Surah An Nisa Tafseer

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ

How then, when a catastrophe befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth,

meaning, how about it if they feel compelled to join you because of disasters that they suffer due to their sins, then they will be in need of you.

ثُمَّ جَأوُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلاَّ إِحْسَانًا وَتَوْفِيقًا

They come to you swearing by Allah, "We meant no more than goodwill and conciliation!"

apologizing and swearing that they only sought goodwill and reconciliation when they referred to other than the Prophet for judgment, not that they believe in such alternative judgment, as they claim.

Allah describes these people to us further in His statement,

فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَى أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَايِرَةٌ فَعَسَى اللّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَيُصْبِحُواْ عَلَى مَا أَسَرُّواْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ

نَادِمِينَ

And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease, they hurry to their friendship, saying:"We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may befall us." Perhaps Allah may bring a victory or a decision according to His will. Then they will become regretful for what they have been keeping as a secret in themselves. (5:52)

At-Tabarani recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

"Abu Barzah Al-Aslami used to be a soothsayer who judged between the Jews in their disputes. When some Muslims came to him to judge between them,

Allah sent down,

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ امَنُواْ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ

(Have you not seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you), (4:60) until,

إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلاَّ إِحْسَانًا وَتَوْفِيقًا

("We meant no more than goodwill and conciliation!"). (4:62)

Allah then said