Surah Nisa ayat 94 Tafsir Quran 4:94

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُوا وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰ إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا﴾
[ النساء: 94]

4:94 O you who have believed, when you go forth [to fight] in the cause of Allah, 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 Allah are many acquisitions. You [yourselves] were like that before; then Allah conferred His favor upon you, so investigate. Indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.

The following was revealed when a group from among the Companions passed by a man from the Banū Sulaym driving his flock of sheep and he offered them a greeting of peace. But they said ‘He only greeted us dissimulating out of fear’. So they killed him and took away his flock O you who believe when you are going forth travelling in order to struggle in the way of God be discriminating fa-tabayyanū; a variant reading has fa-tathabbatū ‘ascertain’ here and further below; and do not say to him who offers you peace read al-salām or al-salam that is the greeting or offers you submission declaring the profession of faith shahāda which is an indication of being a Muslim ‘You are not a believer you are only saying this to dissimulate for fear of your life and property’ so that you then end up killing him desiring seeking by this the transient goods of the life of this world that is its enjoyment in the way of spoils. With God are plenteous spoils rendering you free of the need to kill such a person for his property. So you were formerly when your lives and property were protected simply upon your professing the faith; but God has been gracious to you making you known for your faith and uprightness. So be discriminating lest you kill a believer and treat those entering the religion as you were treated formerly. Surely God is ever Aware of what you do and will requite you for it.

O you who have conformed to Islam: When you journey into a foreign land in Allahs cause, you must distinguish by the sight and by other senses the disposition of the people whether or not they have conformed to Islam lest you spoil your best designs by faulty actuation. Nor should you say to anyone who greets you: You are not a Muslim; prompted by selfish motive principles of considering him a fit subject for plunder, in quest of the fleeting and evanescent glory of life below when glory, valuables, possessions and all graces abound in heavens realm. Remember, if he is not a believer in Allah, thus were you before but Allah graced you with guidance to His path of righteousness. Therefore, discern the truth from what is false; Allah is ever Alimun of all that you do

Greeting with the Salam is a Sign of Islam Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ikrimah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "A man from Bani Sulaym, who was tending a flock of sheep, passed by some of the Companions of the Prophet and said Salam to them.
They said ( to each other ), `He only said Salam to protect himself from us.' Then they attacked him and killed him.
They brought his sheep to the Prophet , and this Ayah was revealed, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ( O you who believe! ), until the end of the Ayah." At-Tirmidhi recorded this in his ( chapter on ) Tafsir, and said, "This Hadith is Hasan, and it is also reported from Usamah bin Zayd." Al-Hakim also recorded it and said, "Its chain is Sahih, but they did not collect it." Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented; وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً ( and say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer;" ), "A man was tending his sheep and the Muslims caught up with him.
He said, `As-Salamu `Alaykum.' However, they killed him and took his sheep.
Allah revealed the Ayah; وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( And say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer; seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life )." Ibn `Abbas said; "The goods of this world were those sheep." And he recited, السَّلَـمُ ( Peace ) Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Qa`qa` bin Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad narrated that his father `Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent us to ( the area of ) Idam.
I rode out with a group of Muslims that included Abu Qatadah, Al-Harith bin Rab`i and Muhallam bin Juthamah bin Qays.
We continued on until we reached the area of Idam, where `Amr bin Al-Adbat Al-Ashja`i passed by us on his camel.
When he passed by us he said Salam to us, and we did not attack him.
Because of some previous problems with him, Muhallam bin Juthamah killed him and took his camel.
When we went back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him what had happened, a part of the Qur'an was revealed about us, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( O you who believe! When you go (to fight ) in the cause of Allah), until, خَبِيراً ( Well-Aware )." Only Ahmad recorded this Hadith.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Al-Miqdad,
«إِذَا كَانَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يُخْفِي إِيمَانَهُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ فَأَظْهَرَ إيمَانَهُ فَقَتَلْتَهُ، فَكَذلِكَ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ تُخْفِي إِيمَانَكَ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ قَبْل»
( You killed a believing man who hid his faith with disbelieving people, after he had announced his faith to you.
Remember that you used to hide your faith in Makkah before. ) Al-Bukhari recorded this shorter version without a complete chain of narrators.
However a longer version with a connected chain of narrators has also been recorded.
Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a military expedition under the authority of Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad and when they reached the designated area, they found the people had dispersed.
However, a man with a lot of wealth did not leave and said, `I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.' Yet, Al-Miqdad killed him, and a man said to him, `You killed a man after he proclaimed: "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
By Allah I will mention what you did to the Prophet .' When they went back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they said, `O Messenger of Allah! Al-Miqdad killed a man who testified that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.' He said,
«ادْعُوا لِيَ الْمِقْدَادَ، يَا مِقْدَادُ أَقَتَلْتَ رَجُلًا يَقُولُ: لَا إِلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، فَكَيْفَ لَكَ بِلَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ غَدًا؟»
( Summon Al-Miqdad before me.
O Miqdad! Did you kill a man who proclaimed, "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah" What would you do when you face, "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah tomorrow" ) Allah then revealed; يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ ( O you who believe! When you go (to fight ) in the cause of Allah, verify ( the truth ), and say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer;" seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life.
There are much more profits and booties with Allah.
Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His Favors, therefore, be cautious in discrimination).
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Al-Miqdad,
«كَانَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يُخْفِي إِيمَانَهُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ فَأَظْهَرَ إيمَانَهُ فَقَتَلْتَهُ، فَكَذَلِكَ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ تُخْفِي إِيمَانَكَ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ قَبْل»
( He was a believing man who hid his faith among disbelieving people, and he announced his faith to you, but you killed him, although you used to hide your faith before, in Makkah. )" Allah's statement, فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ( There is much more benefit with Allah. ) means, better than what you desired of worldly possessions which made you kill the one who greeted you with the Salam and pronounced his faith to you.
Yet, you ignored all this and accused him of hypocrisy, to acquire the gains of this life.
However, the pure wealth with Allah is far better than what you acquired.
Allah's statement, كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ( so were you yourselves before, till Allah conferred on you His Favors. ) means, beforehand, you used to be in the same situation like this person who hid his faith from his people.
We mentioned the relevant Hadiths above.
Allah said, وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ ( And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land ).
`Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr commented about Allah's statement, كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ ( so were you yourselves before ), "You used to hide your faith, just as this shepherd hid his faith." Allah said, فَتَبَيَّنُواْ ( therefore, be cautious in discrimination ), then said, إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً ( Allah is Ever Well-Aware of what you do. ) and this part of the Ayah contains a threat and a warning, as Sa`id bin Jubayr stated.

