Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 36

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Worship Allah, and do not associate with Him anything, and be good to parents and to kinsmen and orphans and the needy and the close neighbor and the distant neighbor and the companion at your side and the wayfarer and to those (slaves who are) owned by you. Surely, Allah does not like those who are arrogant, proud,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, close friends, ˹needy˺ travellers, and those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful—

Ruwwad Translation Center

Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him. Be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, near and distant neighbors, close friends, wayfarers, and slaves whom you own. For Allah does not like those who are arrogant, boastful,

A. J. Arberry

Serve God, and associate naught with Him. Be kind to parents, and the near kinsman, and to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbour who is of kin, and to the neighbour who is a stranger, and to the companion at your side, and to the traveller, and to that your right hands own. Surely God loves not the proud and boastful

Abdul Haleem

Worship God; join nothing with Him. Be good to your parents, to relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to neighbours near and far, to travellers in need, and to your slaves. God does not like arrogant, boastful people,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And worship Allah and associate not aught with Him; and unto parents show kindness, and also unto kindred and orphans and the needy and the near neighbour and the distant neighbour and the companion by your side and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands own Verily Allah loveth not one who is vainglorious, boaster-

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess; For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;-

Abul Ala Maududi

Serve Allah and ascribe no partner to Him. Do good to your parents, to near of kin, to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbour who is of kin and to the neighbour who is a stranger, and to the companion by your side, and to the wayfarer, and to those whom your right hands possess. Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful,

Ahmed Ali

Pay homage to God, and make none His compeer, and be good to your parents and relatives, the orphans and the needy and the neighbours who are your relatives, and the neighbours who are strangers, and the friend by your side, the traveller and your servants and subordinates. God does not surely love those who are arrogant and boastful,

Ahmed Raza Khan

And worship Allah and do not ascribe any partner to Him, and be good to parents, and to relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the related neighbour and the unrelated neighbour, and the close companion and the traveller; and your bondwomen; indeed Allah does not like any boastful, proud person. –

Ali Quli Qarai

Worship Allah and do not ascribe any partners to Him, and be good to parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the near neighbour and the distant neighbour, the companion at your side, the traveller, and your slaves. Indeed Allah does not like those who are arrogant and boastful.

Ali Ünal

And (as the essential basis of contentment in individual, family and social life,) worship God and do not associate anything as a partner with Him; and do good to your parents in the best way possible, and to the relatives, orphans, the destitute, the neighbor who is near (in kinship, location, faith), the neighbor who is distant (in kinship and faith), the companion by your side (on the way, in the family, in the workplace, etc.), the wayfarer, and those who are in your service. (Treat them well and bring yourself up to this end, for) God does not love those who are conceited and boastful;

Amatul Rahman Omar

And worship Allâh and associate naught with Him, and be good to parents and near of kin and orphans and the needy and to the neighbour who is related to you and the neighbour who is an alien and to the companion by (your) side and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess. Surely, Allâh does not love those who are arrogant, (and) boastful.

English Literal

And worship God and do not share/make partners with Him a thing, and with the parents a goodness, and with of the relatives, and the orphans, and the poorest of poor/poor oppressed, and the neighbour of the relations/near, and the neighbour the distant/foreign, and the companion/friend with the side (close), and the traveler/stranded traveler, and what your rights owned; that God does not love/like who was/is a conceited/arrogant, proud/arrogant.

Faridul Haque

And worship Allah and do not ascribe any partner to Him, and be good to parents, and to relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the related neighbour and the unrelated neighbour, and the close companion and the traveller; and your bondwomen; indeed Allah does not like any boastful, proud person. -

Hamid S. Aziz

And for those who expend their wealth in alms for appearance sake before men, and who believe not in Allah nor in the last day. Whoever takes Satan for his mate, an evil mate has he.

Hilali & Khan

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful;

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And if you fear a breach between the two, appoint an arbiter from his people and an arbiter from her people. If they both desire agreement, Allah will effect harmony between them. Surely Allah is ever Knowing, Aware.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And serve Allah and do not associate any thing with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful;

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And serve Allah. Ascribe no thing as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbour who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful,

Muhammad Sarwar

Worship God and consider no one equal to Him. Be kind to your parents, relatives, orphans, the destitute, your near and distant neighbors, your companions, wayfarers, and your slaves. God does not love the proud and boastful ones,

Qaribullah & Darwish

Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be kind to parents and near kinsmen, to the orphans and to the needy, to your neighbor who is your kindred, and to the neighbor at your far side, and the companion at your side, and to the destitute traveler, and to that which your right hands owns. Allah does not love he who is proud and struts,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful.

Wahiduddin Khan

Worship God: and do not associate partners with Him. Be good to your parents, to relatives, to orphans, to the needy, and the neighbour who is a kinsman, and the neighbour who is not related to you and your companions and the wayfarers and those whom you rightfully possess. God does not like arrogant, boastful people,

Talal Itani

Worship God, and ascribe no partners to Him, and be good to the parents, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the poor, and the neighbor next door, and the distant neighbor, and the close associate, and the traveler, and your servants. God does not love the arrogant showoff.

