Verse 4:95 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

O ye who believe! when you go forth in the cause of Allah, make proper investigation and say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer.’ You seek the goods of this life, but with Allah are good things in plenty. Such were you before this, but Allah conferred His special favour on you; so do make proper investigation. Surely, Allah is well aware of what you do.

English - Five Volume Translation

O ye who believe! when you go forth in the cause of Allah, [b]make proper investigation and say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer.’ You seek the goods of this life, but with Allah are good things in plenty. Such were you before this, but Allah conferred His favour on you; so do make proper investigation. Surely, Allah is well aware of what you do.[563]

49:7.

Important Words:

السلام (peace) means the Islamic salutation of salam; peace; security; submission, etc. (Aqrab & Lane). See also 2:113, 209; 3:20.

مغانم (good things) is derived from غنم meaning, he got or took spoil, or got a thing as spoil; he acquired or gained a thing without difficulty or inconvenience. غنیمة or مغنم means, spoil, booty or plunder; the acquisition of a thing without difficulty or inconvenience; the thing so acquired; what is obtained from disbelievers in war (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

This verse does not mean that if any person greets a Muslim with the Islamic formula of salutation, he should be regarded as a believer. Many non-Muslims nowadays, and many Jews in the days of the Holy Prophet, greeted Muslims with the prescribed salutation but they cannot be, and indeed never were, regarded as Muslims merely on that ground. What the verse means is that when a people offers peace or shows a peaceful attitude towards Muslims, the latter should respect that attitude and refrain from hostility. The word سلام (peace) may also mean submission or security. Similarly, the word مومن (believer) may also be rendered as giver of security or offerer or afforder of peace.

The word مغانم (good things) does not mean only the spoils of war. It also means the good things of the world. In Bukhari(ch. on Tafsir) we have لحق ناس من المسلمین رجلا معه غنیمة له i.e. "some of the Muslims met a man who had with him some good things belonging to him." As explained under Important Words, any thing acquired without difficulty is also غنیمه.

The words کذالك کنتم (such were you) embody a very strong appeal to both sentiment and reason. The expression signifies that, like disbelievers, Muslims too were disbelievers at first, but God gave them time and opportunity and they were at last able to see the truth. So they should be patient with, and lenient to, others and give them time, so that they too may ponder over the truth and accept it if they choose.

English - Short Commentary Translation

O ye who believe! when you go forth to fight in the cause of Allah, [a]make proper investigation and say not to any one who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer.’[652] You seek the goods of this life,[653] but with Allah are good things in plenty. Such were you before this, but Allah conferred His special favour on you; so do make proper investigation. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اے وہ لوگو جو ایمان لائے ہو! جب تم اللہ کی راہ میں سفر کر رہے ہو تو اچھی طرح چھان بین کر لیا کرو اور جو تم پر سلام بھیجے اس سے یہ نہ کہا کرو کہ تُو مومن نہیں ہے۔ تم دنیاوی زندگی کے اموال چاہتے ہو تو اللہ کے پاس غنیمت کے کثیر سامان ہیں۔ اس سے پہلے تم اسی طرح ہوا کرتے تھے پھر اللہ نے تم پر فضل کیا۔ پس خوب چھان بین کرلیا کرو۔ یقیناً اللہ اس سے جو تم کرتے ہو بہت باخبر ہے۔

French

Ô croyants ! Quand vous vous mettez en campagne dans la cause d’Allāh, renseignez-vous bien, et ne dites pas à celui qui vous adressera le salut de paix, « Tu n’es pas un croyant. » Vous chercherez les biens de la vie d’ici-bas, alors qu’auprès d’Allāh il y a des biens en abondance. Autrefois vous étiez ainsi, mais Allāh vous a accordé Sa grâce. Aussi donc renseignez-vous bien. Assurément, Allāh est Très-Conscient de ce que vous faites.

German

O die ihr glaubt, wenn ihr auszieht auf Allahs Weg, so stellt erst gehörig Nachforschung an und sagt nicht zu jedem, der euch den Friedensgruß bietet: "Du bist kein Gläubiger." Ihr trachtet nach den Gütern des irdischen Lebens doch bei Allah ist des Guten Fülle. Also waret ihr einst, dann aber hat Allah Seine Huld über euch ergossen; darum stellt erst gehörig Nachforschung an. Siehe, Allah ist eures Tuns wohl kundig.

