Surah an-Nisa' (Women ) 4 : 50

Overview (Verses 51 - 55)

Taking Pride in False Beliefs
 
The sūrah continues to draw people’s attention to the singular attitude of those who claim to be pure, while they believe in falsehood and in arbitrary deviation away from Divine guidance. At the same time, they testify that the pagan Arabs were better guided than those who believed in God, His message, and the Divine constitution. This is followed by an outright denunciation of these people and their attitude. They are shown as envious and stingy. The true reason for their opposition to Islam which marks their deviation from the faith of Abraham, in belonging to which they took pride, is given together with a clear warning to them that persistence in such an attitude will inevitably lead to Hell.
 
Are you not aware of those who, having been granted a share of Divine revelations, now believe in falsehood and arrogant deviation [from Divine faith], and they say to the unbelievers that they are better guided than the believers. These are the ones whom God has rejected; anyone whom God rejects shall find none to succour him. Have they, perchance, a share in (God’s) dominion? If so, they would not give other people so much as [would fill] the groove of a date-stone. Do they, perchance, envy other people fir what God has given them out of His bounty? We have indeed given revelation and wisdom to the House of Abraham, and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion. Some of them believe in him and some turn away from him. Sufficient scourge is the fire of Hell. (Verses 51-55)
 
Those who were given a portion of the Scriptures should have been the first to believe in God’s new revelations and to reject the idolatry advocated by those who received no guidance from God. They are always expected to put God’s revelations into practice and to implement them in their lives. They must not follow arrogant, arbitrary deviation, which includes every rule or law that cannot be supported by Divine faith. The Jews, who used to claim purity for themselves and boast that they were God’s beloved people, followed falsehood, nevertheless, and were guilty of associating partners with God when they allowed their priests and rabbis to enact for them legislation which could not be sanctioned by Him. Laws which are in conflict with Divine faith are described here as arrogant, as arbitrary deviations because they involve the usurpation by man of one of the most essential elements of Godhead, namely legislative authority. Moreover, it signifies rebellion against Divine law, which ensures that man abides by the rule of right and justice. Those who believe in such falsehood and follow such arbitrary and arrogant deviation are either unbelievers or idolaters. Hence, the Qur’ān wonders at them having been given a part of the Scriptures for they knowingly deviate from it.
 
Furthermore, they sided with the pagan idolaters against the believers who were given revelations by God: “And they say to the unbelievers that they are better guided than the believers.” (Verse 51)
 
Ibn Isĥāq reports on the authority of Ibn `Abbās, the Prophet’s cousin and Companion: “Those who worked to forge the alliance between the confederate Arab tribes of Quraysh and Ghatafān and the Jewish tribe of Quraiżah were Ĥuyay ibn Akhţab, Sallām ibn al-Ĥaqīq Abū Rāfi`, al-Rabī` ibn al-Ĥaqīq, Abū `Āmir, Waĥwāĥ ibn `Amir, and Ĥawdah ibn Qays. The last three were of the Jewish tribe of Wā’il, while the rest belonged to the Jewish tribe of al-Nađīr. When they went to the Quraysh, the latter thought: `These are the Jewish rabbis who have knowledge of the Old Testament. Let us ask them which religion is better, ours or that of Muĥammad.’ When they asked them they said: `Your religion is better than his, and you are better guided than his followers.”‘ God then revealed the following verses:
 
Are you not aware of those who, having been granted a share of Divine revelations, now believe in falsehood and arrogant deviation [from Divine faith], and they say to the unbelievers that they are better guided than the believers. These are the ones whom God has rejected; anyone whom God rejects shall find none to succour him. Have they, perchance, a share in (God’s) dominion? If so, they would not give other people so much as [would fill] the groove of a date-stone. Do they, perchance, envy other people for what God has given them out of His bounty? We have indeed given revelation and wisdom to the House of Abraham, and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion. Some of them believe in him and some turn away from him. Sufficient scourge is the fire of Hell. (Verses 51-55)
 
This is in effect a declaration that they have been rejected by God and that they will have no support in this life or in the Hereafter, because they had gone to the idolaters seeking their support. They told them what they knew to be untrue in order to win their support. They achieved their purpose and the Arabian tribes came out with them for the Battle of the Moat. The Prophet and his Companions dug the Moat around Madinah, and God took care of their enemies: “God repelled the unbelievers and caused them to go back frustrated, having achieved nothing. God has spared the believers the need to fight, for God is Mighty, Powerful.” (33: 25)
 
It is singular that the Jews should say that idolatry was better than the faith of Muĥammad and his Companions, and to claim that the idolaters were better guided than those who had believed in the Divine Book and in God’s Messenger. Nevertheless, it is a consistent attitude displayed by the Jews, who have always opposed the truth and supported the followers of falsehood against them. They have their own insatiable ambition and ever-burning grudges. Those who follow the truth will never support them to achieve these ambitions or avenge these grudges. They can only be supported by those who follow falsehood. For this reason, they have to compromise with the latter and to testify in their favour.
 
