فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا 84
Translations
So fight, [O Muḥammad], in the cause of Allāh; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allāh will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allāh is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.
Transliteration
Faqātil fī sabīlillāhi lā tukallafu illā nafsaka wa-harrid al-mu'minīn. 'Asā allāhu an yakuffa ba'sa alladhīna kafarū. Wa-allāhu ashaddu ba'san wa-ashaddu tankīlā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad to fight in the cause of Allah while reassuring him that he is only responsible for his own efforts, not the outcome. He is instructed to encourage the believers to participate in jihad, with the hope that Allah will restrain the harm of the disbelievers. The ayah concludes by affirming Allah's supreme power and ability to punish, emphasizing that Allah's might far exceeds that of any enemy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this verse provides both spiritual encouragement and practical wisdom—the Prophet should do his part while trusting in Allah's ultimate authority and justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period when the Muslim community faced active military threats from Meccan polytheists and other hostile groups. It comes within the broader context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of fighting in Allah's cause and the rules of warfare (ayahs 74-76). The verse addresses the Prophet directly during a time when the burden of leadership and military responsibility weighed heavily upon him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet emphasized personal responsibility in faith while relying on Allah: 'Each of you is a guardian and each of you will be asked about those under your guardianship.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while we must strive with full effort in righteous causes, we are only responsible for our own sincere efforts, not the results—outcomes belong to Allah alone. For modern believers, this provides comfort that persistent dedication to faith and good works, combined with trust in Allah's wisdom and power, is sufficient regardless of immediate external circumstances.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَـٰلِدًا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger and transgresses His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.
۞ لَّا خَيْرَ فِى كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَىٰهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَـٰحٍۭ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allāh - then We are going to give him a great reward.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
وَلَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
And We would have guided them to a straight path.