4:114 An-Nisaa (The Women)

أي: لا خير في كثير مما يتناجى به الناس ويتخاطبون، وإذا لم يكن فيه خير، فإما لا فائدة فيه كفضول الكلام المباح، وإما شر ومضرة محضة كالكلام المحرم بجميع أنواعه. ثم استثنى تعالى فقال: { إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ ْ} من مال أو علم أو أي نفع كان، بل لعله يدخل فيه العبادات القاصرة كالتسبيح والتحميد ونحوه، كما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: \"إن بكل تسبيحة صدقة، وكل تكبيرة صدقة، وكل تهليلة صدقة، وأمر بالمعروف صدقة، ونهي عن المنكر صدقة، وفي بضع أحدكم صدقة\" الحديث. { أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ ْ} وهو الإحسان والطاعة وكل ما عرف في الشرع والعقل حسنه، وإذا أطلق الأمر بالمعروف من غير أن يقرن بالنهي عن المنكر دخل فيه النهي عن المنكر، وذلك لأن ترك المنهيات من المعروف، وأيضا لا يتم فعل الخير إلا بترك الشر. وأما عند الاقتران فيفسر المعروف بفعل المأمور، والمنكر بترك المنهي. { أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ْ} والإصلاح لا يكون إلا بين متنازعين متخاصمين، والنزاع والخصام والتغاضب يوجب من الشر والفرقة ما لا يمكن حصره، فلذلك حث الشارع على الإصلاح بين الناس في الدماء والأموال والأعراض، بل وفي الأديان كما قال تعالى: { وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ْ} وقال تعالى: { وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ْ} الآية. وقال تعالى: { وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ ْ} والساعي في الإصلاح بين الناس أفضل من القانت بالصلاة والصيام والصدقة، والمصلح لا بد أن يصلح الله سعيه وعمله. كما أن الساعي في الإفساد لا يصلح الله عمله ولا يتم له مقصوده كما قال تعالى: { إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ْ}. فهذه الأشياء حيثما فعلت فهي خير، كما دل على ذلك الاستثناء. ولكن كمال الأجر وتمامه بحسب النية والإخلاص، ولهذا قال: { وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاةِ اللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ْ} فلهذا ينبغي للعبد أن يقصد وجه الله تعالى ويخلص العمل لله في كل وقت وفي كل جزء من أجزاء الخير، ليحصل له بذلك الأجر العظيم، وليتعود الإخلاص فيكون من المخلصين، وليتم له الأجر، سواء تم مقصوده أم لا، لأن النية حصلت واقترن بها ما يمكن من العمل.