This is a permanent state of affairs which makes it logical for them to describe the unbelievers as better guided than those who believe in God’s oneness. They repeat the same statement today and will repeat it in the future. They manipulate all the media under their control in order to distort the image of every successful Islamic movement anywhere in the world. They rush to aid the people of falsehood in destroying any Islamic movement, exactly as they helped the pagans of the Quraysh. Here too they sought their support to distort the image of the first Islamic movement and to destroy it. Their cunning and the circumstances which prevail nowadays, however, sometimes make them refrain from openly praising the people of falsehood. They continue, however, to distort the image of the truth and undermine its followers in order to facilitate their destruction by their enemies.
 
They realise that their open praise of their secret allies may create suspicion concerning the latter’s motives, who try to crush Islamic movements throughout the world. Devious as they are, they take at times an ostensibly hostile attitude towards their own allies, who are engaged in a fight against the truth and its people. They may appear to be engaged in a war against their allies, but it is only a war of words, the aim of which is to dispel any doubt that may be raised about those who are, in reality, their best allies. But they never stop working hard to distort the image of Islam and its followers. Their grudges and hostilities towards Islam and towards any attempt to bring about any Islamic revival is too great to be kept secret, even for deceiving their enemies.

It is the same nature and the same tactics employed for the same aim. It is for this that God curses them and ensures that they shall have no one to support them. He who is not supported by God has no support whatsoever, even though all the people of the world may be on his side: “These are the ones whom God has rejected; anyone whom God rejects shall find none to succour him.” (Verse 52)
 
We may be overawed when we say that all Western countries are supporting the Israelis. This may prompt us to ask: What about God’s promise that He has rejected them and, as such, that they will have no support? True support comes from God, not from people and states, even though they may have hydrogen bombs and missiles to deliver them. It is God alone who has mastery over His servants, including those who own hydrogen bombs and missiles. God supports those who support Him. He helps those who truly believe in Him, and follow His method closely, implementing it willingly, feeling happy, reassured.
 
With these words, God is addressing a community which believes in Him, and who follow His constitution. He belittles the importance of the Jews and their supporters and promises the Muslims that they will succeed in their battle against them. God has fulfilled His promises, which apply only to those who truly believe in Him. It is accomplished only by genuine and true believers. Let us, then, not be frightened by the support given by the atheists, polytheists and crusaders to the Jews. For these have only supported them against Islam. This is not the real support. At the same time, we must not be deceived by the present state of affairs. God’s promise to the Muslims will undoubtedly come true, when they are truly Muslims. Let Muslims try once only to be true Muslims, and let them see for themselves whether the Jews will continue to have any supporters, or whether they will benefit in any way by such support.
 
The Nature of Envy
 
The next two verses denounce their opposition to the Prophet and Muslims generally, begrudging them God’s favours of revelations, victory and strength. They envy them what God has granted them of His grace. They have not given them anything of their own. They view as undeserved, any favour God grants to anyone other than themselves, although He has bestowed on them and their predecessors much of His grace. His bounty has not taught them to be generous, and has not rid them of their envy. “Have they, perchance, a share in (God’s) dominion? If so, they would not give other people so much as [would fill] the groove of a date-stone. Do they, perchance, envy other people for what God has given them out of His bounty? We have indeed given revelation and wisdom to the House of Abraham, and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion.” (Verses 53-54)
 
This is an amazing attitude. They cannot tolerate that God grants any of His servants any favour. Are they His partners? Glorified be He to take any partners. Do they have any share in His wealth and property, from which He bestows His gifts? Had they any such share, they would have not given anyone a trifle. The Arabic expression used here for “a trifle” is a term which signifies a little mark which may be seen at the back of a date-stone or its groove. The Israelites are too selfish even to give that to people, had they any share in God’s wealth. We praise God that they do not have any share, otherwise all mankind would have perished.
 
Or is it envy? They envied the Prophet and the Muslims the great bounty God gave them when He revealed to them the religion that brought about their rebirth. Thus He gave them their distinctive character, as well as confidence, reassurance, light, purity, and strength. It is certainly their envy, along with their realisation that they had missed out on achieving their ambitions to impose their moral and economic authority on the Arabs, a nation that was divided before it had any religion worthy of the name.
 
But why should the Jews envy anyone on whom God bestows favours when they themselves had enjoyed much of such favour ever since the time of Abraham. God granted Abraham’s household Scriptures and prophethood as well as a kingdom. It was the Israelites who did not appreciate God’s favours, nor did they fulfil their obligations. Some of them were truly unbelievers. Nevertheless, people who have enjoyed all this grace should never begrudge anyone anything God may grant them. “We have indeed given revelation and wisdom to the House of Abraham, and We did bestow on them a mighty dominion. Some of them believe in him and some turn away from him.” (Verses 54-55)
 
It is perhaps the worst type of envy that one who enjoys much of God’s favours should envy others what they have been granted by Him. When a person who is totally deprived of favours envies others, his envy is a terrible vice. For one who enjoys much, envy is a mark of genuine evil. Hence, the warning against an evil doom: “Sufficient scourge is the fire of Hell.” (Verse 55)