Translation of the meanings Ayah 4 Surah Muhammad - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 4

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرۡبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثۡخَنتُمُوهُمۡ فَشُدُّواْ ٱلۡوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنَّۢا بَعۡدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلۡحَرۡبُ أَوۡزَارَهَاۚ ذَٰلِكَۖ وَلَوۡ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَاْ بَعۡضَكُم بِبَعۡضٖۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ

4. So, when you encounter the disbelievers (in battle), smite 'their' necks until when you have thoroughly subdued them, then bind firmly the bond (on them), and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom themselves until the war ends (and peace prevails). That is (Our command). If Allāh had willed, He could have taken retribution from them, but to test some of you by means of others. And those who have been killed in the Cause of Allāh, never will He render their (good) deeds void.