The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 241
PT. 5 AN-NISA' CH. 4 كفَلٌ مِّنْهَا وَكَانَ اللهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ like portion thereof, and Allah مقِيتًا is Powerful over everything. 55 554 وَإِذَا حُمِّيْتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَدُّوا بِأَحْسَن And when you are greeted. 87 مِنْهَا اَوْ رُدُّوهَا إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ عَلَى better prayer or at least return كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا with a prayer, greet ye with a it. Surely, Allah takes account of all things. 555 554. Important Words: For the significance of the words. 2:49 see under شفاعة and شفيع Commentary: a Read in the light of the context the words, Whoso makes a righteous intercession. . . may mean that person who persuades others to fight in the cause of God shall have an ample reward, while he who dissuades them from fighting shall suffer punishment for doing so. The verse also signifies that people should not look upon the subject of intercession or recommendation lightly; for the person who intercedes on behalf of, or recommends, another is answerable for his act. If the intercession or recommendation is right and just, he will have a suitable reward; otherwise he will share and be responsible for the evil consequence thereof. Taking the word act in the sense of connection, the verse may also be rendered as, "whoso forms a good connection shall have a share thereof and whoso forms a bad connection shall have a like portion thereof," thus 681 emphasizing the importance of forming a good connection whether with God or with His Prophets or with other people. Whereas a good connection may be the cause of rise and progress, a bad one may result in downfall and ruin. For a full discussion of the subject of aclé (intercession) see detailed note under 2:49. It is noteworthy that in connection with "righteous intercession", the word used is (share or fixed share) whereas in connection with "evil intercession" the word used is J(like portion). This is to point out that, whereas the punishment of an evil intercession will only be the like thereof, the good reward of a righteous intercession will have no such restriction but will be as large as God has fixed it, i. e. ten times greater. 555. Important Words: تحية when you are greeted) and) حييتم (prayer) and are all derived from i. e. he lived or he had life; or he was or became in good condition. means, he greeted him with a prayer for long and good life; or he prayed