Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 81

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They say, “Obedience (we observe).” But when they go away from you, a group of them conspires at night contrary to what they say. Allah records what they conspire. So ignore them and put your trust in Allah. Allah is enough to trust in.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And they say, “We obey,” but when they leave you, a group of them would spend the night contradicting what they said. Allah records all their schemes. So turn away from them, and put your trust in Allah. And Allah is sufficient as a Trustee of Affairs.

Ruwwad Translation Center

They say, “We obey you,” but as soon as they leave you, a group of them conspires by night against what you say. Allah records all their plots, so turn away from them, and put your trust in Allah. And sufficient is Allah as a Trustee of Affairs.

A. J. Arberry

They say, 'Obedience'; but when they sally forth from thee, a party of them meditate all night on other than what thou sayest. God writes down their meditations; so turn away from them, and put thy trust in God; God suffices for a guardian.

Abdul Haleem

They say, ‘We obey you,’ but as soon as they leave your presence, some of them scheme by night to do other than what you said. God records what they scheme, so leave them alone, and put your trust in God: He is sufficient protector.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they say: Obedience. Then when they so forth from before thee, a part of them plan together by night other than they had said: and Allah writeth down that which they plan by night. Wherefore turn thou from them and trust in Allah and sufficeth Allah as a Trustee.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They have "Obedience" on their lips; but when they leave thee, a section of them Meditate all night on things very different from what thou tellest them. But Allah records their nightly (plots); So keep clear of them, and put thy trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs.

Abul Ala Maududi

They say (in your presence): 'We obey', but when they leave your presence a party of them meets by night to plan against what you have said. Allah takes note of all their plots. So, let them alone, and put your trust in Allah. Allah is sufficient as a guardian.

Ahmed Ali

They say: "We obey;" but when they leave your company, a section of them discuss at night other things than you had said; but God takes note of what they discuss. So turn aside from them and trust in God; and God is sufficient as protector.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And they say, “We have obeyed”; and when they go away from you, a group of them spend the night conspiring against what they had said; and Allah records what they conspired by night; therefore O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) avoid them and rely upon Allah; and Allah is Sufficient as a Trustee (of affairs).

Ali Quli Qarai

They profess obedience [to you], but when they go out from your presence, a group of them conspire overnight [to do] something other than what you say. But Allah records what they conspire overnight. So disregard them and put your trust in Allah, for Allah suffices as trustee.

Ali Ünal

They say (when in your presence, to every command of yours), "By all means!" But when they leave your presence, a party of them make secret plans against what you say. God records whatever secret plans they make. So withdraw from them, and put your trust in God. God suffices as the One to be relied on, to Whom affairs should be referred.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And they (- the hypocrites) say (in your presence), `(We stand for) obedience,´ but when they sally forth from your presence, a party of them spend the night scheming contrary to what you say, and Allâh is keeping a record of whatever they scheme by night. So turn away from them and put (your) trust in Allâh, and Allâh suffices as a Disposer of affairs.

English Literal

And they say: "Obedience." So if they emerged from at you, a group from them schemed at night other than what you say, and God writes what they scheme at night, so oppose/turn away from them and rely/depend on God, and enough with God (as) a guardian/protector.

Faridul Haque

And they say, "We have obeyed"; and when they go away from you, a group of them spend the night conspiring against what they had said; and Allah records what they conspired by night; therefore O dear Prophet (Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) avoid them and rely upon Allah; and Allah is Sufficient as a Trustee (of affairs).

Hamid S. Aziz

And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear they broadcast it; but if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority amongst them, then those of them who can think would know it; but were it not for Allah´s grace upon you and His mercy you would have followed Satan, save a few.

Hilali & Khan

They say: "We are obedient," but when they leave you (Muhammad SAW), a section of them spend all night in planning other than what you say. But Allah records their nightly (plots). So turn aside from them (do not punish them), and put your trust in Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah. And whoever turns away, We have not sent thee as a keeper over them.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they say: Obedience. But when they go out from your presence, a party of them decide by night upon doing otherwise than what you say; and Allah writes down what they decide by night, therefore turn aside from them and trust in Allah, and Allah is sufficient as a protector.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And they say: (It is) obedience; but when they have gone forth from thee a party of them spend the night in planning other than what thou sayest. Allah recordeth what they plan by night. So oppose them and put thy trust in Allah. Allah is sufficient as Trustee.

Muhammad Sarwar

They proclaim obedience to you but as soon as they leave at night, a group of them make secret plans to do the contrary of what you have told them to do. God keeps the record of their nocturnal plans. Therefore, leave them alone and put your trust in God; He is Sufficient for you as your Guardian.

Qaribullah & Darwish

They say, 'Obedience' but as soon as they leave you, a party of them hide other than what they said. Allah writes down what they hide. So turn away from them, and rely on Allah. Allah is sufficient for a Guardian.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They say: "We are obedient," but when they leave you, a section of them spends all night in planning other than what you say. But Allah records their nightly (plots). So turn aside from them (do not punish them), and put your trust in Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

Wahiduddin Khan

They say: "We obey you," but as soon as they leave you, a group of them plan together by night against what you say. God records whatever they scheme. So ignore them, and put your trust in God. God is sufficient as a trustee.

Talal Itani

They profess obedience, but when they leave your presence, some of them conspire something contrary to what you said. But God writes down what they conspire. So avoid them, and put your trust in God. God is Guardian enough.

Tafsir jalalayn

They say, that is, the hypocrites [say] when they come to you, `Our affair is [all about] Obedience, to you'; but when they sally forth, [when] they depart, from you, a party of them harbour (the [final] t' [of the feminine-ending in bayyatat, `harbour'] can either be elided with the following t' [of t'ifa, `a party'] or simply omitted) they entertain secretly [feelings], other than what they say, to you in your presence in the way of [their] obedience, in other words, [they hide] disobedience to you. God writes down, He commands that it be written, what they harbour, in their scrolls [of deeds], so that they will be requited for it. So turn away from them, in forgiveness, rely on God, put your trust in Him, for He will suffice you; and God suffices as a Guardian, to Whom matters are entrusted.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَيَقُولُونَ طَاعَةٌ



They say;"We are obedient,"

Allah states that the hypocrites pretend to be loyal and obedient.

فَإِذَا بَرَزُواْ مِنْ عِندِكَ

but when they leave you,

meaning, when they depart and are no longer with you,

بَيَّتَ طَأيِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ غَيْرَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ

a section of them spends all night in planning other than what you say.

They plot at night among themselves for other than what they pretend when they are with you.

Allah said,

وَاللّهُ يَكْتُبُ مَا يُبَيِّتُونَ

But Allah records their nightly (plots).

meaning, He has full knowledge of their plots and records it through His command to His scribes, the angels who are responsible for recording the actions of the servants.

This is a threat from Allah, stating that He knows what the hypocrites try to hide, their plotting in the night to defy the Messenger and oppose him, even though they pretend to be loyal and obedient to him. Allah will certainly punish them for this conduct.

In a similar Ayah, Allah said,

وَيِقُولُونَ امَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعْنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّى فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ مِّن بَعْدِ ذلِكَ وَمَأ أُوْلَـيِكَ بِالْمُوْمِنِينَ

They say;"We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey," then a party of them turn away thereafter, such are not believers. (24;47)

Allah's statement,

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ

So turn aside from them,

means, pardon them, be forbearing with them, do not punish them, do not expose them to the people and do not fear them.

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَكِيلً



and put your trust in Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

meaning, He is sufficient as Protector, Supporter and Helper for those who rely on Him and return to Him