Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:71

"O you who have believed, take your precaution."

• "Take your precaution" (خذوا حذركم): Al-ḥidhr and al-ḥadhar are synonymous, like al-ithr and al-athar. It is said, "He took his precaution," meaning he became vigilant and guarded against what is feared. It is as if he made "precaution" the tool with which he protects himself and preserves his soul.
• The meaning: Be cautious and guard yourselves against the enemy, and do not give them power over you.

"Then go forth" (فانفروا):

• When you go forth to the enemy, do so either in "groups" (ثبات)—meaning separate, small detachments, one after another—or "all together" (جميعا)—meaning gathered as one single body. Do not abandon one another, lest you cast yourselves into destruction.
• It is also recited as fanfurū (with a ḍamma on the fāʾ).

"And indeed, among you is he who lingers behind; and if disaster strikes you, he says, 'Allah has favored me in that I was not present with them.' But if bounty comes to you from Allah, he will surely say—as if there had never been between you and him any affection—'Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment.'" (72-73)