يقول تعالى "لا خير في كثير من نجواهم" يعني كلام الناس "إلا من أمر بصدقة أو معروف أو إصلاح بين الناس" أي إلا نجوى من قال ذلك كما جاء في الحديث الذي رواه ابن مردويه حدثنا محمد ابن عبدالله بن ابراهيم حدثنا محمد بن سليمان بن الحارث حدثنا محمد بن زيد بن حنيش قال: دخلنا على سفيان الثوري نعوده فدخل علينا سعيد بن حسان فقال له الثوري الحديث الذي كنت حدثتنيه عن أم صالح ردده علي فقال: حدثتني أم صالح عن صفية بنت شيبة عن أم حبيبة قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " كلام ابن آدم كله عليه لا له إلا ذكر الله عز وجل أو أمر بمعروف أو نهي عن منكر " فقال سفيان: أو ما سمعت الله في كتابه يقول "لا خير في كثير من نجواهم إلا من أمر بصدقة أو معروف أو إصلاح بين الناس" فهو هذا بعينه أو ما سمعت الله يقول "يوم يقوم الروح والملائكة صفا لا يتكلمون إلا من أذن له الرحمن وقال صوابا" فهو هذا بعينه أو ما سمعت الله يقول في كتابه"والعصر إن الإنسان لفي خسر" ألخ فهو هذا بعينه وقد روي هذا الحديث الترمذي وابن ماجه من حديث محمد بن يزيد بن حنيش عن سعيد بن حسان به ولم يذكر أقوال الثوري إلى آخرها ثم قال الترمذي حديث غريب لا يعرف إلا من حديث ابن حنيش قال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا يعقوب حدثنا أبي حدثنا صالح بن كيسان حدثنا محمد بن مسلم بن عبيد الله بن شهاب أن حميد بن عبدالرحمن بن عوف أخبره أن أمه أم كلثوم بنت عقبة أخبرته أنها سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول " ليس الكذاب الذي يصلح بين الناس فينمي خيرا أو يقول خيرا " وقالت لم أسمعه يرخص في شيء مما يقوله الناس إلا في ثلاث: في الحرب والإصلاح بين الناس وحديث الرجل امرأته وحديث المرأة زوجها. قال: وكانت أم كلثوم بنت عقبة من المهاجرات اللاتي بايعن رسول الله صلى اله عليه وسلم وقد رواه الجماعة سوى ابن ماجه من طرق عن الزهري به نحوه قال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا أبو معاوية عن الأعمش عن عمرو بن محمد عن سالم بن أبي الجعد عن أم الدرداء عن أبي الدرداء قال. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ألا أخبركم بأفضل من درجة الصيام والصلاة والصدقة ؟ قالوا بلى يا رسول الله قال " إصلاح ذات البين قال: وفساد ذات البين هى الحالقة " ورواه أبو داود والترمذي من حديث أبي معاوية وقال الترمذي حسن صحيح وقال الحافظ أبو بكر البزار حدثنا محمد بن عبدالرحيم حدثنا شريح بن يونس حدثنا عبدالرحمن بن عبيد الله بن عمر حدثنا أبي عن حميد عن أنس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لأبي أيوب" ألا أدلك على تجارة" قال: بلى يا رسول الله قال " تسعى في إصلاح بين الناس إذا تفاسدوا وتقارب بينهم إذا تباعدوا " ثم قال البزار وعبدالرحمن بن عبدالله العمري لين وقد حدث بأحاديث لم يتابع عليها ولهذا قال "ومن يفعل ذلك ابتغاء مرضات الله "أي مخلصا إلى ذلك محتسبا ثواب ذلك عندالله عز وجل "فسوف نؤتيه أجرا عظيما" أي ثوابا جزيلا كثيرا واسعا.

The Encouragement to Seek Allah's Forgiveness, and Warning those who Falsely Accuse Innocent People

Allah emphasizes His generosity and kindness, in that He forgives whoever repents to Him from whatever evil they commit.Allah said,

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللّهَ يَجِدِ اللّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ١١٠

And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas commented about this Ayah,"Allah informs His servants of His forgiveness, forbearing generosity and expansive mercy. So whoever commits a sin, whether minor or major,

ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللّهَ يَجِدِ اللّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

(but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful), even if his sins were greater than the heavens, the earth and the mountains."Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali said,

"Whenever I hear anything from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Allah benefits me with whatever He wills of that. Abu Bakr told me, and Abu Bakr has said the truth, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يُذْنِبُ ذَنْبًا، ثُمَّ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِذلِكَ الذَّنْبِ، إِلَّا غَفَرَ لَه

No Muslim commits a sin and then performs ablution, prays two Rak`ahs and begs Allah for forgiveness for that sin, but He forgives him.He then recited these two Ayat, وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ (And whoever does evil or wrongs himself), (4:110) and, وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُواْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ (And those who, when they have committed Fahishah or wronged themselves with evil)." (3:135)Allah's statement,

وَمَن يَكْسِبْ إِثْمًا فَإِنَّمَا يَكْسِبُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ ...

And whoever earns sin, he earns it only against himself.is similar to His statement,

وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى

And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. (35:18)So no one will avail anyone else. Rather, every soul, and none else, shall carry its own burden.This is why Allah said,

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ١١١

And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.meaning, this occurs due to His knowledge, wisdom, fairness and mercy.

وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئًا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا ١١٢

And whoever earns a fault or a sin and then blames it on someone innocent, he has indeed burdened himself with falsehood and a manifest sin.

وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَهَمَّت طَّآئِفَةٌ مُّنْهُمْ أَن يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلاُّ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِن شَيْءٍ وَأَنزَلَ اللّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ ...

