Verse 4:87 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And when you are greeted with a prayer, greet ye with a better prayer or at least return it. Surely, Allah takes account of all things.

English - Five Volume Translation

And when you are greeted with a prayer, greet ye with a better prayer or at least return it. Surely, Allah takes account of all things.[555]

Important Words:

حییتم (when you are greeted) and تحیة (prayer) and حیوا are all derived from حیی i.e. he lived or he had life; or he was or became in good condition. حیاہ means, he greeted him with a prayer for long and good life; or he prayed for his life; or simply he prayed for him. حیاك الله means, may God prolong thy life or preserve thy life; or may He make thy life free from harm and evil; or may He honour thee and bestow favour on thee; or may He grant thee dominion and kingship. حیاہ بتحیة المؤمن means, he greeted him with the usual greetings of a believer, i.e. said السلام علیکم to him viz. peace be on you. تحیة means greeting or salutation or benediction; endless or everlasting life; freedom and security from all evils; also dominion and kingship (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse, besides being general in its significance, also draws the attention of Muslim to the great boons and blessings that have come to them through the Holy Prophet and tells them that they are now morally bound to return the good they have received, by helping him to the best of their power in the furtherance of the cause he holds so dear. This would be a token of gratitude for the numerous and manifold divine favours received by them through him. The Prophet’s message of life was a greeting on his part, so let the Faithful respond to it in a befitting manner.

The verse also enjoins on Muslims that they should greet and return each other’s greeting in a most becoming manner when they meet. This is a social and moral duty, the neglect of which will render one guilty of it accountable before God, as the concluding words of the verse point out.

The usual formula of greeting prescribed by Islam is السلام علیکم i.e. "peace be on you", to which are often added the words ورحمة الله وبرکاته "and God’s mercy and His blessings." Pious Muslims would often add to the formula some additional prayer in compliance with the injunction, greet ye with a better prayer or at least return it. But the verse is much more general in its significance and extends to all forms of greetings, wishes, prayers, etc.

The words, return it, signify that if one cannot respond with a better greeting, one should at least respond with a similar one.

English - Short Commentary Translation

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better greeting or at least return it.[643] Surely, Allah takes account of all things.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور اگرتمہیں کوئی خیرسگالی کا تحفہ پیش کیا جائے تو اس سے بہتر پیش کیا کرو یا وہی لَوٹا دو۔ یقیناً اللہ ہر چیز کا حساب لینے والا ہے۔

French

Et lorsqu’on vous salue d’une prière, saluez d’une prière meilleure ou tout au moins retournez-la. En vérité Allāh tient compte de tout.

German

Und wenn ihr mit einem Glückwunsch gegrüßt werdet, so grüßet mit einem schöneren wieder oder gebt ihn (wenigstens) zurück. Siehe, Allah führt Rechenschaft über alle Dinge.

Chinese

当别人为你们祷祝时, 你们要为他做更好的祷祝, 或者 (至少)做同样的祷祝。安拉对于一切事物都确是有计算的。

Italian

E quando vieni accolto con una preghiera, rispondi con una preghiera migliore o almeno rendila nella stessa misura. Certamente, Allah tiene conto di tutte le cose. *

Spanish

Si recibís una expresión de amistad devolvedla en la misma medida, o incluso mayor. Ciertamente, Al-lah tiene en cuenta todas las cosas.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور جب تمہیں کوئی دعا دی جائے تو تم اس سے اچھی دعا دو یا (کم سے کم) اسی کو لوٹا دو۔ اللہ یقیناً ہر ایک امر کا حساب لینے والا ہے۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

اور جب کوئی احترام کے ساتھ تمہیں سلام کرے تو اس کو اس سے بہتر طریقہ کے ساتھ جواب دو یا کم از کم اُسی طرح، اللہ ہر چیز کا حساب لینے والا ہے

English - Sahih

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور جب تمہیں کوئی دعا دے تو تم اس سے بہتر دعا دو یا الٹ کر ویسی ہی کہو بے شک الله ہر چیز کا حساب لینے والا ہے

English - Talal Itani

And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with better than it or return it. Indeed, Allah is of every thing an Accountant.

Chinese Commentary ^*

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

And when you are greeted with a greeting greet with a fairer than it, or return it; surely God keeps a watchful count over everything.

English - Maududi

When you are greeted with a salutation then return it with a better one, or at least the same. Surely Allah takes good count of everything.

English - Ahmed Ali

When you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with one fairer, or repeat the same greeting. For God takes account of all things.

English - Yusuf Ali

When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

555

Important Words:

حییتم (when you are greeted) and تحیة (prayer) and حیوا are all derived from حیی i.e. he lived or he had life; or he was or became in good condition. حیاہ means, he greeted him with a prayer for long and good life; or he prayed for his life; or simply he prayed for him. حیاك الله means, may God prolong thy life or preserve thy life; or may He make thy life free from harm and evil; or may He honour thee and bestow favour on thee; or may He grant thee dominion and kingship. حیاہ بتحیة المؤمن means, he greeted him with the usual greetings of a believer, i.e. said السلام علیکم to him viz. peace be on you. تحیة means greeting or salutation or benediction; endless or everlasting life; freedom and security from all evils; also dominion and kingship (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse, besides being general in its significance, also draws the attention of Muslim to the great boons and blessings that have come to them through the Holy Prophet and tells them that they are now morally bound to return the good they have received, by helping him to the best of their power in the furtherance of the cause he holds so dear. This would be a token of gratitude for the numerous and manifold divine favours received by them through him. The Prophet’s message of life was a greeting on his part, so let the Faithful respond to it in a befitting manner.

The verse also enjoins on Muslims that they should greet and return each other’s greeting in a most becoming manner when they meet. This is a social and moral duty, the neglect of which will render one guilty of it accountable before God, as the concluding words of the verse point out.

The usual formula of greeting prescribed by Islam is السلام علیکم i.e. "peace be on you", to which are often added the words ورحمة الله وبرکاته "and God’s mercy and His blessings." Pious Muslims would often add to the formula some additional prayer in compliance with the injunction, greet ye with a better prayer or at least return it. But the verse is much more general in its significance and extends to all forms of greetings, wishes, prayers, etc.

The words, return it, signify that if one cannot respond with a better greeting, one should at least respond with a similar one.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

643

The verse points to a social duty.

English - Pickthall

When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it, or return it. Surely Allah ever takes account of all things.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

When you are greeted with a salutation greet with a better salutation, or return the same. Surely, Allah takes account of all things.

Verse 87

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