Surah Nisa ayat 90 Tafsir Quran 4:90

﴿إِلَّا الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَاقٌ أَوْ جَاءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَن يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَاتِلُوا قَوْمَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَاتَلُوكُمْ ۚ فَإِنِ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا﴾
[ النساء: 90]

4:90 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 Allah 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 Allah has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them.

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.

But exempt from aforesaid prescriptive right are those of them -the hypocrites- who take refuge with or are related to a people with whom you are bound by a covenant relating to peace, truce, alliance or the like or -those of them- who are perplexed by reason of their kinship to your opponents; they do not have the heart to fight on your side against their people nor to side with their people-against you. Had Allah willed, He, would have instigated them against you, and then they would have waged war against you. Therefore, if they are disposed to let you alone, proceed no further and offer you peace, then leave them alone; Allah does not commit you to any line of action against them

Censuring the Companions for Disagreeing over the Hypocrites who Returned to Al-Madinah Before Uhud Allah criticizes the believers for disagreeing over the hypocrites.
There are conflicting opinions over the reason behind revealing this Ayah.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Zayd bin Thabit said that Messenger of Allah ﷺ marched towards Uhud.
However, some people who accompanied him went back to Al-Madinah, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ divided into two groups concerning them, one saying they should be killed and the other objecting.
Allah sent down, فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ ( Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites ) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّهَا طَيْبَةُ، وَإِنَّهَا تَنْفِي الْخَبَثَ، كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيد»
( She (Al-Madinah ) is Taybah, and she expels filth, just as the billow expels rust from iron.) The Two Sahihs also recorded this Hadith.
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah was revealed about some people in Makkah who said they embraced Islam, yet they gave their support to the idolators.
One time, theses people went out of Makkah to fulfill some needs and said to each other, "If we meet the Companions of Muhammad, there will be no harm for us from their side." When the believers got news that these people went out of Makkah, some of them said, "Let us march to these cowards and kill them, because they support your enemy against you." However, another group from the believers said, "Glory be to Allah! Do you kill a people who say as you have said, just because they did not perform Hijrah or leave their land Is it allowed to shed their blood and confiscate their money in this case" So they divided to two groups, while the Messenger ﷺ was with them, and did not prohibit either group from reiterating their argument.
Thereafter, Allah revealed, فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ ( Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites ) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded this Hadith.
Allah said, وَاللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُمْ بِمَا كَسَبُواْ ( Allah has cast them back because of what they have earned. ) meaning, He made them revert to, and fall into error.
Ibn `Abbas said that, أَرْكَسَهُمْ ( Arkasahum ) means, `cast them' .
Allah's statement, بِمَا كَسَبُواْ ( because of what they have earned ) means, because of their defiance and disobedience to the Messenger ﷺ and following falsehood. أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُواْ مَنْ أَضَلَّ اللَّهُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً ( Do you want to guide him whom Allah has made to go astray And he whom Allah has made to go astray, you will never find for him a way. ) meaning, there will be no path for him, or way to guidance.
Allah's statement, وَدُّواْ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُواْ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَآءً ( They wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected, and thus that you all become equal. ) means, they wish that you fall into misguidance, so that you and they are equal in that regard.
This is because of their extreme enmity and hatred for you.
Therefore, Allah said, فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ حَتَّى يُهَاجِرُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْاْ ( So take not Awliya' from them, till they emigrate in the way of Allah.
But if they turn back, ) if they abandon Hijrah, as Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas.
As-Suddi said that this part of the Ayah means, "If they make their disbelief public." Combatants and Noncombatants Allah excluded some people; إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَى قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِّيثَـقٌ ( Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace ),) meaning, except those who join and take refuge with a people with whom you have a pact of peace, or people of Dhimmah, then treat them as you treat the people with whom you have peace.
This is the saying of As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and Ibn Jarir.
In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded the story of the treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah, where it was mentioned that whoever liked to have peace with Quraysh and conduct a pact with them, then they were allowed.
Those who liked to have peace with Muhammad and his Companions and enter a pact with them were allowed.
It was reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah was later abrogated by Allah's statement, فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ( Then when the Sacred Months have passed, kill the idolators wherever you find them ) Allah said, أَوْ جَآءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ ( or those who approach you with their breasts restraining ) referring to another type of people covered by the exclusion from fighting.
They are those who approach the Muslims with hesitation in their hearts because of their aversion to fighting the Muslims.
They do not have the heart to fight with the Muslims against their own people.
Therefore, they are neither with nor against Muslims. وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَـتَلُوكُمْ ( Had Allah willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. ) meaning, it is from Allah's mercy that He has stopped them from fighting you. فَإِنِ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَـتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْاْ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ ( So, if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace, ) meaning, they revert to peace, فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلاً ( then Allah has opened no way for you against them ), you do not have the right to kill them, as long as they take this position.
This was the position of Banu Hashim ( the tribe of the Prophet ), such as Al-`Abbas, who accompanied the idolators in the battle of Badr, for they joined the battle with great hesitation.
This is why the Prophet commanded that Al-`Abbas not be killed, but only captured.
Allah's statement, d سَتَجِدُونَ ءَاخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ ( You will find others that wish to have security from you and security from their people. ) refers to a type of people who on the surface appear to be like the type we just mentioned.
However, the intention of each type is different, for the latter are hypocrites.
They pretend to be Muslims with the Prophet and his Companions, so that they could attain safety with the Muslims for their blood, property and families.
However, they support the idolators in secret and worship what they worship, so that they are at peace with them also.
These people have secretly sided with the idolators, just as Allah described them, وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَـطِينِهِمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ ( But when they are alone with their Shayatin, they say: "Truly, we are with you." ).
In this Ayah, Allah said, كُلَّ مَا رُدُّواْ إِلَى الْفِتْنِةِ أُرْكِسُواْ فِيِهَا ( Every time they are sent back to Fitnah, they yield thereto. ) meaning, they dwell in Fitnah.
As-Suddi said that the Fitnah mentioned here refers to Shirk.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Mujahid said that the Ayah was revealed about a group from Makkah who used to go to the Prophet in Al-Madinah pretending to be Muslims.
However, when they went back to Quraysh, they reverted to worshipping idols.
They wanted to be at peace with both sides.
Allah commanded they should be fought against, unless they withdraw from combat and resort to peace.
This is why Allah said, فَإِن لَّمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُواْ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ ( If they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace ) meaning, revert to peaceful and complacent behavior, وَيَكُفُّواْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ( nor restrain their hands ) refrain from fighting you, فَخُذُوهُمْ ( take (hold of ) them), capture them, وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ ( and kill them wherever you Thaqiftumuhum. ), wherever you find them, وَأُوْلَـئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـناً مُّبِيناً ( In their case, We have provided you with a clear warrant against them ), meaning an unequivocal and plain warrant.