Had not the grace of Allah and His mercy been upon you, a party of them would certainly have made a decision to mislead you, but they mislead none except their own selves, and no harm can they do to you in the least. Allah has sent down to you the Book, and the Hikmah,

.... وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ ...

and taught you that which you knew not,before this revelation was sent down to you.Similarly, Allah said,

وَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِى مَا الْكِتَـبُ

And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad) a Ruh (a revelation, and a mercy) of Our command. You knew not what is the Book) until the end of the Surah. (42:52-53)Allah said,

وَمَا كُنتَ تَرْجُو أَن يُلْقَى إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبُ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ

And you were not expecting that the Book (this Qur'an) would be sent down to you, but it is a mercy from your Lord. (28:86)So Allah said;

... وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا ١١٣

And ever great is the grace of Allah unto you (O Muhammad).

Righteous Najwa, Secret Talk

Allah said,

لاَّ خَيْرَ فِى كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ

(There is no good in most of their secret talks) meaning, what the people say to each other.

إِلاَّ مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَـحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

(save him who orders Sadaqah (charity), or goodness, or reconciliation between mankind;) meaning, except for this type of talk. Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Kulthum bint `Uqbah said that she heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying,

«لَيْسَ الْكَذَّابُ الَّذِي يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَيَنْمِي خَيْرًا، أَوْ يَقُولُ خَيْرًا»

(He who brings about reconciliation between people by embellishing good or saying good things, is not a liar.) She also said, "I never heard him allow what the people say (lies) except in three cases: in war, bringing peace between people and the man's speech (invented compliments) to his wife and her speech to her husband." Umm Kulthum bint `Uqbah was among the immigrant women who gave their pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Group also recorded this Hadith, with the exception of Ibn Majah. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ دَرَجَةِ الصِّيَامِ، وَالصَّلَاةِ، وَالصَّدَقَةِ؟»

(Should I tell you what is better than the grade of fasting, praying and Sadaqah) They said, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger!" He said,

«إِصْلَاحُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْن»

(Bringing reconciliation between people.) He also said,

«وَفَسَادُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ هِيَ الْحَالِقَة»

(Spoiling the relationship (between people) is the destroyer.) Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih". Allah said,

وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذلِكَ ابْتَغَآءَ مَرْضَـتِ اللَّهِ

(and he who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah,) with sincerity and awaiting the reward with Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored,

فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْراً عَظِيماً

(We shall give him a great reward.) meaning, an immense, enormous and tremendous reward.

The Punishment for Contradicting and Opposing the Messenger ﷺ and Following a Path Other than That of the Believers

Allah's statement,

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى

(And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him.) refers to whoever intentionally takes a path other than the path of the Law revealed to the Messenger, after the truth has been made clear, apparent and plain to him. Allah's statement,

وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(and follows other than the believers' way,) refers to a type of conduct that is closely related to contradicting the Messenger ﷺ. This contradiction could be in the form of contradicting a text (from the Qur'an or Sunnah) or contradicting what the Ummah of Muhammad has agreed on. The Ummah of Muhammad is immune from error when they all agree on something, a miracle that serves to increase their honor, due to the greatness of their Prophet. There are many authentic Hadiths on this subject. Allah warned against the evil of contradicting the Prophet and his Ummah, when He said,

نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيراً

(We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell --- what an evil destination!) meaning, when one goes on this wicked path, We will punish him by making the evil path appear good in his heart, and will beautify it for him so that he is tempted further. For instance, Allah said,

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

(Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not),

فَلَمَّا زَاغُواْ أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ

(So when they turned away (from the path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away), and,

وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

(And We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly). Allah made the Fire the destination of such people in the Hereafter. Indeed, the path of those who avoid the right guidance will only lead to the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, as evident by Allah's statements,

احْشُرُواْ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَأَزْوَجَهُمْ

((It will be said to the angels): "Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions (from the devils)), and,

وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُواْ عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا

(And the criminals, shall see the Fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein. And they will find no way of escape from there).

There is no good in much of their that is of people’s secret conversations that is what they converse and talk secretly about except for the secret talk of he who enjoins to voluntary almsgiving or kindness a righteous deed or setting things right between people. And whoever does that the aforementioned desiring seeking God’s good pleasure and nothing else of the affairs of this world We shall surely give him read nu’tīhi or yu’tīhi ‘He will give him’ that is ‘God will give him’ a great wage.

