Surah Nisa ayat 95 Tafsir Quran 4:95

﴿لَّا يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُولِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا﴾
[ النساء: 95]

4:95 Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -

The believers who sit at home away from the struggle other than those who have an injury such as a chronic illness or blindness or the like read in the nominative ghayru ūlī l-darar ‘other than those who have an injury’ as an adjectival clause; or in the accusative ghayra ūlī l-darar as an exceptive clause are not the equals of those who struggle in the way of God with their possessions and their lives. God has preferred those who struggle with their possessions and their lives over the ones who sit at home on account of some injury by a degree by a degree of merit since both have the same intention but the extra degree is given to those who have carried out the struggle; yet to each of the two groups God has promised the goodly reward Paradise and God has preferred those who struggle over the ones who sit at home without any injury with a great reward ajran ‘azīman is substituted by the following darajātin minhu

They are not alike, the stay-at-home for no valid reason (sickness, trouble and the like) and those who strive in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has invested those who strove with their wealth and their lives in His cause with special distinctions a step higher in the scale of dignity and rank than that He invested in the stay-at-home. Yet both did Allah promise efficacious grace effecting the end for which it is given. But those who strive shall Allah distinguish from the stay-at-home by quite a rich reward

The Mujahid and those Who Do not Join Jihad are Not the Same, [ and Jihad is Fard Kifayah ] Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said, "When the Ayah, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ),) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Zayd and commanded him to write it.
Then, Ibn Umm Maktum came and mentioned that he was blind.
Allah revealed, غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame ))." Al-Bukhari recorded that Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`di said, "I saw Marwan bin Al-Hakam sitting in the Masjid.
I came and sat by his side.
He told us that Zayd bin Thabit told him that Allah's Messenger ﷺ dictated this Ayah to him, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَـهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah) Ibn Umm Maktum came to the Prophet as he was dictating that very Ayah to me.
Ibn Umm Maktum said, `O Allah's Messenger! By Allah, if I had power, I would surely take part in Jihad.' He was a blind man.
So Allah sent down revelation to His Messenger while his thigh was on mine and it became so heavy for me that I feared that my thigh would be broken.
That ended after Allah revealed, غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( except those who are disabled )." This was recorded by Al-Bukhari.
At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ), except those who are disabled), refers to those who did not go to the battle of Badr and those who went to Badr.
When the battle of Badr was about to occur, Abu Ahmad bin Jahsh and Ibn Umm Maktum said, `We are blind, O Messenger of Allah! Do we have an excuse' The Ayah, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ), except those who are disabled) was revealed.
Allah made those who fight, above those who sit in their homes not hindered by disability. وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماًدَرَجَـتٍ مِّنْهُ ( but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home ), by a huge reward.
Degrees of ( higher ) grades from Him), above the believers who sit at home without a disability hindering them." This is the wording recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Gharib.
Allah's statement, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ),) this is general.
Soon after, the revelation came down with, غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( except those who are disabled ).
So whoever has a disability, such as blindness, a limp, or an illness that prevents them from joining Jihad, they were not compared to the Mujahidin who strive in Allah's cause with their selves and wealth, as those who are not disabled and did not join the Jihad were.
In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَقْوَامًا مَا سِرْتُمْ مِنْ مَسِيرٍ، وَلَا قَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ وَادٍ، إِلَّا وَهُمْ مَعَكُمْ فِيه»
قالوا: وهم بالمدينة يا رسول الله؟ ( There are people who remained in Al-Madinah, who were with you in every march you marched and every valley you crossed. ) They said, "While they are still in Al-Madinah, O Messenger of Allah" He said,
«نَعَمْ حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْر»
( Yes.
Only their disability hindered them (from joining you ).) Allah said, وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى ( Unto each, Allah has promised good ) meaning, Paradise and tremendous rewards.
This Ayah indicates that Jihad is not Fard on each and every individual, but it is Fard Kifayah ( which is a collective duty ).
Allah then said, وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماً ( but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home ), by a huge reward).
Allah mentions what He has given them rooms in Paradise, along with His forgiveness and the descent of mercy and blessing on them, as a favor and honor from Him.
So He said; دَرَجَـتٍ مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ( Degrees of (higher ) grades from Him, and forgiveness and mercy.
And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.).
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ، أَعَدَّهَا اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ، مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْض»
( There are a hundred grades in Paradise that Allah has prepared for the Mujahidin in His cause, between each two grades is the distance between heaven and Earth. )

(4:95) Those believers who sit at home, unless they do so out of a disabling injury, are not the equals of those who strive in the way of Allah with their possessions and their lives. Allah has exalted in rank those who strive with their possessions and their lives over those who sit at home; and though to each Allah has promised some good reward, He has preferred those who strive (in the way of Allah) over those who sit at home for a mighty reward. *128