Chinese

信仰的人啊! 当你们为主道出征时, [d]要做适当的调查, 凡是向你们道祝平安的, 不要对他说: “你不是信仰的人。”[340]你们寻求现时生活的必需品, 但在安拉那里有很多好的东西。从前你们也是这样, 但安拉施给了你们 (特别) 恩惠; 所以你们要做适当的调查。安拉对于你们的一切行为是完全知悉的。

Italian

O voi che credete! Quando vi mettete in viaggio per la causa di Allah, fate adeguate indagini e non dite ad alcuno che vi saluti augurandovi la pace: «Tu non sei un credente.» Voi cercate i beni di questa vita, mentre presso Allah vi è abbondanza di ogni bene. Così eravate prima di ora; tuttavia Allah vi ha concesso il Suo speciale favore; perciò fate adeguate indagini. Certamente Allah sa benissimo ciò che fate.

Spanish

¡Oh vosotros, los que creéis! cuando avancéis por la causa de Al-lah, informaos cuidadosamente y no digáis a quien os saluda con el saludo de la paz: “Tú no eres creyente”. Buscáis las cosas buenas de este mundo, pero es con Al-lah donde hay abundancia e cosas buenas. Así erais antes, pero Al-lah os otorgó Su favor especial; informaos pues cuidadosamente. En verdad, Al-lah es perfectamente consciente de lo que hacéis.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اے ایماندارو! جب تم اللہ کی راہ میں سفر کرو تو چھان بین کر لیا کرو۔اورجو تمہیں سلام کہے اسے (یہ) نہ کہا کرو کہ تو مومن نہیں۔ تم ورلی زندگی[1] کا سامان چاہتے ہو۔ سو اللہ کے پاس بہت سی غنیمتیں ہیں پہلے تم (بھی) ایسے ہی تھے۔ پھر اللہ نے تم پر احسان کیا۔ پس تم پر لازم ہے (کہ) تم چھان بین کر لیا کرو۔ جو کچھ تم کرتے ہو اس سے اللہ یقیناً آگاہ ہے۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

اے لوگو جو ایما ن لائے ہو، جب تم اللہ کی راہ میں جہاد کے لیے نکلو تو دوست دشمن میں تمیز کرو اور جو تمہاری طرف سلام سے تقدیم کرے اُسے فوراً نہ کہہ دو کہ تو مومن نہیں ہے اگر تم دنیوی فائدہ چاہتے ہو تو اللہ کے پاس تمہارے لیے بہت سے اموال غنیمت ہیں آخر اسی حالت میں تم خود بھی تو اس سے پہلے مبتلا رہ چکے ہو، پھر اللہ نے تم پر احسان کیا، لہٰذا تحقیق سے کام لو، جو کچھ تم کرتے ہو اللہ اُس سے باخبر ہے

English - Sahih

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.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اے ایمان والو! جب الله کی راہ میں سفر کرو تو تحقیق کر لیا کرو او جو تم پر سلام کہے اس کو مت کہو کہ مسلمان نہیں ہے تم دنیا کی زندگی کا سامان چاہتے ہو سو الله کے ہاں بہت غنیمتیں ہیں تم بھی تو اس سے پہلے ایسے ہی تھے پھر الله نے تم پر احسان کیا لہذا تحقیق سے کام لیا کرو بے شک الله تمہارے کاموں سے باخبر ہے

English - Talal Itani

O you who believe[d]! When you go forth in (the) way (of) Allah then investigate, and (do) not say to (the one) who offers to you (a greeting of) peace, "You are not a believer," seeking transitory gains (of) the life (of) the world, for with Allah (are) booties abundant. Like that you were from before, then conferred favor Allah upon you; so investigate. Indeed, Allah is of what you do All-Aware.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

d

49:7.

340

一个民族提出和平或向穆斯林表示友善态度时, 后者应该尊重那种态度, 克制敌对行动。而且, 由于麦地那的穆斯林社团在敌对部族的包围之中, 他们受到嘱咐: 凡是以伊斯兰教行礼的方式向他们招呼的人可以推定他是穆斯林, 不经过调查的证明, 不可决定他不是穆斯林。

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

1

یعنی اگر سلام کرنے پر بدظنی کرو اور اسے دھوکے باز قرار دو تو اس کے یہ معنے ہوں گے کہ آخرت پر تم دنیا کو ترجیح دیتے ہو اور چاہتے ہو کہ اسے کافر مُقَاتِل قرار دے کر اس کے اموال پر قبضہ کرلو۔

English - Arberry

O believers, when you are journeying in the path of God, be discriminating, and do not say to him who offers you a greeting, 'Thou art not a believer,' seeking the chance goods of the present life. With God are spoils abundant. So you were aforetime; but God has been gracious to you. So be discriminating; surely God is aware of the things you do.

