The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
It is reported that an individual asked the Prophet to exempt another from going
into battle. ‘Speaks for’ is one of the meanings of shafa
 a as explained by Razi, and it is
more
fitting for the context of urging the believer to fight in God’s cause here. The other
meaning, ‘intercedes’, adopted by most translators does not 
fit with the context.
b
See
4: 94 and Razi’s comment.
The Qur
an
4: 78
58

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88[Believers], why are you divided in two about the hypocrites,
when God Himself has rejected them because of what they have
done? Do you want to guide those God has left to stray? If God leaves
anyone to stray, you [Prophet] will never 
find the way for him. 89They
would dearly like you to reject faith, as they themselves have done, to
be like them. So do not take them as allies until they migrate [to
Medina] for God’s cause. If they turn [on you],
a
then seize and kill
them wherever you encounter them.
b
Take none of them as an ally or
supporter. 
90But as for those who seek refuge with people with whom
you have a treaty, or who come over to you because their hearts shrink
from
fighting against you or against their own people, God could
have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So
if they withdraw and do not 
fight you, and offer you peace, then God
gives you no way against them. 
91You will find others who wish to be
safe from you, and from their own people, but whenever they are back
in a situation where they are tempted [to 
fight you], they succumb to
it. So if they neither withdraw, nor o
ffer you peace, nor restrain
themselves from 
fighting you, seize and kill them wherever you
encounter them: We give you clear authority against such people.
92Never should a believer kill another believer, except by mistake.
If anyone kills a believer by mistake he must free one Muslim slave
and pay compensation to the victim’s relatives, unless they charitably
forgo it; if the victim belonged to a people at war with you but is a
believer, then the compensation is only to free a believing slave; if he
belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty, then compensa-
tion should be handed over to his relatives, and a believing slave set
free. Anyone who lacks the means to do this must fast for two con-
secutive months by way of repentance to God: God is all knowing,
all wise. 
93If anyone kills a believer deliberately, the punishment for
him is Hell, and there he will remain: God is angry with him, and
rejects him, and has prepared a tremendous torment for him. 
94So,
you who believe, be careful when you go to 
fight in God’s way, and
do not say to someone who o
ffers you a greeting of peace, ‘You are
not a believer,’
c
out of desire for the chance gains of this life –
– God
a
That ‘turn with aggression’ is the intended meaning is clear from the context. Cf.
4: 91.
b
See
2: 191.
c
A Muslim killed someone in battle who had given him the Muslim greeting,
thinking that the man was trying to save himself, but the Prophet condemned this.
Women
59
4: 94

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has plenty of gains for you. You yourself were in the same position
[once], but God was gracious to you, so be careful: God is fully
aware of what you do.
95Those believers who stay at home, apart from those with an
incapacity, are not equal to those who commit themselves and their
possessions to striving in God’s way. God has raised such people
to a rank above those who stay at home –
– although He has promised
all believers a good reward, those who strive are favoured with a
tremendous reward above those who stay at home –
–
96high ranks
conferred by Him, as well as forgiveness, and mercy: God is most
forgiving and merciful.
97When the angels take the souls of those who have wronged
themselves,
a
they ask them, ‘What circumstances were you in?’
They reply, ‘We were oppressed in this land,’ and the angels say,
‘But was God’s earth not spacious enough for you to migrate to
some other place?’ These people will have Hell as their refuge, an
evil destination, 
98but not so the truly helpless men, women, and
children who have no means in their power nor any way to leave –
–
99God may well pardon these, for He is most pardoning and most
forgiving. Anyone who migrates for God’s cause will 
find many a
refuge and great plenty in the earth, 
100and if anyone leaves home as
a migrant towards God and His Messenger and is then overtaken by
death, his reward from God is sure. God is most forgiving and most
merciful.
101When you [believers] are travelling in the land, you will not be
blamed for shortening your prayers, if you fear the disbelievers may
harm you: they are your sworn enemies. 
102When you [Prophet] are
with the believers, leading them in prayer, let a group of them stand
up in prayer with you, taking their weapons with them, and when
they have 
finished their prostration, let them take up their positions
at the back. Then let the other group, who have not yet prayed, pray
with you, also on their guard and armed with their weapons: the
disbelievers would dearly like you to be heedless of your weapons
and baggage, in order for them to take you in a single assault. You
will not be blamed if you lay aside your arms when you are overtaken
by heavy rain or illness, but be on your guard. Indeed, God has
prepared a humiliating punishment for the disbelievers. 
103After