(4:90) unless it be such of them who seek refuge with a people who are joined with you by a covenant, *119 or those who come to you because their hearts shrink from fighting either against you or against their own people. Had Allah so willed, He would certainly have given them power over you and they would have fought against you. If they leave you alone and do not fight against you and offer you peace,, then Allah does not permit you to harm them.

Except for those who take refuge with meaning

*119).
The exception here does not relate to the injunction that they should not be taken as friends and supporters, but to the injunction that the believers should seize and slay them.
What is meant is that if a hypocrite takes shelter among an unbelieving people with whom the Muslims have an agreement he should not be pursued into that territory.
It is not permissible for Muslims of the Islamic state to kill a hypocrite in some neutral territory even if he merits execution.
This is because of the sanctity of the agreement concluded by the Muslims rather than the sanctity of the hypocrite's blood.

 

Censuring the Companions for Disagreeing over the Hypocrites who Returned to Al-Madinah Before Uhud Allah criticizes the believers for disagreeing over the hypocrites.
There are conflicting opinions over the reason behind revealing this Ayah.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Zayd bin Thabit said that Messenger of Allah ﷺ marched towards Uhud.
However, some people who accompanied him went back to Al-Madinah, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ divided into two groups concerning them, one saying they should be killed and the other objecting.
Allah sent down, فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ ( Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites ) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّهَا طَيْبَةُ، وَإِنَّهَا تَنْفِي الْخَبَثَ، كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيد» ( She (Al-Madinah ) is Taybah, and she expels filth, just as the billow expels rust from iron.) The Two Sahihs also recorded this Hadith.
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah was revealed about some people in Makkah who said they embraced Islam, yet they gave their support to the idolators.
One time, theses people went out of Makkah to fulfill some needs and said to each other, "If we meet the Companions of Muhammad, there will be no harm for us from their side." When the believers got news that these people went out of Makkah, some of them said, "Let us march to these cowards and kill them, because they support your enemy against you." However, another group from the believers said, "Glory be to Allah! Do you kill a people who say as you have said, just because they did not perform Hijrah or leave their land Is it allowed to shed their blood and confiscate their money in this case" So they divided to two groups, while the Messenger ﷺ was with them, and did not prohibit either group from reiterating their argument.
Thereafter, Allah revealed, فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ ( Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites ) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded this Hadith.
Allah said, وَاللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُمْ بِمَا كَسَبُواْ ( Allah has cast them back because of what they have earned. ) meaning, He made them revert to, and fall into error.
Ibn `Abbas said that, أَرْكَسَهُمْ ( Arkasahum ) means, `cast them' .
Allah's statement, بِمَا كَسَبُواْ ( because of what they have earned ) means, because of their defiance and disobedience to the Messenger ﷺ and following falsehood. أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُواْ مَنْ أَضَلَّ اللَّهُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً ( Do you want to guide him whom Allah has made to go astray And he whom Allah has made to go astray, you will never find for him a way. ) meaning, there will be no path for him, or way to guidance.
Allah's statement, وَدُّواْ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُواْ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَآءً ( They wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected, and thus that you all become equal. ) means, they wish that you fall into misguidance, so that you and they are equal in that regard.
This is because of their extreme enmity and hatred for you.
Therefore, Allah said, فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ حَتَّى يُهَاجِرُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْاْ ( So take not Awliya' from them, till they emigrate in the way of Allah.
But if they turn back, ) if they abandon Hijrah, as Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas.
As-Suddi said that this part of the Ayah means, "If they make their disbelief public." Combatants and Noncombatants Allah excluded some people; إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَى قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِّيثَـقٌ ( Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace ),) meaning, except those who join and take refuge with a people with whom you have a pact of peace, or people of Dhimmah, then treat them as you treat the people with whom you have peace.
This is the saying of As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and Ibn Jarir.
In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded the story of the treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah, where it was mentioned that whoever liked to have peace with Quraysh and conduct a pact with them, then they were allowed.
