Surah 4:73
Show Full Scripture Context (4:71-74) — 4 Verses
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ خُذُواْ حِذۡرَكُمۡ فَٱنفِرُواْ ثُبَاتٍ أَوِ ٱنفِرُواْ جَمِيعٗا
You who believe! Take your precautions. Go forth in detachments or go forth all together.
وَإِنَّ مِنكُمۡ لَمَن لَّيُبَطِّئَنَّ فَإِنۡ أَصَٰبَتۡكُم مُّصِيبَةٞ قَالَ قَدۡ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيَّ إِذۡ لَمۡ أَكُن مَّعَهُمۡ شَهِيدٗا
Surely among you (there is) the one indeed who lags behind, and if a smiting smites you, he says, ‘God has blessed me because I was not a martyr with them.’
وَلَئِنۡ أَصَٰبَكُمۡ فَضۡلٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَيَقُولَنَّ كَأَن لَّمۡ تَكُنۢ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَبَيۡنَهُۥ مَوَدَّةٞ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي كُنتُ مَعَهُمۡ فَأَفُوزَ فَوۡزًا عَظِيمٗا
But if indeed some favor from God smites you, he will indeed say – as if there had not been any friendship between you and him – ’Would that I had been with them and attained a great triumph!’
۞فَلۡيُقَٰتِلۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشۡرُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۚ وَمَن يُقَٰتِلۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيُقۡتَلۡ أَوۡ يَغۡلِبۡ فَسَوۡفَ نُؤۡتِيهِ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا
So let those who sell this present life for (the price of) the Hereafter fight in the way of God. Whoever fights in the way of God – whether he is killed or conquers – We shall give him a great reward.
The Necessity of Taking Necessary Precautions Against the Enemy
Allah commands His faithful servants to take precautions against their enemies, by being prepared with the necessary weapons and supplies, and increasing the number of troops fighting in His cause.
{in parties} means, group after group, party after party, and expedition after expedition. ‘Ali bin Talhah reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said that,
{and either go forth in parties} means, “In groups, expedition after expedition,
{or go forth all together}, means, all of you.” Similar was reported from Mujahid, ‘Ikrimah, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, ‘Ata’ Al-Khurrasani, Muqatil bin Hayyan and Khusayf Al-Jazari.
Refraining from Joining Jihad is a Sign of Hypocrites
Allah said,
Mujahid and others said that this Ayah was revealed about the hypocrites. Muqatil bin Hayyan said that,
{linger behind} means, stays behind and does not join Jihad. It is also possible that this person himself lingers behind, while luring others away from joining Jihad. For instance, ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, may Allah curse him, used to linger behind and lure other people to do the same and refrain from joining Jihad, as Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Jarir stated. This is why Allah said about the hypocrite, that when he lingers behind from Jihad, then:
{If a misfortune befalls you} death, martyrdom, or - by Allah’s wisdom - being defeated by the enemy,
meaning, since I did not join them in battle. Because he considers this one of Allah’s favors on him, unaware of the reward that he might have gained from enduring war or martyrdom, if he was killed.
such as victory, triumph and booty,
meaning, as if he was not a follower of your religion,
by being assigned a share of the booty and taking possession of that share. This is his ultimate aim and objective.
The Encouragement to Participation in Jihad
Allah then said,
{So fight} the believer with an aversion (to fighting),
referring to those sell their religion for the meager goods of the world, and they only do this because of their disbelief and lack of faith. Allah then said;
meaning, whoever fights in the cause of Allah, whether he was killed or triumphant, he will earn an immense compensation and a great reward with Allah. The Two Sahihs recorded,
«Allah has guaranteed the Mujahid in His cause that He will either bring death to him, admitting into Paradise; or, He will help him return safely to his home with whatever reward and booty he gained.»
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 2, Page 511-515)