Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 95

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Those among the believers who sit back, except the handicapped, are not equal to those who fight in the way of Allah with their riches and their lives.Allah has raised the rank of those who fight with their riches and their lives, over those who sit; and to each, Allah has promised good. Allah has given precedence to those who fight over those who sit in giving them a great reward

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Those who stay at home—except those with valid excuses[[ This includes women, the elderly, the sick, etc.]]—are not equal to those who strive in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has elevated in rank those who strive with their wealth and their lives above those who stay behind ˹with valid excuses˺. Allah has promised each a fine reward, but those who strive will receive a far better reward than others—

Ruwwad Translation Center

Not equal are those believers who stay behind – except those forced by necessity – and those who fight in the way of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has given a higher rank to those who fight with their wealth and their lives than those who stay behind. To each Allah has promised a fine reward, but Allah has favored those who fight over those who stay behind with a great reward,

A. J. Arberry

Such believers as sit at home -- unless they have an injury -- are not the equals of those who struggle in the path of God with their possessions and their selves. God has preferred in rank those who struggle with their possessions and their selves over the ones who sit at home; yet to each God has promised the reward most fair; and God has preferred those who struggle over the ones who sit at home for the bounty of a mighty wage,

Abdul Haleem

Those 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-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Not equal are the holders back among the believers, save those who are disabled, and the strivers in the way of Allah with their- riches and their lives. Allah hath preferred in rank the strivers with their riches and their lives above the holders-back, and unto all Allah hath promised good. And Allah hath preferred the strivers above the holdersback with a mighty hire.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good; But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-

Abul Ala Maududi

Those believers who sit at home, unless they do so out of a disabling injury, are not the equals of those who strive in the way of Allah with their possessions and their lives. Allah has exalted in rank those who strive with their possessions and their lives over those who sit at home; and though to each Allah has promised some good reward, He has preferred those who strive (in the way of Allah) over those who sit at home for a mighty reward.

Ahmed Ali

The faithful who sit idle, other than those who are disabled, are not equal to those who fight in the way of God with their wealth and lives. God has exalted those in rank who fight for the faith with their wealth and souls over those who sit idle. Though God's promise of good is for all, He has granted His favour of the highest reward to those who struggle in preference to those who sit at home.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The Muslims who stay back from holy war without proper excuse, are not equal to the Muslims who fight in Allah's cause with their wealth and lives; Allah has bestowed higher ranks to the warriors who strive with their wealth and lives, than those who stay back; and Allah has promised good to all; and Allah has favoured the warriors upon those who stay back, with a great reward.

Ali Quli Qarai

Not equal are those of the faithful who sit back—excepting those who suffer from some disability—and those who wage jihad in the way of Allah with their possession and their persons. Allah has graced those who wage jihad with their possessions and their persons by a degree over those who sit back; yet to each Allah has promised the best reward, and Allah has graced those who wage jihad over those who sit back with a great reward:

Ali Ünal

Not equal are those of the believers who (when not all believers are required to mobilize for God’s cause) sit still without justifiable excuse (and without doing any harm to God’s cause) and those who strive (and fight) in God’s cause with their wealth and their persons. God has exalted in rank those who strive with their wealth and their persons over those who sit still. To each God has promised the best reward (Paradise), and yet God has exalted those who strive over those who sit still by a tremendous reward.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Such of the believers as stay (at home) excepting the disabled ones, and those who strive in the cause of Allâh with their substance and their lives, are not equal. Allâh has exalted in rank those who strive (in His cause) with their substance and their lives above those who stay (at home), and yet to each one Allâh has promised good but Allâh has indeed granted eminence to those who strive (in His cause) over those who stay (at home) by giving them much better reward.

English Literal

From the believers the remaining (behind) not/other than those of the difficult circumstances and the struggling/defending for God`s sake with their properties and themselves do not become equal, God preferred the struggling/defending with their properties and themselves over the remaining in a stage/degree, and each/all God promised the goodness, and God preferred the struggling/defending above the remaining (by) a great reward.

Faridul Haque

The Muslims who stay back from holy war without proper excuse, are not equal to the Muslims who fight in Allah´s cause with their wealth and lives; Allah has bestowed higher ranks to the warriors who strive with their wealth and lives, than those who stay back; and Allah has promised good to all; and Allah has favoured the warriors upon those who stay back, with a great reward.

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, the angels when they take the souls of those who had wronged themselves, they say, "What state were you in?" They say, "We were but weak (and oppressed) in the earth;" They say, "Was not Allah´s earth wide enough for you to flee (migrate) away?" These are those whose resort is hell, an evil journey´s end!

Hilali & Khan

Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward;

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O you who believe, when you go forth (to fight) in Allah’s way, make investigation, and say not to any one who offers you salutation, Thou art not a believer, seeking the good of this world’s life. But with Allah there are abundant gains. You too were such before, then Allah conferred a benefit on you; so make investigation. Surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

The holders back from among the believers, not having any injury, and those who strive hard in Allah's way with their property and their persons are not equal; Allah has made the strivers with their property and their persons to excel the holders back a (high) degree, and to each (class) Allah has promised good; and Allah shall grant to the strivers above the holders back a mighty reward:

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who have a (disabling) hurt, are not on an equality with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives. Allah hath conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary. Unto each Allah hath promised good, but He hath bestowed on those who strive a great reward above the sedentary;

Muhammad Sarwar

Among the believers, those who stay at home without a good reason are not equal to those who strive for the cause of God in person or with their property. To those who strive for His cause in person or with their property, God has granted a higher rank than to those who stay at home. God has promised that everyone will receive his proper share of the reward but He will grant a much greater reward to those striving for His cause than to those who stay home (for no reason).