Those who liked to have peace with Muhammad and his Companions and enter a pact with them were allowed.
It was reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah was later abrogated by Allah's statement, فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ( Then when the Sacred Months have passed, kill the idolators wherever you find them ) Allah said, أَوْ جَآءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ ( or those who approach you with their breasts restraining ) referring to another type of people covered by the exclusion from fighting.
They are those who approach the Muslims with hesitation in their hearts because of their aversion to fighting the Muslims.
They do not have the heart to fight with the Muslims against their own people.
Therefore, they are neither with nor against Muslims. وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَـتَلُوكُمْ ( Had Allah willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. ) meaning, it is from Allah's mercy that He has stopped them from fighting you. فَإِنِ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَـتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْاْ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ ( So, if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace, ) meaning, they revert to peace, فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلاً ( then Allah has opened no way for you against them ), you do not have the right to kill them, as long as they take this position.
This was the position of Banu Hashim ( the tribe of the Prophet ), such as Al-`Abbas, who accompanied the idolators in the battle of Badr, for they joined the battle with great hesitation.
This is why the Prophet commanded that Al-`Abbas not be killed, but only captured.
Allah's statement, d سَتَجِدُونَ ءَاخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ ( You will find others that wish to have security from you and security from their people. ) refers to a type of people who on the surface appear to be like the type we just mentioned.
However, the intention of each type is different, for the latter are hypocrites.
They pretend to be Muslims with the Prophet and his Companions, so that they could attain safety with the Muslims for their blood, property and families.
However, they support the idolators in secret and worship what they worship, so that they are at peace with them also.
These people have secretly sided with the idolators, just as Allah described them, وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَـطِينِهِمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ ( But when they are alone with their Shayatin, they say: "Truly, we are with you." ).
In this Ayah, Allah said, كُلَّ مَا رُدُّواْ إِلَى الْفِتْنِةِ أُرْكِسُواْ فِيِهَا ( Every time they are sent back to Fitnah, they yield thereto. ) meaning, they dwell in Fitnah.
As-Suddi said that the Fitnah mentioned here refers to Shirk.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Mujahid said that the Ayah was revealed about a group from Makkah who used to go to the Prophet in Al-Madinah pretending to be Muslims.
However, when they went back to Quraysh, they reverted to worshipping idols.
They wanted to be at peace with both sides.
Allah commanded they should be fought against, unless they withdraw from combat and resort to peace.
This is why Allah said, فَإِن لَّمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُواْ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ ( If they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace ) meaning, revert to peaceful and complacent behavior, وَيَكُفُّواْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ( nor restrain their hands ) refrain from fighting you, فَخُذُوهُمْ ( take (hold of ) them), capture them, وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ ( and kill them wherever you Thaqiftumuhum. ), wherever you find them, وَأُوْلَـئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـناً مُّبِيناً ( In their case, We have provided you with a clear warrant against them ), meaning an unequivocal and plain warrant.

Allah then made an exception, saying: ( Except those ) among the ten men who fled to Mecca ( who seek refuge with a people ) i.e. the people of Hilal Ibn ’Uwaymir al-Aslami ( between whom and you there is a covenant ) a pact and peace, ( or (those who )) the people of Hilal ( come unto you because their hearts forbid them to make war ) they come to you because they are annoyed at the huge cost they have to pay due to this pact ( on you or make war on their own folk ) due to their ties of kinship. ( Had Allah willed He could have given them power over you ) i.e. the people of Hilal Ibn ’Uwaymir ( so that assuredly they would have fought you ) together with their people upon the conquest of Mecca. ( So, if they hold aloof from you and wage not war against you ) upon the conquest of Mecca ( and offer you peace ) they submit to you through peace and honouring the pact they made, ( Allah alloweth you no way against them ) He does not give you any excuse for killing them.

Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with their breasts restraining from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. Had Allah willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace, then Allah has opened no way for you against them.

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