Not equal are those believers remaining [at meaning

*128).
"Those who sit at home' ( i.e.
remain passive ) does not refer either to those who had been ordered to fight but tried to look for excuses not to fight or to those who were individually obliged to take part in fighting because of the general summons of Jihad ( fight in the cause of God ) and yet shirked this duty.
The reference here is to those who remained engrossed in personal concerns at a time when Jihad had become a collective obligation ( fard bi al-kifayah ).* In the first case the person who fails to fight can only be a hypocrite, and God holds out no good promise for such a person unless there is good reason, for example, genuine disability.
In the second case, however, what is required is the mobilization of a part rather than the entire military strength of the Islamic community.
In such cases, if the recognized head ( imam ) of the Islamic community summons the people to come forward and undertake the expedition concerned, those who respond to that call are reckoned to be of superior merit to those who remain occupied with other pursuits however meritorious.
*Fard bi al-kifayah signifies a collective duty of the Muslim community so that if some people carry it out no Muslim is considered blameworthy; but if no one carries it out all incur a collective guilt - Ed.

 

The Mujahid and those Who Do not Join Jihad are Not the Same, [ and Jihad is Fard Kifayah ] Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said, "When the Ayah, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ),) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Zayd and commanded him to write it.
Then, Ibn Umm Maktum came and mentioned that he was blind.
Allah revealed, غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame ))." Al-Bukhari recorded that Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`di said, "I saw Marwan bin Al-Hakam sitting in the Masjid.
I came and sat by his side.
He told us that Zayd bin Thabit told him that Allah's Messenger ﷺ dictated this Ayah to him, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَـهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah) Ibn Umm Maktum came to the Prophet as he was dictating that very Ayah to me.
Ibn Umm Maktum said, `O Allah's Messenger! By Allah, if I had power, I would surely take part in Jihad.' He was a blind man.
So Allah sent down revelation to His Messenger while his thigh was on mine and it became so heavy for me that I feared that my thigh would be broken.
That ended after Allah revealed, غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( except those who are disabled )." This was recorded by Al-Bukhari.
At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ), except those who are disabled), refers to those who did not go to the battle of Badr and those who went to Badr.
When the battle of Badr was about to occur, Abu Ahmad bin Jahsh and Ibn Umm Maktum said, `We are blind, O Messenger of Allah! Do we have an excuse' The Ayah, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ), except those who are disabled) was revealed.
Allah made those who fight, above those who sit in their homes not hindered by disability. وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماًدَرَجَـتٍ مِّنْهُ ( but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home ), by a huge reward.
Degrees of ( higher ) grades from Him), above the believers who sit at home without a disability hindering them." This is the wording recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Gharib.
Allah's statement, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home ),) this is general.
Soon after, the revelation came down with, غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ ( except those who are disabled ).
So whoever has a disability, such as blindness, a limp, or an illness that prevents them from joining Jihad, they were not compared to the Mujahidin who strive in Allah's cause with their selves and wealth, as those who are not disabled and did not join the Jihad were.
In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَقْوَامًا مَا سِرْتُمْ مِنْ مَسِيرٍ، وَلَا قَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ وَادٍ، إِلَّا وَهُمْ مَعَكُمْ فِيه» قالوا: وهم بالمدينة يا رسول الله؟ ( There are people who remained in Al-Madinah, who were with you in every march you marched and every valley you crossed. ) They said, "While they are still in Al-Madinah, O Messenger of Allah" He said, «نَعَمْ حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْر» ( Yes.
Only their disability hindered them (from joining you ).) Allah said, وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى ( Unto each, Allah has promised good ) meaning, Paradise and tremendous rewards.
This Ayah indicates that Jihad is not Fard on each and every individual, but it is Fard Kifayah ( which is a collective duty ).
Allah then said, وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماً ( but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home ), by a huge reward).
Allah mentions what He has given them rooms in Paradise, along with His forgiveness and the descent of mercy and blessing on them, as a favor and honor from Him.
So He said; دَرَجَـتٍ مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً ( Degrees of (higher ) grades from Him, and forgiveness and mercy.
And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.).
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ، أَعَدَّهَا اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ، مَا بَيْنَ كُلِّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْض» ( There are a hundred grades in Paradise that Allah has prepared for the Mujahidin in His cause, between each two grades is the distance between heaven and Earth. )

Allah then explained the reward of those who fight in the way of Allah, saying: ( Those of the believers who sit still ) although they do not suffer from any disabling hurt, and do not participate in jihad, ( other than those who have a (disabling ) hurt) if they were to participate in jihad, i.e. either they are weak in their bodies or have lost their sight, as with ’Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum and ’Abdullah Ibn Jahsh al-Asdi, ( are not on an equality with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth ) by spending their money ( and lives. Allah hath conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank ) a merit ( above the sedentary ) who do not have any disabling hurt. ( Unto each ) those who engage in jihad and those who do not ( Allah hath promised good ) Paradise due to their faith, ( but He hath bestowed on those who strive ) those who engage in jihad in his way ( a great reward ) an abundant reward in Paradise ( above the sedentary ) who do not have any disabling hurt;

Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward;

Page 94 English transliteration