Qaribullah & Darwish

Believers who stay behind, having no injury, are not equal to those who fight in the way of Allah with their wealth and their souls. Allah has preferred those who fight with their wealth and their souls a degree above those who stay behind (because of sickness). Yet to each, Allah has promised the most excellent (Paradise). And Allah has preferred those who fought over those who stayed behind with a great wage.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home), by a huge reward.

Wahiduddin Khan

Those believers who stay behind, apart from those forced by necessity, are not equal to those who strive hard in God's cause with their possessions and their persons. God has given those who strive with their goods and their persons a higher rank than those who stayed behind. God has promised all a good reward; but far greater is the recompense of those who strive for Him --

Talal Itani

Not equal are the inactive among the believers—except the disabled—and the strivers in the cause of God with their possessions and their persons. God prefers the strivers with their possessions and their persons above the inactive, by a degree. But God has promised goodness to both. Yet God favors the strivers, over the inactive, with a great reward.

Tafsir jalalayn

The believers who sit at home, away from the struggle, other than those who have an injury, such as a chronic illness or blindness or the like (read in the nominative, ghayru l l-darar, `other than those who have an injury', as an adjectival clause; or in the accusative, ghayra l l-darar, as an exceptive clause) are not the equals of those who struggle in the way of God with their possessions and their lives. God has preferred those who struggle with their possessions and their lives over the ones who sit at home, on account of some injury, by a degree, by [a degree of] merit, since both have the same intention, but the extra degree is given to those who have carried out the struggle; yet to each, of the two groups, God has promised the goodly reward, Paradise, and God has preferred those who struggle over the ones who sit at home, without any injury, with a great reward (ajran `azman, is substituted by [the following, darajtin minhu]),

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Mujahid and those Who Do not Join Jihad are Not the Same, (and Jihad is Fard Kifayah)

Allah says;

لااَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً

Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home).

Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said,

"When the Ayah, was revealed, the Messenger of Allah called Zayd and commanded him to write it.

Then, Ibn Umm Maktum came and mentioned that he was blind. Allah revealed,
غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ
(except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame))."

Al-Bukhari recorded that Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`di said,

"I saw Marwan bin Al-Hakam sitting in the Masjid. I came and sat by his side. He told us that Zayd bin Thabit told him that Allah's Messenger dictated this Ayah to him,
لااَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ
(Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah).

Ibn Umm Maktum came to the Prophet as he was dictating that very Ayah to me. Ibn Umm Maktum said, `O Allah's Messenger! By Allah, if I had power, I would surely take part in Jihad.'

He was a blind man. So Allah sent down revelation to His Messenger while his thigh was on mine and it became so heavy for me that I feared that my thigh would be broken. That ended after Allah revealed,
غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ
(except those who are disabled)."

This was recorded by Al-Bukhari.

At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ibn Abbas said,
لااَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ
(Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled),

refers to those who did not go to the battle of Badr and those who went to Badr.

When the battle of Badr was about to occur, Abu Ahmad bin Jahsh and Ibn Umm Maktum said, `We are blind, O Messenger of Allah! Do we have an excuse?'

The Ayah,
لااَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ
(Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled) was revealed.

Allah made those who fight, above those who sit in their homes not hindered by disability.
وَفَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
(but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home), by a huge reward. Degrees of (higher) grades from Him), above the believers who sit at home without a disability hindering them."

This is the wording recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Gharib".

Allah's statement,
لااَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ
(Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home)) this is general. Soon after, the revelation came down with,
غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ
(except those who are disabled). So whoever has a disability, such as blindness, a limp, or an illness that prevents them from joining Jihad, they were not compared to the Mujahidin who strive in Allah's cause with their selves and wealth, as those who are not disabled and did not join the Jihad were.

In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَقْوَامًا مَا سِرْتُمْ مِنْ مَسِيرٍ وَلَا قَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ وَادٍ إِلاَّ وَهُمْ مَعَكُمْ فِيه

There are people who remained in Al-Madinah, who were with you in every march you marched and every valley you crossed.

They said, "While they are still in Al-Madinah, O Messenger of Allah?"

He said,

نَعَمْ حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْر

Yes. Only their disability hindered them (from joining you).

Allah said,

وَكُـلًّ وَعَدَ اللّهُ الْحُسْنَى

Unto each, Allah has promised good,

meaning, Paradise and tremendous rewards.

This Ayah indicates that Jihad is not Fard on each and every individual, but it is Fard Kifayah (which is a collective duty).

Allah then said,

وَفَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا



but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home), by a huge reward.

Allah mentions what He has given them rooms in Paradise, along with His forgiveness and the descent of mercy and blessing on them, as a favor and honor from Him.

So He said;

دَرَجَاتٍ مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا