Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Mujadila Verse 8

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Did you not see those who were forbidden from holding secret talks; then they do again what they were forbidden to do? They whisper for sinful act and wrongdoing and disobedience of the prophet, and when they come to you, they greet you the way Allah does not greet you, and say to themselves, “Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?” Enough for them is Jahannam (Hell); they will enter it, and it is an evil end.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Have you not seen those who were forbidden from secret talks, yet they ˹always˺ return to what they were forbidden from, conspiring in sin, aggression, and disobedience to the Messenger? And when they come to you ˹O Prophet˺, they greet you not as Allah greets you,[[ Some Jews used to  play with words when they addressed the Prophet (ﷺ) to ridicule him, saying for example ‘Asâmu ’alaikum’ (death be upon you) instead of ‘Asalâmu ’alaikum’ (peace be upon you)—which is the greeting of Islam, inspired by Allah. ]] and say to one another, “Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?” Hell is enough for them—they will burn in it. And what an evil destination!

Ruwwad Translation Center

Have you not seen those who were forbidden from holding secret talks, yet they go back to do what they were forbidden from, conspiring in sin and aggression, and in disobedience to the Messenger? When they come to you, they greet you other than the way Allah greets you, and they say to one another, “Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?” Sufficient is Hell for them; they will enter it. What a terrible destination!

A. J. Arberry

Hast thou not regarded those who were forbidden to converse secretly together, then they return to that they were forbidden, and they converse secretly together in sin and enmity, and in disobedience to the Messenger? Then, when they come to thee, they greet thee with a greeting God never greeted thee withal; and they say within themselves, 'Why does God not chastise us for what we say?' Sufficient for them shall be Gehenna, at which they, shall be roasted -- an evil homecoming!

Abdul Haleem

Have you not seen how those who have been forbidden to hold secret conversations go back afterwards and hold them, and conspire with one another in what is sinful, hostile, and disobedient to the Messenger? When they come to you they greet you with words God has never used to greet you, and say inwardly, ‘Why does God not punish us for what we say?’ Hell will be punishment enough for them: they will burn there- an evil destination.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Observest thou not those who were forbidden whispering and they afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden; and they whisper Unto each Other of sin, transgression and disobedience reward the apostle! And when they came Unto thee, they greet thee with that wherewith Allah greeteth thee not, and say within themselves: wherefore god tormented us not for that which we say? Sufficient Unto them is Hell, where in they will roast: a hapless destination!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Turnest thou not thy sight towards those who were forbidden secret counsels yet revert to that which they were forbidden (to do)? And they hold secret counsels among themselves for iniquity and hostility, and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to thee, they salute thee, not as Allah salutes thee, (but in crooked ways); And they say to themselves, "Why does not Allah punish us for our words?" Enough for them is Hell; In it will they burn, and evil is that destination!

Abul Ala Maududi

Have you not seen those who were forbidden to whisper and yet they engaged in what they had been forbidden? They secretly converse among themselves concerning sin and transgression and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to you, they greet you in a manner that Allah does not greet you, and say to themselves: “Why does Allah not chastise us for these utterances of ours?” Hell it is that shall suffice them, and in it will they burn. How woeful is their destination!

Ahmed Ali

Have you not considered those who were forbidden to conspire, but reverted after a time to what was forbidden them, and conspired evil, rebellion and disobedience to the Prophet? Yet when they come to you they greet you with a greeting even God does not greet you with; and say to themselves, "Why doesn't God punish us for what we say?" Hell is sufficient for them, in which they will be burnt: And what an evil consequence!

Ahmed Raza Khan

Did you not see those who were forbidden from conspiracy, yet they do what was forbidden, and consult each other for sinning, and for exceeding limits, and for disobeying the Noble Messenger? And when they come in your presence, they greet you with words not chosen by Allah for respectfully greeting you, and they inwardly say, “Why does not Allah punish us for what we say?”; hell is sufficient for them; they will sink into it; and what a wretched outcome!

Ali Quli Qarai

Have you not regarded those who were forbidden from secret talks but again resumed what they had been forbidden from, and hold secret talks [imbued] with sin and transgression and disobedience to the Apostle? And when they come to you they greet you with words with which Allah never greeted you, and they say to themselves, ‘Why does not Allah punish us for what we say?!’ Let hell suffice them: they shall enter it, and it is an evil destination!

Ali Ünal

Have you not considered those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and yet reverted to what they had been forbidden, and held secret meetings to commit sins (such as drinking alcohol, gambling, and evading the Prayer), and for (urging one another to) offensiveness and disobedience to the Messenger (in his commands and prohibitions). (It is these very people who) when they come to you, salute you with a salutation that God has never taught you and with which He has never saluted you, and say to one another (in derision): "Why does God not punish us for what we say (if Muhammad is truly His Prophet)?" Hell will suffice them, they will enter it to roast. How evil a destination to arrive at!

