Translation of the meanings Ayah 95 Surah An-Nisā’ - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary (in progress) - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 95

لَّا يَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡقَٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ غَيۡرُ أُوْلِي ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلۡمُجَٰهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُجَٰهِدِينَ بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡقَٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةٗۚ وَكُلّٗا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُجَٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡقَٰعِدِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا

(95) They are not equal: those of the Believers who are staying back – except those with hindrances^[953] – and those who strive in the path of Allah with their money and lives. Allah favours those who strive with their money and lives over the inert by a rank^[954] – ˹but˺ to both Allah promises what is most pleasing^[955]; Allah favours those who strive over the staying back with a great reward:

[953] al-Barā’ Ibn ʿĀzib (رضي الله عنه) said about the revelation of this aya: “When: “They are not equal: those of the Believers who are staying back – except those with hindrances – and those who strive in the path of Allah”, came down the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Call so-and-so scribe to me”. The scribe came carrying the inkpot and the tablet (or shoulder blade), and the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: “Write: “They are not equal…”. ʿAbdullāh Ibn Umm Maktūm (رضي الله عنه) said: “Messenger of Allah, I am blind!” Then: ‘except those with hindrances’, was revealed”. (al-Bukhārī: 459, Muslim: 1898). Those people who fall behind and do not join the ranks of fighting Believers are exempted given the validity of their excuses and the sincerity of their hearts (cf. al-Jazā’irī). Jābir Ibn ʿAbdillāh al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه) said: “We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) in a foray and he (ﷺ) said: “Indeed in Madinah are now men who are with you ˹by their hearts˺ no matter what distance you cover or valley you cross. They were held back by illness””, (cf. Muslim: 1911, al-Bukhārī: 2684).
[954] Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever Believes in Allah and His Messenger, keeps up the Prayers and fasts Ramadan, Allah guarantees that He will admit him into Paradise, whether he migrates in the path of Allah, or remains still in the land where he was born”. Those who were with him said: “Messenger of Allah, shall we tell this ˹happy news˺ to people!” He (ﷺ) said: “There are one hundred ranks in Paradise which Allah prepared for those who strive in His path. The distance between one rank and the next is like that between heaven and Earth. When you pray to Allah ˹for Paradise˺ ask Him for al-Firdaws… it is the highest ˹rank˺ in Paradise, above it is the Most Merciful’s Throne, and the rivers of Paradise gush forth from it”. (al-Bukhārī: 7423, Muslim: 1884)
[955] That is Paradise. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī)