The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 250
CH. 4 AN-NISA' PT. 5 يَسْتَوِي الْقُعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ Those of the believers who". 96 sit still, excepting the disabled : أُولِى الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجهِدُونَ فِي ones, and those who strive in سَبِيلِ اللهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ the cause of Allah with their wealth and their persons, are not الله المُجْهِدِينَ بِاَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ equal, Allah has exalted in rank those who strive with their عَلَى الْقَعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللهُ wealth and their persons above those who sit still. And to each الْحُسْنَى وَفَضَّلَ اللهُ الْمُجْهِدِينَ عَلَى Allah has promised good. And الْقَعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيْمان Allah has exalted those who strive above those who sit still, by a great reward,5 564 "9:19-20; 57:11. 564. Commentary: The verse speaks of the different classes of believers only and not of hypocrites. Believers are of two classes: (1) Those who sincerely accept the truth and try to live up to the teachings of Islam but take no part in the struggle to defend and propagate the faith. These are, as it were, passive believers—"sitters" as the verse names them. (2) Those who not only live up to the teachings of Islam but also vigorously participate in the work of its propagation. These are active believers, the "strivers" or mujahids as they are called. The latter are far superior to the former in the sight of God. There is, however, a class of believers who, even though they do not join their brethren in actually fighting disbelievers, get an equal reward with those who take part in the actual struggle. These are 690 referred to in the words "excepting the disabled ones". Their inability to take part in actual fighting is due to circumstances over which they have no control. They are heart and soul with the Muslims who are mujahid, wherever the latter go to fight in the cause of God; but their particular poverty, circumstances—disease, etc. do not allow them to join the expeditions in person. Of these the Prophet once told his Holy Companions in one of his expeditions that there were men in Medina who were with them in every march they made and in every valley they traversed and who were getting the same reward. The Companions asked the Holy Prophet in surprise how that could be possible and who were those fortunate ones. "They are those of your brethren", replied the Holy Prophet, "who were eager to join us