yalamūnaare (also) sufferingوہ بھی تکلیف اٹھاتے ہیں
كَمَا
kamālike whatجیسا کہ
تَاۡلَمُوۡنَ ۚ
talamūnayou are sufferingتم تکلیف اٹھاتے ہو
وَتَرۡجُوۡنَ
watarjūnawhile you (have) hopeاور تم امید رکھتے ہو
مِنَ
minafromسے
اللّٰهِ
l-lahiAllahاللہ
مَا
māwhatجو
لَا
lānotنہیں
يَرۡجُوۡنَ ؕ
yarjūnathey hopeوہ امید رکھتے
وَ كَانَ
wakānaAnd isاور ہے
اللّٰهُ
l-lahuAllahاللہ
عَلِيۡمًا
ʿalīmanAll-Knowingعلم والا
حَكِيۡمًا
ḥakīmanAll-Wiseحکمت والا
Wala tahinoo fee ibtigha-ialqawmi in takoonoo ta/lamoona fa-innahum ya/lamoona kamata/lamoona watarjoona mina Allahi ma layarjoona wakana Allahu AAaleeman hakeema
——— Transliteration
What Does Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 104 Mean? - Common Questions & Answers
Explore the meaning, interpretation, and Islamic explanation of Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 104 from the Holy Quran. Find answers to frequently asked questions about this verse, its context, and significance in Islamic teachings.
❓What does 'do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy' mean in An-Nisa 4:104?
The phrase 'wala tahinoo fi ibtighaa al-qawm' commands believers not to show weakness or lose determination when pursuing their enemies or continuing their struggle. According to classical tafsir, this means maintaining vigorous effort, fighting with resolve, and remaining wary rather than becoming faint-hearted. The verse applies both to military contexts and broader spiritual struggles, emphasizing that believers should not weaken their resolve even when facing hardship or opposition.
❓Why do believers have hope from Allah that disbelievers cannot have according to this verse?
Believers possess unique hope (raja) from Allah including expectation of divine reward, victory, aid, Paradise, and forgiveness - blessings that disbelievers cannot legitimately expect due to their rejection of faith. As the tafsir explains, while both groups may suffer equally in terms of physical pain and injuries, believers fight for Allah's cause with divine promises supporting them, whereas disbelievers struggle without spiritual foundation or eternal hope, making their efforts ultimately purposeless.
❓How does this verse address the reality of equal suffering between believers and disbelievers?
The verse acknowledges that 'if you are suffering, they too are suffering as you are suffering' (in takoonoo ta'lamoon fa-innahum ya'lamoon kama ta'lamoon), validating that physical hardship, injury, and death affect both groups equally. This honest recognition prevents believers from feeling uniquely victimized and instead highlights that the crucial difference lies not in the absence of suffering but in the presence of divine hope and spiritual purpose that sustains believers through their trials.
❓What is the significance of Allah being described as 'all-knowing, all-wise' at the end of this verse?
The attributes 'aliman hakiman' (all-knowing, all-wise) provide divine reassurance that Allah's perfect knowledge encompasses all circumstances and His wisdom governs all events. According to tafsir, this means Allah knows the hearts, intentions, and struggles of both believers and disbelievers, and His wise decree includes both the trials they face and the different outcomes awaiting them. This conclusion affirms that divine justice and wisdom underlie all worldly and religious ordinances.
❓How should Muslims apply this verse's teachings to modern struggles and challenges?
Muslims should maintain steadfastness in their spiritual, personal, and social struggles without becoming discouraged by hardships, knowing that others face similar difficulties but lack the believer's unique relationship with Allah. This includes persevering in righteous causes, maintaining hope during trials, continuing efforts for justice and truth, and drawing strength from the knowledge that their struggles have divine purpose and potential eternal reward, unlike those who pursue worldly goals without spiritual foundation.
❓What does this verse teach about the psychology of perseverance in Islamic spirituality?
The verse provides a sophisticated psychological framework for perseverance by first acknowledging the reality of suffering (preventing denial), then equalizing the human experience (preventing self-pity), and finally highlighting the believer's unique spiritual advantages (providing motivation). This approach helps believers process hardship realistically while maintaining hope through their special relationship with Allah, creating psychological resilience based on divine connection rather than mere human willpower.
❓How does this verse relate to the concept of jihad and struggle in Islam?
The verse establishes fundamental principles for any form of jihad (struggle) - whether against external enemies, internal temptations, or social injustices. It teaches that persistence in righteous struggle is mandatory despite hardship, that believers should expect difficulties equal to their opponents, but that their struggle has divine backing that gives them ultimate advantage. This applies to personal spiritual development, community building, seeking knowledge, and defending justice.
❓What spiritual remedies does this verse offer for dealing with discouragement and despair?
The verse offers several spiritual remedies: recognizing that hardship is universal rather than personal persecution, understanding that enemies also suffer (preventing them from seeming invincible), focusing on the unique hope that believers possess from Allah, and trusting in Allah's perfect knowledge and wisdom governing all events. These remedies transform despair into determination by shifting perspective from temporal suffering to eternal hope and divine purpose.