Amatul Rahman Omar

Have you not seen those who were forbidden (to hold) secret counsels and yet repeatedly returned to what they were forbidden to do, and they conferred together secretly (encouraging) sin, transgression and disobedience to the Messenger? When they come to you they greet you (with words) with which Allâh has not greeted you, but they say one to another, `Why does Allâh not cause us to suffer for what we say (hypocritically).´ Sufficient for them is Gehenna (to reckon with them satisfactorily). They shall enter it. What an evil resort!

English Literal

Do you not see to those who were forbidden/prevented from the confidential talk/secret conversation? Then they return to what they were forbidden/prohibited from it, and they interchange pleasurable conversation with the sin/crime, and the transgression/aggression , and disobedience (to) the messenger, and if they came to you, they greeted you with what God does not greet you with it, and they say in themselves: "If only God tortures us because (of) what we say." Enough for them Hell they roast/suffer (from) it , so how bad (is) the end/destination?

Faridul Haque

Did you not see those who were forbidden from conspiracy, yet they do what was forbidden, and consult each other for sinning, and for exceeding limits, and for disobeying the Noble Messenger? And when they come in your presence, they greet you with words not chosen by Allah for respectfully greeting you, and they inwardly say, “Why does not Allah punish us for what we say?”; hell is sufficient for them; they will sink into it; and what a wretched outcome!

Hamid S. Aziz

Have you not seen those who are forbidden secret counsels, then they return to what they are forbidden, and they hold secret counsels for sin and revolt and disobedience to the Messenger, and when they come to you they greet you with a greeting with which Allah does not greet you, and they say in themselves, "Why does not Allah punish us for what we say?" Hell is enough for them; they shall enter it, and evil is the resort.

Hilali & Khan

Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden, and conspired together for sin and wrong doing and disobedience to the Messenger (Muhammad SAW). And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves: "Why should Allah punish us not for what we say?" Hell will be sufficient for them, they will burn therein, and worst indeed is that destination!

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Seest thou not that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth? There is no secret counsel between three but He is the fourth of them, nor between five but He is the sixth of them, nor between less than that nor more but He is with them wheresoever they are; then He will inform them of what they did on the day of Resurrection. Surely Allah is Knower of all things.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Have you not seen those who are forbidden secret counsels, then they return to what they are forbidden, and they hold secret counsels for sin and revolt and disobedience to the Apostle, and when they come to you they greet you with a greeting with which Allah does not greet you, and they say in themselves: Why does not Allah punish us for what we say? Hell is enough for them; they shall enter it, and evil is the resort.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Hast thou not observed those who were forbidden conspiracy and afterward returned to that which they had been forbidden, and (now) conspire together for crime and wrongdoing and disobedience toward the messenger? And when they come unto thee they greet thee with a greeting wherewith Allah greeteth thee not, and say within themselves: Why should Allah punish us for what we say? Hell will suffice them; they will feel the heat thereof - a hapless journey's end!

Muhammad Sarwar

Have you not seen those who have been forbidden to have secret counsels violate this prohibition and resume their secret counsels for sinful and hostile purposes and to disobey the Messenger? When they come to you (Muhammad), they greet you with a greeting with which even God has not greeted you and say to themselves, "Why has God not punished us for what we say (if he is a true Prophet)?" The heat of hell is a sufficient torment for them. This is the most terrible fate.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Have you not seen those who were forbidden to talk in secrecy together? They return to that which they are forbidden and talk secretly together in sin andhatred, and in disobedience to the Messenger. Then, when they come to you they greet you with greetings with which Allah does not greet you, and they say within themselves: 'Why does Allah not punish us for what we say' Gehenna (Hell) suffices them, they shall be roasted, an evil arrival!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden, and conspired together for sin and wrongdoing and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves: "Why should Allah punish us not for what we say" Hell will be sufficient for them; they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!

Wahiduddin Khan

Have you not seen how those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels yet revert to that which they were forbidden to do? And they conspire to indulge in wrongdoing, aggressive behaviour and disobedience to the Messenger. When they come to you, they greet you, but not in the words God would use, and inwardly they wonder, "Why does God not punish us for what we say?" Hell will be a fitting punishment for them: they will burn in its flames -- a wretched fate!

Talal Itani

Have you noted those who were prohibited from conspiring secretly, but then reverted to what they were prohibited from? They conspire to commit sin, and aggression, and defiance of the Messenger. And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting that God never greeted you with. And they say within themselves, “Why does God not punish us for what we say?” Hell is enough for them. They will roast in it. What a miserable destiny!