Sequence

Moving from the episode of theft and the conspiracies made to cover up the crime by false accusations against others, the text now highlights positive things that can be done through mutual consultation and which could help one to remain obedient to the Messenger's teachings and the command of Allah without ever trying to go against the ideal path taken by those who believe in Allah and His Messenger.

Commentary

In the first part of the verse لَّا خَيْرَ‌ فِي كَثِيرٍ‌ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ translated as 'there is no good in most of their whisperings..', it has been declared that most talks people hold and plans they make to ensure transitory worldly gains, while unmindful of the concerns of their life-to-come, are devoid of good.

The second part: إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ‌ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُ‌وفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ means that real good can come forth from mutual consultations only when people persuade each other to take part in charitable activities or ask people to do what is good and right or tell them to make peace between one another. It is said in a hadith that anything one says is harmful for him in one way or the other unless, of course, the subject of his utterance is the remembrance of Allah or that he is bidding the Fair and forbidding the Unfair.

Bidding the Fair stands for اَمَر باِلمَعرُف Amr bi al-Ma` ruf which refers to every action considered good in the Shari` ah and is patently recognized as such by those who know it. In contrast, there is the forbidding of the Unfair which stands for Nahy ` an al-Munkar which refers to every action considered undesirable in the Shari` ah and is squarely unrecognized and unfamiliar to those who know it.

Bidding the Fair includes all imperatives and motivations through which people are led to do what is good and right. Things like helping the oppressed, assisting the needy with loans, guiding the lost, all fall under this broad category. Though, charity and reconciliation between people are also part of this definition, but they have been taken up separately because their benefit reaches from one to another and improves the collective life of a community.

In addition to that, these two fields of activity cover what is most essential about public service. They seek to bring benefit to Allah's creation and they protect people against pain and loss. Charity spreads out benefits to people and reconciliation between them stops mutual pain and loss. Therefore, according to a consensus of the scholars of Tafsir, the word Sadaqah (charity) used here carries a general sense which includes the obligatory zakah, voluntary charities and everything done to bring benefit to someone.

The Graces of Making Peace

The Holy Prophet has spoken highly about the merit of removing mutual bickerings among people and of bringing them to understand, accommodate and cooperate with each other. He said:

"Shall I not tell you about an act which is far superior in rank to fasting, prayers and charity? The Companions submitted, Please do.' He, then, said: "That act is the removal of discord. That is, to remove bickering between two persons, make peace between them and thus eliminate discord."

He has also said: فساد ذات البین ھی الحالقہ "Mutual discord among people is what really shaves." Then, he explained it by saying: "This discord does not shave the head, but it shaves off one's faith."

In the concluding part of the verse (114), there appears a significant reminder that these good deeds to bid charity and fair action or a reconciliation among people can only be worthwhile and acceptable when they are undertaken sincerely, and exclusively for the pleasure of Allah, without any traces of personal or material interest.

No good is there in much of their whispering, except for him who bids to charity, or the honorable, or making things wholesome among the people. Whosoever does this, seeking God's approval, We shall give him a tremendous wage. The best deeds of the servants are the three things in this verse: charity, the honorable, and making things wholesome among the people. The good in this verse is not specified for one individual, but rather its profit reaches others. The wonder is not that you should open a door for yourself, the wonder and chivalry are that you should open a door to yourself for another. Pir Bū ʿAlī Siyāh said, “So what if you make yourself happy? The work is done by making someone else happy.” MuṣṬafā alluded to this: “The worst of men is he who eats alone.” As for charity, it is of three sorts: with possessions, with the body, and with the heart. Char- ity with possessions is giving comfort to the poor by expending blessings. Charity with the body is undertaking for them the duty of service. Charity with the heart is being loyal to the beauty of intention and the consolidation of aspiration. This is charity toward the poor. There is also charity toward the rich. It is that you act with munificence toward them and do not expose your need to them; you take back your hope from their charitable gifts and do not covet anything from them. When charity, the honorable, and making things wholesome come together in someone, from head to foot he becomes veneration itself, the oyster shell for the mysteries of lordhood, and he is accepted by those who bear witness to the divinity. His name is given out as “sincerely truthful,” and tomorrow he will be gathered up along with the sincerely truthful. This is the great wage that the Exalted Lord has promised: “We shall give him a tremendous wage.”