(4:94) Believers! When you go forth in the way of Allah, discern (between friend and foe), and do not say to him who offers you the greeting of peace: 'You are not a believer.' *126 If you seek the good of this worldly life, there lies with Allah abundant gain. After all, you too were such before, and then Allah was gracious to you. *127 Discern, then, for Allah is well aware of what you do.

O you who have believed, when you meaning

*126).In the early days of Islam the greeting as-salam 'alaykum ( 'peace be on you' ) was a distinguishing symbol of the Muslims.
When a Muslim greeted another Muslim with this expression it signified that he was a member of the same community, that he was a friend and well-wisher, one who wished peace and security, from whom he need entertain no fear of hostility and towards whom, in return, he should not behave with hostility.
The Islamic greeting occupied virtually the same position among Muslims as the passwords used by sentries to distinguish friend from foe.
This was particularly important in those days because there were no distinctions in dress, language and so on by which Muslims could be conclusively marked off from their non-Muslim Arab compatriots.
The Muslims also encountered a strange problem on the battlefield.
Whenever a Muslim was in danger of being harmed inadvertently by other Muslims during the fighting, he resorted to either the Islamic greeting ( as-salam 'alaykum ) or the Islamic creed There is no god save Allah' ( ili-Jl^y ) in order to indicate that he was their brother-in-faith.
The Muslims, however, often suspected this to be merely a ruse of the enemy and therefore sometimes disregarded the utterance of the Islamic greeting or of the Islamic creed, and killed such people and seized their belongings as booty.
Although whenever the Prophet ( peace be on him ) came to know of such incidents, he severely reproached the people concerned, it, nevertheless, continued to take place.
In the end God solved the problem by revelation.
The purport of the verse is that no one has the right summarily to judge those who profess to be Muslims, and assume them to be lying for fear of their lives.
At least two possibilities exist: the claim may either be true or it may be false.
The truth can only be ascertained by proper investigation.
While it is impossible to investigate a person's case properly during fighting and this may enable him to save his life by lying, it is equally possible that an innocent, true believer might be put to death by mistake.
The error of letting an unbeliever go unpunished is preferable to that of killing a true believer.

*127).The Muslims are now told that there was a time when they were scattered among different tribes of unbelievers.
They were, therefore, forced to conceal the fact of being Muslims since they feared that they would be subjected to persecution and hardship.
In those days they had nothing else besides their verbal profession to testify to their faith.
Later on, some time before these verses were revealed, God benevolently enabled the Muslims to develop a collective entity of their own and thus to raise the banner of Islam in the face of strong opposition from the unbelievers.
That the Muslims should fail to appreciate the hardships which other Muslims were enduring, and which they themselves had endured until not long before, and not to treat them with consideration and forbearance, did not seem an adequate way of thanking God for His benevolence.

 

