Surah 4:84
Show Full Scripture Context (4:84) — 1 Verse
فَقَٰتِلۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفۡسَكَۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأۡسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأۡسٗا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلٗا
Fight in the way of God! You are only responsible for yourself, but urge on the believers. It may be that God will restrain the violence of those who disbelieve. God is harsher in violence, and harsher in punishing.
Abu Said liked these words and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Repeat them for me.” The Prophet repeated his words, then said.
«And (there is) another deed far which Allah raises the servant a hundred grades in Paradise, between each two grades is the distance behoeen heaven and Earth.»
Abu Said said, “What is it, O Allah’s Messenger?” He said,
«Jihad in Allah's cause.» This Hadith was collected by Muslim.
Allah’s statement,
<it may be that Allah will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers.>
means, by your encouraging them to fight, their resolve will be strengthened to meet the enemy in battle, to defend Islam and its people and to endure and be patient against the enemy. Allah’s statement,
<And Allah is Stronger in might and Stronger in punishing.>
means, He is able over them in this life and the Hereafter, just as He said in another Ayah,
<But if it had been Allah's will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others} (47:4).
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 3, Page 533)