Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:51-52

An-Nisā’ (The Women): (51–52)

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا

هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَمَن يَلْعَنِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ نَصِيرًا

Know that the Almighty has recounted another type of cunning plot from the Jews. They used to prefer idol worshippers over the believers. Undoubtedly, they knew that this preference was false, so their assertion stemmed purely from obstinacy and fanaticism. There are several issues concerning this verse:

It is narrated that Huyayy ibn Akhtab and Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf, two Jewish leaders, went to Mecca with a group of Jews to ally with Quraysh against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). They told Quraysh: "You people of the Book, and you are closer to Muhammad than we are, so we do not trust your deception. Prostrate to our gods so that our hearts may be reassured." They did so.

This act constituted their belief in Jibt and Ṭāghūt, as they prostrated to idols. Abu Sufyan then asked: "Are we more rightly guided, or is Muhammad?" Ka‘b replied: "What does Muhammad say? He commands the worship of Allah alone and forbids the worship of idols and abandoning the religion of our forefathers, and he causes division." Abu Sufyan asked: "What is your religion?" They replied: "We are the custodians of the House (the Ka‘bah), we provide water for the pilgrims, host the guests, and free the captives," mentioning their deeds. Abu Sufyan concluded: "You are more rightly guided."

This is what is meant by their statement: {Are those who disbelieve more rightly guided than those who believe?} (An-Nisā’: 51).

People have differed regarding the meaning of Al-Jibt and Al-Ṭāghūt, offering several interpretations:

1. Linguistically: The people of language state that every object worshipped besides Allah is Jibt and Ṭāghūt. Most scholars claim that Al-Jibt has no derivation in the language. Al-Qaffāl narrated from some that Al-Jibt originally was Jibs (جِبْس), where the sīn (س) was replaced by a tā’ (ت), and Jibs means the wicked and the base. As for Al-Ṭāghūt, it is derived from Ṭughyān (tyranny/excess), which is extravagance in disobedience. Thus, anyone who calls others to major sins deserves this name. This term was then extended to inanimate objects, as Allah says: {And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. My Lord, indeed they have led astray many of the people} (Ibrāhīm: 35–36), attributing misguidance to idols despite them being inanimate.

2. Al-Kashshāf’s View: Al-Jibt refers to the idols and everything worshipped besides Allah, while Al-Ṭāghūt is Satan.

3. Ibn ‘Abbās’s Narration (First): Al-Jibt refers to the idols, and Al-Ṭāghūt refers to the interpreters of the idols who convey lies from them to mislead people.

4. Ibn ‘Abbās’s Narration (Second): ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭalḥah narrated from Ibn ‘Abbās that Al-Jibt is the soothsayer (kāhin), and Al-Ṭāghūt is the sorcerer (sāḥir).

5. Al-Kalbī’s View: In this verse, Al-Jibt refers to Huyayy ibn Akhtab, and Al-Ṭāghūt refers to Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf, as the Jews used to refer back to these two. They were singled out by these names due to their efforts in deceiving and misleading people.

6. The Idols of Quraysh: Al-Jibt and Al-Ṭāghūt were two idols belonging to Quraysh, the very idols the Jews prostrated to in order to gain Quraysh’s pleasure.

In summary, there are many sayings, but these two words are used as proper nouns for those who reach the extreme limit of evil and corruption.

Then the Almighty said: {Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed. And whoever Allah curses—never will you find for him any helper.}

He clarified that they deserve the curse from Allah, which is abandonment (khidhlan) and remoteness, the opposite of the believers’ closeness and favor. He then informed that whoever Allah curses will find no helper, just as He said: {Cursed, wherever they are found, they shall be seized and killed with severe killing} (Al-Ahzāb: 61). This curse is present in this world, and what awaits them in the Hereafter is greater—the Day when no soul will have power over another soul, and the command on that Day belongs to Allah. This verse contains a promise of victory and support for the Messenger (PBUH) and strengthening for the believers, by contrasting opposites, as stated in previous verses: {And sufficient is Allah as a Guardian, and sufficient is Allah as a Helper} (An-Nisā’: 45).

Know that these people deserved this severe curse because what they stated—preferring idol worshippers over those who believed in Muhammad (PBUH)—amounts to sheer defiance. How can someone who worships other than Allah be in a better state than someone who is not satisfied with any deity other than Allah? And how can someone whose religion is entirely focused on serving the Creator, turning away from the world and towards the Hereafter, be in a lesser state than someone who is the opposite in all these aspects? And Allah knows best.