief: disbelief in secret and faith in front of people, ( (belonging ) neither to these) they are not with the believers as far as what is in their heart is concerned, such that that which is obligated upon the believers is obligated upon them ( nor to those ) nor do they belong to the Jews when they declare their faith in public, such that what is prescribed for the Jews is prescribed for them. ( He whom Allah causeth to go astray ) from His religion and proof in the depth of his heart, ( thou (O Muhammad ) will not find a way for him) you will not find a religion or proof for him as far as the conviction of his heart is concerned:

(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those, and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way (to the truth - Islam).

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