English - Maududi

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.' 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. Discern, then, for Allah is well aware of what you do.

English - Ahmed Ali

O believers, when you go out on a journey in the way of God, be discreet and do not say to anyone who greets you in peace: "You are not a believer." You desire the gain of earthly life, but there are prizes in plenty with God. You were also like him (an unbeliever) in the past, but God has been gracious to you. So be careful and discreet, for God is aware of what you do.

English - Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! When ye go abroad in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and say not to any one who offers you a salutation: "Thou art none of a believer!" Coveting the perishable goods of this life: with Allah are profits and spoils abundant. Even thus were ye yourselves before, till Allah conferred on you His favours: Therefore carefully investigate. For Allah is well aware of all that ye do.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

b

49:7.

563

Important Words:

السلام (peace) means the Islamic salutation of salam; peace; security; submission, etc. (Aqrab & Lane). See also 2:113, 209; 3:20.

مغانم (good things) is derived from غنم meaning, he got or took spoil, or got a thing as spoil; he acquired or gained a thing without difficulty or inconvenience. غنیمة or مغنم means, spoil, booty or plunder; the acquisition of a thing without difficulty or inconvenience; the thing so acquired; what is obtained from disbelievers in war (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

This verse does not mean that if any person greets a Muslim with the Islamic formula of salutation, he should be regarded as a believer. Many non-Muslims nowadays, and many Jews in the days of the Holy Prophet, greeted Muslims with the prescribed salutation but they cannot be, and indeed never were, regarded as Muslims merely on that ground. What the verse means is that when a people offers peace or shows a peaceful attitude towards Muslims, the latter should respect that attitude and refrain from hostility. The word سلام (peace) may also mean submission or security. Similarly, the word مومن (believer) may also be rendered as giver of security or offerer or afforder of peace.

The word مغانم (good things) does not mean only the spoils of war. It also means the good things of the world. In Bukhari(ch. on Tafsir) we have لحق ناس من المسلمین رجلا معه غنیمة له i.e. "some of the Muslims met a man who had with him some good things belonging to him." As explained under Important Words, any thing acquired without difficulty is also غنیمه.

The words کذالك کنتم (such were you) embody a very strong appeal to both sentiment and reason. The expression signifies that, like disbelievers, Muslims too were disbelievers at first, but God gave them time and opportunity and they were at last able to see the truth. So they should be patient with, and lenient to, others and give them time, so that they too may ponder over the truth and accept it if they choose.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

49:7.

652

When a people offers peace or shows a peaceful attitude towards Muslims, the latter are enjoined to respect that attitude and refrain from hostilities. Moreover, as the Muslim Community at Medina was surrounded by hostile tribes, they were enjoined to presume a person who greeted them with Islamic salutation, to be a Muslim unless proved otherwise by investigation.

653

That is to say, if you hold such a person to be a disbeliever without proper investigation, this would mean that you desire to kill him and take possession of his goods. Such conduct would show that you prefer worldly goods to God’s pleasure.

English - Pickthall

O ye who believe! When ye go forth (to fight) in the way of Allah, be careful to discriminate, and say not unto one who offereth you peace: "Thou art not a believer," seeking the chance profits of this life (so that ye may despoil him). With Allah are plenteous spoils. Even thus (as he now is) were ye before; but Allah hath since then been gracious unto you. Therefore take care to discriminate. Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

O you who believe, when you go forth (to fight) in Allah’s way, make investigation, and say not to any one who offers you salutation, Thou art not a believer, seeking the good of this world’s life. But with Allah there are abundant gains. You too were such before, then Allah conferred a benefit on you; so make investigation. Surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

O ye who believe, when you go forth in the cause of Allah make due investigation, and say not to him who offers you the greeting of peace: Thou art not a believer. You seek the goods of this life, and Allah has good things in plenty. You too were like this before, but Allah conferred His special favour on you; so do make due investigation. Allah is well aware of what you do.

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