Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Mujadila Verse 10

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Whispering (for sinful acts) comes from the ShaiTān (Satan), so that he may grieve those who believe, while it is not harmful to them in the least, except with Allah’s permission. And in Allah the believers must place their trust.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Secret talks are only inspired by Satan to grieve the believers. Yet he cannot harm them whatsoever except by Allah’s Will. So in Allah let the believers put their trust.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Secret talks are only prompted by Satan to grieve the believers, but he cannot harm them in the least except with Allah’s permission. So let the believers put their trust in Allah.

A. J. Arberry

Conspiring secretly together is of Satan, that the believers may sorrow; but he will not hurt them anything, except by the leave of God. And in God let the believers put all their trust.

Abdul Haleem

[Any other kind of] secret conversation is the work of Satan, designed to cause trouble to the believers, though it cannot harm them in the least unless God permits it. Let the believers put their trust in God.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Whisper is only from the Satan that he may grieve those who believe; and he can harm them not at all save with the leave of Allah. Wherefore in Allah let the believers trust.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Secret counsels are only (inspired) by the Evil One, in order that he may cause grief to the Believers; but he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits; and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.

Abul Ala Maududi

Whispering is an act of Satan, one that aims at causing grief to the believers; yet without Allah's leave no harm can be caused to them. So in Allah should the believers put all their trust.

Ahmed Ali

Surely scheming is the work of Satan that he may cause the faithful grief; but he cannot harm them unless God dispense. So in God should the believers place their trust.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The evil consultation is only from the devil in order that he may upset the believers, whereas he cannot harm them in the least without Allah’s command; and only upon Allah must the Muslims rely.

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed [malicious] secret talks are from Satan, that he may upset the faithful, but he cannot harm them in any way except by Allah’s leave, and in Allah let all the faithful put their trust.

Ali Ünal

Secret counsels (held for other reasons) are only (a provocation) from Satan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers; yet he cannot harm them in anything unless by God’s leave; and in God let the believers put their trust.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Holding secret counsels (with evil intentions) is (the work) of satan (who does it) to cause unrest and distress to those who believe. Yet he can do them no harm at all except by the leave of Allâh. Therefore let the believers repose their trust in Allâh.

English Literal

But/indeed the confidential talk/secret conversation (is) from the devil, to sadden/make grievous those who believed, and (he) is not with harming them a thing except with God`s permission/pardon, and on God so should rely/depend the believers.

Faridul Haque

The evil consultation is only from the devil in order that he may upset the believers, whereas he cannot harm them in the least without Allah’s command; and only upon Allah must the Muslims rely.

Hamid S. Aziz

Secret counsels are only the work of Satan that he may cause to grief to those who believe, and he cannot hurt them in the least except with Allah´s permission, and on Allah let the believers rely.

Hilali & Khan

Secret counsels (conspiracies) are only from Shaitan (Satan), in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits, and in Allah let the believers put their trust.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O you who believe, when you confer together in private, give not to each other counsel of sin and revolt and disobedience to the Messenger, but give to each other counsel of goodness and observance of duty. And keep your duty to Allah, to Whom you will be gathered together.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Secret counsels are only (the work) of the Shaitan that he may cause to grieve those who believe, and he cannot hurt them in the least except with Allah's permission, and on Allah let the believers rely.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! Conspiracy is only of the devil, that he may vex those who believe; but he can harm them not at all unless by Allah's leave. In Allah let believers put their trust.

Muhammad Sarwar

Holding secret counsels for (evil purposes) is a work of satan to cause grief to the believers, but he can do no harm to them except by the will of God. Let the believers trust in God.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Talking together maliciously in secret is from satan, so that believers should sorrow, yet he can not harm them at all, except by the permission of Allah. In Allah let the believers put their trust.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Secret counsels are only from Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.

Wahiduddin Khan

Conspiracy for evil purposes is the work of Satan, by which he means to bring grief to believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, unless it be by God's leave. Let the believers put their trust in God.

Talal Itani

Conspiracies are from Satan, that he may dishearten those who believe; but he will not harm them in the least, except by leave of God. So let the believers put their trust in God.

Tafsir jalalayn

Secret conversations, [tainted] with sin and the like, are of [the work of] Satan, [a result] of his deception, that those who believe may end up grieving; but he cannot harm them in any way, except God's leave, that is, [except by] His will. And in God let the believers put [all] their trust.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

An-Najwa are only from the Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.

Allah states that secret talks, where the believers feel anxious, are
مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا
(only from Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers).

meaning, that those who hold such counsels do so because of the lures of the devil,
لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا
(in order that he may cause grief to the believers).

The devil seeks to bother the believers, even though his plots will not harm the believers, except if Allah wills it.

Those who are the subject of evil Najwa, should seek refuge in Allah and put his trust in Him, for none of it will harm them, Allah willing. The Sunnah also forbids the Najwa so that no Muslim is bothered by it.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلَثَةً فَلَ يَتَنَاجَى اثْنَانِ دُونَ صَاحِبِهِمَا فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ يُحْزِنُه

If you were three, then two of you should not hold a secret counsel in the presence of the third person, because that would cause him to be worried.

This Hadith is collected in the Two Sahihs using a chain of narration that contained Al-A`mash.

Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Abdullah bin Umar said that Allah's Messenger said,

إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلَثَةً فَلَ يَتَنَاجَى اثْنَانِ دُونَ الثَّالِثِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ يُحْزِنُه

If you were three, then two of you should not hold a secret counsel in the presence of the third person, except with his permission, because that would cause him to be worried.

Muslim collected this Hadith