Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:109

Surah An-Nisa (4): 109

{هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ جَادَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَمَنْ يُجَادِلُ اللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ}

• {هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ}: Hā (ها) is for alerting/drawing attention. Antum (أنتم) is the subject (mubtada'), and hā’ulā’ (هؤلاء) is the predicate (khabar).
• The clause {جَادَلْتُمْ} (you argued) functions as an explanation clarifying the meaning of hā’ulā’ (which is used here like a relative pronoun meaning "those who").
• The Meaning of Jidāl (Argument/Disputation):
  • Linguistically, jidāl refers to intense contention or wrangling.
  • The root signifies tightness; thus, jadala al-ḥabl means the rope was tightly twisted. A rajul majdūl is one who is tightly woven or strong. Al-Ajdala (the falcon) is named so because it is one of the strongest birds (according to Al-Zajjaj).
  • Others state that disputation is called jidāl because each party seeks to sway the other from their position and turn them away from their opinion.

• Contextual Meaning: This addresses a group of believers who defended certain individuals (like Tu'mah and his people) because they outwardly appeared to be Muslims. The meaning is: Suppose you argued and pleaded on their behalf in this worldly life. Who will argue for them on the Day of Resurrection if God seizes them with His punishment?
• Variant Reading: Abdullah ibn Mas'ud recited: {هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلَاءِ جَادَلْتُمْ عَنْهُ} (you argued on his behalf), referring specifically to Tu'mah.
• {فَمَنْ يُجَادِلُ اللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ}: This interrogative sentence carries the meaning of reprimand and severe admonishment.

{أَمْ مَنْ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا}

• {أَمْ مَنْ يَكُونُ}: This is connected (conjoined) to the preceding interrogation, continuing the rhetorical questioning.
• The Meaning of Wakīl (Agent/Guardian): A wakīl is one to whom a matter is entrusted for protection and safeguarding.
• The meaning here is: Who will be the protector and defender for them against the punishment of God?

After mentioning the severe warning in this section, the Almighty follows it up with an invitation to repentance, which includes three types of encouragement (Targhīb):

The First Type of Encouragement:

{وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا}

• {And whoever commits an evil deed or wrongs himself, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, he will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.}