Tafsir jalalayn

And worship God, declare His Oneness, and associate nothing with Him. Be kind to parents, being dutiful and gentle-mannered, and near kindred, and to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbour who is near, to you in terms of [physical] vicinity or kinship, and to the neighbour who is a stranger, the one far from you in terms of [physical] vicinity or kinship; and to the friend at your side, a travelling companion, or a colleague at work, and, it is also said, one's wife; and to the wayfarer, the one cut off during a journey, and to what your right hands own, of bondsmen. Surely God loves not the conceited, the arrogant, and the boastful, [the one who boasts] before people of what he has been given.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Order to Worship Allah Alone and to Be Dutiful to Parents

Allah says;

وَاعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْيًا

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship,

Allah orders that He be worshipped Alone without partners, because He Alone is the Creator and Sustainer Who sends His favors and bounties on His creation in all situations and instances. Therefore He deserves to be singled out, without associating anything or anyone from His creation with Him in worship.

Indeed, the Prophet said to Mu`adh,

أَتَدْرِي مَا حَقُّ اللهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ



Do you know what Allah's right on His servants is?

Mu`adh replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better."

He said,

أنْ يَعْبُدُوهُ وَلَا يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْيًا

That they should worship Him and should not worship any others with Him.

The Prophet then said,

أَتَدْرِي مَا حَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللهِ إِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ
أَنْ لَاأ يُعَذِّبَهُم

Do you know what the right of the servants on Allah is if they do this He should not punish them.

وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا

and do good to parents,

Allah commands the servants to be dutiful to their parents, for Allah made parents the reason for the servants to come to existence, after they did not exist.

Allah joins the order to worship Him with being dutiful to parents in many places. For example, He said,

أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَلِدَيْكَ

give thanks to Me and to your parents, (31;14)

and,

وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّـهُ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents). (17;23)

After Allah ordained being dutiful to parents, He ordained kind treatment of relatives, males and females.

وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَى

kinsfolk,

A Hadith states,

الصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى الْمِسْكِينِ صَدَقَةٌ وَعَلى ذِي الرَّحِمِ صَدَقَةٌ وَصِلَة

Charity given to the poor is Sadaqah, while charity given to relatives is both Sadaqah and Silah (keeping the relations).

Allah then said,

وَالْيَتَامَى

orphans,

because they lost their caretakers who would spend on them. So Allah commands that the orphans be treated with kindness and compassion.

Allah then said,

وَالْمَسَاكِينِ
Al-Masakin (the poor),

who have various needs and cannot find what sustains these needs. Therefore, Allah commands they should be helped in acquiring their needs in a sufficient manner that will end their inadequacy.

We will further elaborate on the matter of the destitute and the poor in Surah Bara'h (9;60).
The Right of the Neighbor

Allah said,

وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ

the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger

Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas said that

وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى
(the neighbor who is near of kin) means,

"The neighbor who is also a relative,"

while,
وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ
(The neighbor who is a stranger) means,

"Who is not a relative."

It was also reported that Ikrimah, Mujahid, Maymun bin Mihran, Ad-Dahhak, Zayd bin Aslam, Muqatil bin Hayyan and Qatadah said similarly.

Mujahid was also reported to have said that Allah's statement,
وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ
(the neighbor who is a stranger) means,

"The companion during travel."

There are many Hadiths that command kind treatment to the neighbors, and we will mention some of them here with Allah's help.

The First Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَازَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُه

Jibril kept reminding of the neighbor's right, until I thought that he was going to give him a share of the inheritance.

The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith.

The Second Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَازَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُه

Jibril kept reminding me of the neighbor's right, until I thought he was going to appoint a share of the inheritance for him.

Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith, which At-Tirmidhi said was "Hasan Gharib through this route."

The Third Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the Prophet said,

خَيْرُ الاَْصْحَابِ عِنْدَ اللهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَخَيْرُ الْجِيرَانِ عِنْدَ اللهِ خَيْرُهُمْ لِجَارِه

The best companions according to Allah are those who are the best with their friends, and the best neighbors according to Allah are the best with their neighbors.

At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith and said, "Hasan Gharib".

The Fourth Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad said that the Messenger of Allah asked his Companions,

مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي الزِّنَا



What do you say about adultery?

They said, "It is prohibited, for Allah and His Messenger have prohibited it. So it is forbidden until the Day of Resurrection."

The Messenger of Allah said,

لَاأَنْ يَزْنِيَ الرَّجُلُ بِعَشْرِ نِسْوَةٍ أَيْسَرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ بِامْرَأَةِ جَارِه

For a man to commit adultery with his neighbor's wife is worse than if he commits adultery with ten women.

He then said,

مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي السَّرِقَةِ


What do you say about theft?

