89 Page Notes

04 Surah An-Nisa (continued)

Page 89 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

4:66

4:67

4:68

4:69

4:70

4:71

4:72

4:73

4:74

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 89 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 89 of the Quran contains Surah An-Nisa (4), verses 66 through 74. This specific section transitions from the foundational requirement of obeying and submitting entirely to the judgments of Allah and His Messenger, to the immense rewards promised to those who obey, and finally to the psychological and physical preparations for struggle (J_d) in the path of Allah.

Classic books of prophetic traditions (Hadith) and reasons for revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul) outline several significant narrations tied directly to these verses.

1. Verses 66–68: Sacrificing the Self and Total Submission

"And if We had decreed upon them, 'Kill yourselves' or 'Leave your homes,' they would not have done it, except for a few of them..." (4:66)

These verses highlight human weakness in executing extreme commands and praise the select few who possess unwavering faith.

The Reaction of the Companions

When this verse was revealed, several prominent companions expressed their eager readiness to comply had such a severe command actually been handed down to them.

• Hadith Context: Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir al-Tabari record that when this verse descended, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq remarked, "If Allah had commanded us to do so, I would have killed myself."

• Similarly, it is narrated that Thabit bin Qays or Ammar bin Yasir said, "If Allah had ordered us to drown ourselves or kill ourselves, we would have done it. Praise be to Allah who has spared us from such an arduous test." Upon hearing this, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: "Indeed, there are men within my Ummah whose faith is more firmly anchored than the immovable mountains."

2. Verse 69: The Ultimate Companionship in Paradise

"And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions." (4:69)

This verse serves as a profound connection to Surah Al-Fatihah (4:7), expanding on exactly who constitutes the "path of those whom You have favored" (Lumah et al., 2025). It holds two deeply emotional historical contexts.

The Anxiety of Thawban (The Cause of Revelation)

The primary Asbab al-Nuzul (reason for revelation) involves the deep love the companions held for the Prophet ﷺ and their fear of being separated from him in the afterlife.

• Hadith Context: It is narrated by Tabarani and Ibn Mardawayh from Aisha (and separately regarding the Prophet’s freed slave, Thawban) that Thawban came to the Prophet ﷺ looking profoundly grief-stricken and pale. The Prophet ﷺ asked him what was wrong. Thawban replied:
  "O Messenger of Allah, I am not sick. But when I do not see you, I feel an intense loneliness until I meet you again. Then I remembered the Hereafter and feared I would never see you there. For if you enter Paradise, you will be raised up high with the Prophets, and if I enter Paradise, I will be in a tier far lower than yours. And if I do not enter, I will never see you again."
  The Prophet ﷺ did not answer him until Angel Gabriel descended with verse 69, assuring the believers that true obedience grants them companionship with the Prophets in the highest stations of Paradise.

The Prophet’s Final Words on Earth

This specific verse directly ties into the final moments of the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ life.

• Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari 4435): Aisha narrated that during his fatal illness, she heard the Prophet ﷺ whispering while leaning against her. He was repeating the words of this exact verse:
  "O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, and join me with the Highest Companions (Al-Rafiq al-A'la)."
  Aisha noted that this was when she realized he was choosing the next life over remaining in this world.

3. Verses 71–74: Strategic Vigilance and the Hypocrites

"O you who have believed, take your precaution and either go forth in companies or go forth all together. And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind..." (4:71-72)

These verses switch the focus toward military defense, community organization, and exposing the internal psychological division caused by the hypocrites (Munafiqoon) who try to avoid the struggles of the early Muslim community.

Exposing the Mindset of the Hypocrites

• Hadith/Tafsir Context: In the collections of Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, these verses are linked to the expeditions surrounding Uhud and subsequent campaigns. The Hadiths addressing the Munafiqoon match the behavior described in verse 72: if the Muslims suffered a loss or setback, the hypocrite would celebrate his safety saying, "Allah was gracious to me that I was not present with them." Conversely, if the Muslims gained spoils or victory, the hypocrite would express regret, wishing he had gone along to secure material wealth (verse 73).

• This aligns broadly with prophetic traditions detailing the core traits of hypocrisy—preferring worldly safety and material gain over spiritual principles and collective duty.

References

• Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 64 (Military Expeditions), Hadith 4435.

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Exegesis of Surah An-Nisa, Verses 66–74).

• Tafsir al-Tabari (Jami' al-bayan 'an ta'wil ay al-Qur'an).

• Lumah, D. D., Nasrullah, N., Salsabila, B. A., & Almaliki, F. (2025). How Did Imam At-Thabari's Interpretation with Tafsir bil Ma'tsur Style Influence Qur'anic Exegesis and Ulama During the Abbasid Dynasty Era? QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies, 4(1), 151-170.