Surah An Nisa Tafseer

Most People Disobey What They Are Ordered

Allah says

وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ أَوِ اخْرُجُواْ مِن دِيَارِكُم مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ

And if We had ordered them (saying), "Kill yourselves (i.e. the innocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave your homes," very few of them would have done it;

Allah states that even if the people were commanded to commit what they were prohibited from doing, most of them would not submit to this command, for their wicked nature is such that they dispute orders. Allah has complete knowledge of what has not occurred, and how it would be if and when it did occur. This is why Allah said,

وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ

(And if We had ordered them (saying), "Kill yourselves (i.e. the innocent ones kill the guilty ones)) until the end of the Ayah.

This is why Allah said,

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُواْ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ

but if they had done what they were told,

meaning, if they do what they were commanded and refrain from what they were prohibited.

لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ

it would have been better for them,

than disobeying the command and committing the prohibition,

وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا

and would have strengthened their conviction,

According to As-Suddi,

stronger Tasdiq (conviction of faith)