Tafsir jalalayn

Have you not seen, [have you not] observed, those who were forbidden from conversing in secret [but] then returned to that they had been forbidden, and [all the while] hold secret conversations [tainted] with sin and [plans for] enmity and disobedience to the Messenger? These were the Jews, whom the Prophet (s) had forbidden them what they used to do in their secret talks, that is, their [habit of] conversing secretly with one another and giving the believers looks in order to cast doubt into their hearts [about the faith]. And [who] when they come to you, they greet you, O Prophet, with that with which God never greeted you -- namely, their saying [to the Prophet]; al-smu `alayka, meaning, `Death [be upon you]', and they say within themselves, `Why does God not chastise us for what we say?', in the way of such a greeting and [our saying] that he is not a prophet, if he [truly] were a prophet. Hell will suffice them! In it they will be made to burn -- and [what] an evil journey's end!, it is.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Evil of the Jews

Ibn Abi Najih reported from Mujahid,

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُوا عَنِ النَّجْوَى ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ

Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden,

He said, "The Jews."

Similar was said by Muqatil bin Hayyan, who added,

"The Prophet had a peace treaty with the Jews. When one of the Prophet's Companions would pass by a gathering of Jews, they would speak among themselves in secret, prompting the believer to think that they were plotting to kill or harm him. When the believer saw this, he feared for his safety and changed the route he was taking. The Prophet advised them to abandon their evil secret talks, but they did not listen and kept on holding the Najwa. Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah in their case,

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُوا عَنِ النَّجْوَى ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ

Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden."

Allah's statement,

وَيَتَنَاجَوْنَ بِالاِْثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُولِ

and conspired together for sin and wrongdoing and disobedience to the Messenger.

means, they used to talk to each other,

بِالاْاِثْمِ
for sin, which involves themselves,

وَالْعُدْوَانِ
and wrongdoing, which effects others. They speak about disobedience and defying of the Messenger, with persistence and recommending each other to follow their way,

وَإِذَا جَاوُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ

And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not,

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that A'ishah said,

"Some Jews came to the Prophet and greeted him by saying, `As-Sam Alayka, O Abul-Qasim.'

So I said to them, `wa `Alaykum As-Sam (the same death be upon you).'

The Prophet said,

يَا عَايِشَةُ إِنَّ اللهَ لَاا يُحِبُّ الْفُحْشَ وَلَاا التَّفَحُّش

O A'ishah, Allah does not like rudeness and foul speech.

I said, `Didn't you hear them say, `As-Sam Alayka'

He said,

أَوَ مَا سَمِعْتِ أَقُولُ وَعَلَيْكُم

Didn't you hear me answering them back by saying, `Wa `Alaykum (And the same upon you)'

Allah the Exalted then sent down this Ayah,

وَإِذَا جَاوُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ

And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not,"

The narration collected in the Sahih states that A'ishah said,

"And be upon you the death, disgrace and curse."

The Messenger of Allah said to her,

إِنَّهُ يُسْتَجَابُ لَنَا فِيهِمْ وَلَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ فِينَا


Allah accepts our supplication against them, but not theirs against us.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Anas bin Malik said,

"A Jew passed by Allah's Messenger, who was sitting with his Companions, he greeted them and they greeted him back. Allah's Messenger then said to his Companions,

هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا قَالَ

Do you know what he just said?

They said, `He said;As-Salam, O Allah's Messenger.'

The Prophet said,

بَلْ قَالَ سَامٌ عَلَيْكُم

Rather he said, Sam `Alaykum. (meaning, `may you disgrace your religion')

Allah's Messenger then said,

رُدُّوه

Bring him back,

and when he was brought back, the Prophet asked him,

أَقُلْتَ سَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ

Did you say;Sam `Alaykum?

He said, `Yes.'

The Prophet then said,

إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَقُولُوا عَلَيْك


When the people of the Book greet you, say, `Wa `Alaykum' (meaning, `and the same on you too).

The basis for the Hadith of Anas is in the Sahih and similar to this Hadith of A'ishah is in the Sahih.

Allah said,

وَيَقُولُونَ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا اللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ

and say within themselves;"Why should Allah punish us not for what we say"

means, the Jews say these words, changing the meaning of the Islamic greeting, into an abusive statement, and then say, `Had he been a Prophet, Allah would have punished us for what we said. Allah knows what we conceal. Therefore, if Muhammad were a Prophet, Allah would have sent His punishment on us sooner, in this life.'

Allah the Exalted replied,

حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ

Hell will be sufficient for them;

Hell should be sufficient for them in the Hereafter,

يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِيْسَ الْمَصِيرُ




they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin `Amr said,

the Jews used to say, "Sam `Alayka," to Allah's Messenger. They would say then within themselves, "Why does Allah not punish us for what we say" This Ayah was later revealed,

وَإِذَا جَاوُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ

وَيَقُولُونَ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا اللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ

حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِيْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves;"Why should Allah punish us not for what we say" Hell will be sufficient for them; they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!

Its chain of narration is Hasan, but they (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not collect it.
Manners of the Najwa, (Secret Counsel)

Allah the Exalted teaches His believing servants to avoid the ways of the disbelievers and hypocrites