They said, "It is prohibited, for Allah and His Messenger prohibited it."

He said,

لَاأَنْ يَسْرِقَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ عَشْرَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ أَيْسَرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْرِقَ مِنْ جَارِه

If a man steals from his neighbor, it is worse for him than stealing from ten homes.

Only Ahmad recorded this Hadith.

A similar Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs, Ibn Mas`ud said,

"I asked, `O Allah's Messenger! What is the greatest sin?'

He said,

أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك

To make a rival for Allah while He Alone created you.

I said, `Then.'

He said,

أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَك

To kill your offspring for fear that he might share your food with you.

I said, `Then.'

He said,

أَنْ تُزَانِيَ حَلِيلَةَ جَارِك

To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife."

The Fifth Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that,

Aishah asked the Messenger of Allah, "I have two neighbors, so whom among them should I give my gift?"

He said,

إِلى أَقْرَبِهِمَا مِنْكِ بَابًا

The neighbor whose door is the closest to you.

Al-Bukhari narrated this Hadith.

We will elaborate on this subject in the Tafsir of Surah Bara'h, Allah willing and upon Him we depend.

وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ

the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet),
Being Kind to Slaves and Servants

Allah said,

وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ

and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess,

this is an order to be kind to them because they are weak, being held as captives by others.

An authentic Hadith records that;

during the illness that preceded his death, the Messenger of Allah continued advising his Ummah;

الصَّلَةَ الصَّلَةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم

(Protect) the prayer, (protect) the prayer, and (those slaves) whom your hands possess.

He was repeating it until his tongue was still.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Miqdam bin Ma`dykarib said that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَا أَطْعَمْتَ نَفْسَكَ فَهُوَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ

وَمَا أَطْعَمْتَ وَلَدَكَ فَهُوَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ

وَمَا أَطْعَمْتَ زَوْجَتَكَ فَهُوَ لَكَ صَدَقَةٌ

وَمَا أَطْعَمْتَ خَادِمَكَ فَهُوَ لَكَ صَدَقَة

What you feed yourself is a Sadaqah (charity) for you,

what you feed your children is Sadaqah for you,

what you feed your wife is Sadaqah for you,

what you feed your servant is Sadaqah for you.

An-Nasa'i recorded this Hadith which has an authentic chain of narration, all the thanks are due to Allah. `

Abdullah bin `Amr said to a caretaker of his,

"Did you give the slaves their food yet?"

He said, "No."

Ibn `Amr said, "Go and give it to them, for the Messenger of Allah said,

كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْمًا أَنْ يَحْبِسَ عَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ قُوتَهُم

It is enough sin for someone to prevent whomever he is responsible for from getting their food. "

Muslim recorded this Hadith.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said,

لِلْمَمْلُوكِ طَعَامُهُ وَكِسْوَتُهُ وَلَا يُكَلَّفُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ إِلاَّ مَا يُطِيق

The slave has the right to have food, clothing and to only be required to perform what he can bear of work.

Muslim also recorded this Hadith.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said,

إِذَا أَتَى أَحَدَكُمْ خَادِمُهُ بِطَعَامِه فَإِنْ لَمْ يُجْلِسْهُ مَعَهُ فَلْيُنَاوِلْهُ لُقْمَةً أَوْ لُقْمَتَيْنِ أَوْ أُكْلَةً أَوْ أُكْلتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ وَلِيَ حَرَّهُ وَعِلَجَه

When your servant brings meals to one of you, if he does not let him sit and share the meal, then he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or a meal or two, for he has prepared it.

This is the wording collected by Al-Bukhari.
Allah Does Not Like the Arrogant

Allah said,

إِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالاً فَخُورًا



Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful.

meaning, one who is proud and arrogant, insolent and boasts to others. He thinks that he is better than other people, thus thinking high of himself, even though he is insignificant to Allah and hated by people.

Mujahid said that;

Allah's statement,
إِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالاً
(Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud) means arrogant, while,
فَخُورًا
(boastful) means boasting about what he has, while he does not thank Allah.

This Ayah indicates that such a person boasts with people about the bounty that Allah has given him, but he is actually ungrateful to Allah for this bounty.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Abdullah bin Waqid Abu Raja Al-Harawi said,

"You will find that those who are mean are also proud and boasting. He then recited,
وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ
(and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess).

You will find that he who is undutiful (to parents) is also arrogant, and deprived. He then recited,
وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَتِي وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا
(And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, deprived). (19;32)

Once a man asked the Prophet,

"O Messenger of Allah, advise me.'

The Prophet said,

إيَّاكَ وَإِسْبَالَ الاِْزَارِ فَإِنَّ إِسْبَالَ الاِْزَارِ مِنَ الْمَخِيلَةِ وَإِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمَخِيلَة

Avoid lengthening the dress (below the ankles), for this practice is from arrogance. Verily, Allah does not like arrogance.