Greeting with the Salam is a Sign of Islam Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ikrimah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "A man from Bani Sulaym, who was tending a flock of sheep, passed by some of the Companions of the Prophet and said Salam to them.
They said ( to each other ), `He only said Salam to protect himself from us.' Then they attacked him and killed him.
They brought his sheep to the Prophet , and this Ayah was revealed, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ( O you who believe! ), until the end of the Ayah." At-Tirmidhi recorded this in his ( chapter on ) Tafsir, and said, "This Hadith is Hasan, and it is also reported from Usamah bin Zayd." Al-Hakim also recorded it and said, "Its chain is Sahih, but they did not collect it." Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented; وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً ( and say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer;" ), "A man was tending his sheep and the Muslims caught up with him.
He said, `As-Salamu `Alaykum.' However, they killed him and took his sheep.
Allah revealed the Ayah; وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( And say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer; seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life )." Ibn `Abbas said; "The goods of this world were those sheep." And he recited, السَّلَـمُ ( Peace ) Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Qa`qa` bin Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad narrated that his father `Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent us to ( the area of ) Idam.
I rode out with a group of Muslims that included Abu Qatadah, Al-Harith bin Rab`i and Muhallam bin Juthamah bin Qays.
We continued on until we reached the area of Idam, where `Amr bin Al-Adbat Al-Ashja`i passed by us on his camel.
When he passed by us he said Salam to us, and we did not attack him.
Because of some previous problems with him, Muhallam bin Juthamah killed him and took his camel.
When we went back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him what had happened, a part of the Qur'an was revealed about us, يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( O you who believe! When you go (to fight ) in the cause of Allah), until, خَبِيراً ( Well-Aware )." Only Ahmad recorded this Hadith.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Al-Miqdad, «إِذَا كَانَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يُخْفِي إِيمَانَهُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ فَأَظْهَرَ إيمَانَهُ فَقَتَلْتَهُ، فَكَذلِكَ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ تُخْفِي إِيمَانَكَ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ قَبْل» ( You killed a believing man who hid his faith with disbelieving people, after he had announced his faith to you.
Remember that you used to hide your faith in Makkah before. ) Al-Bukhari recorded this shorter version without a complete chain of narrators.
However a longer version with a connected chain of narrators has also been recorded.
Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a military expedition under the authority of Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad and when they reached the designated area, they found the people had dispersed.
However, a man with a lot of wealth did not leave and said, `I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.' Yet, Al-Miqdad killed him, and a man said to him, `You killed a man after he proclaimed: "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
By Allah I will mention what you did to the Prophet .' When they went back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they said, `O Messenger of Allah! Al-Miqdad killed a man who testified that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.' He said, «ادْعُوا لِيَ الْمِقْدَادَ، يَا مِقْدَادُ أَقَتَلْتَ رَجُلًا يَقُولُ: لَا إِلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، فَكَيْفَ لَكَ بِلَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ غَدًا؟» ( Summon Al-Miqdad before me.
O Miqdad! Did you kill a man who proclaimed, "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah" What would you do when you face, "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah tomorrow" ) Allah then revealed; يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ ( O you who believe! When you go (to fight ) in the cause of Allah, verify ( the truth ), and say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer;" seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life.
There are much more profits and booties with Allah.
Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His Favors, therefore, be cautious in discrimination).
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Al-Miqdad, «كَانَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يُخْفِي إِيمَانَهُ مَعَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ فَأَظْهَرَ إيمَانَهُ فَقَتَلْتَهُ، فَكَذَلِكَ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ تُخْفِي إِيمَانَكَ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ قَبْل» ( He was a believing man who hid his faith among disbelieving people, and he announced his faith to you, but you killed him, although you used to hide your faith before, in Makkah. )" Allah's statement, فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ( There is much more benefit with Allah. ) means, better than what you desired of worldly possessions which made you kill the one who greeted you with the Salam and pronounced his faith to you.
Yet, you ignored all this and accused him of hypocrisy, to acquire the gains of this life.
However, the pure wealth with Allah is far better than what you acquired.
Allah's statement, كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ( so were you yourselves before, till Allah conferred on you His Favors. ) means, beforehand, you used to be in the same situation like this person who hid his faith from his people.
We mentioned the relevant Hadiths above.
Allah said, وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ ( And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land ).
`Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr commented about Allah's statement, كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ ( so were you yourselves before ), "You used to hide your faith, just as this shepherd hid his faith." Allah said, فَتَبَيَّنُواْ ( therefore, be cautious in discrimination ), then said, إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً ( Allah is Ever Well-Aware of what you do. ) and this part of the Ayah contains a threat and a warning, as Sa`id bin Jubayr stated.

Then Allah revealed about Usamah Ibn Zayd who killed Mirdas Ibn Nuhayk al-Farari, a fellow believer, saying: ( O ye who believe! When ye go forth (to fight ) in the way of Allah) in jihad, ( be careful to discriminate ) between who is a believer and who is an unbeliever, ( and say not unto one who offereth you peace ) he who greets you and says to you there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah: ( Thou art not a believer; ) and then kill him ( seeking the chance profits of this life ) so that you may despoil him. ( With Allah are plenteous spoils ) He has with Him a tremendous reward for him who avoids killing a fellow believer. ( Even thus (as he now is ) were ye before) with your people feeling safe with the believers and with Muhammad ( pbuh ) and his Companions because of the attestation of there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, before the Emigration; ( but Allah hath since then been gracious unto you ) by migrating from the unbelievers. ( Therefore take care to discriminate ) such that you do not kill believers. ( Allah is ever informed of what ye do ) whether it is killing someone or other things.

O you who believe! When you go (to fight) in the Cause of Allah, verify (the truth), and say not to anyone who greets you (by embracing Islam): "You are not a believer"; seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allah. Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His Favours (i.e. guided you to Islam), therefore, be cautious in discrimination. Allah is Ever Well-Aware of what you do.

Page 93 English transliteration