Surah An Nisa Tafseer

Success is Only Achieved by Performing Righteous Deeds, not Wishful Thinking

Allah says;

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor those of the People of the Scripture, whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof,

Qatadah said,

"We were told that the Muslims and the People of the Scriptures mentioned their own virtues to each other.

People of the Scriptures said, `Our Prophet came before your Prophet and our Book before your Book. Therefore, we should have more right to Allah than you have.'

Muslims said, `Rather, we have more right to Allah than you, our Prophet is the Final Prophet and our Book supersedes all the Books before it.'

Allah sent down,

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

It will not be in accordance with your desires (Muslims), nor those of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof,

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah; and he is a Muhsin.

Allah then supported the argument of the Muslims against their opponents of the other religions."

Similar statements were attributed to As-Suddi, Masruq, Ad-Dahhak and Abu Salih.

Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas commented on this Ayah (4:123)

"The followers of various religions disputed, the people of the Tawrah said, `Our Book is the best Book and our Prophet (Musa) is the best Prophet.'

The people of the Injil said similarly, the people of Islam said, `There is no religion except Islam, our Book has abrogated every other Book, our Prophet is the Final Prophet, and you were commanded to believe in your Books and adhere to our Book.'

Allah judged between them, saying,

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor those of the People of the Scripture, whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof."

This Ayah indicates that the religion is not accepted on account of wishful thinking or mere hopes. Rather, the accepted religion relies on what resides in the heart and which is made truthful through actions. It is not true that when one utters a claim to something, he attains it merely on account of his claim. It is not true that every person who claims to be on the truth is considered as such, merely on account of his words, until his claim gains merit with proof from Allah.

Hence Allah's statement,

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor those of the People of the Scripture, whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof,

meaning safety will not be acquired by you or them just by wishful thinking. Rather, the key is in obeying Allah and following what He has legislated through the words of His honorable Messengers.

This is why Allah said afterwards,

مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

(whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof).

Similarly, Allah said,

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ

وَمَن يَعْـمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرّاً يَرَهُ

So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it. (99:7-8)

and it was reported that when these Ayat were revealed, they became hard on many Companions.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Aishah said,

"I said, `O Messenger of Allah! I know the hardest Ayah in the Qur'an.'

He said, `What is it, O Aishah!'

I said,

مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

(whoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof).

He said,

هُوَ مَا يُصِيبُ الْعَبْدَالْمُوْمِنَ حَتَّى النَّكْبَةِ يُنْكَبُهَا

That is what strikes the believing servant, even the problems that bother him."

Ibn Jarir and Abu Dawud also recorded this Hadith.

Sa`id bin Mansur recorded that Abu Hurayrah said,

"When the Ayah,

مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ

(whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof) was revealed, it was hard on Muslims.

The Messenger of Allah said to them,

سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا فَإِنَّ فِي كُلِّ مَا يُصَابُ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمُ كَفَّارَةً حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا وَالنَّـكْبَةِ يُنْكَبُهَا

Be steadfast and seek closeness. Everything that afflicts the Muslim, even the thorn that pierces his skin and the hardship he suffers, will be an expiation for him."

This is the wording collected by Ahmad through Sufyan bin Uyaynah.

Muslim and At-Tirmidhi also recorded it.

Allah's statement,

وَلَا يَجِدْ لَهُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا

and he will not find any protector or helper besides Allah,

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said;

"Unless he repents and Allah forgives him."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded it.

Allah then said