4. Sura an-Nisa

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ وَحَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ...   

4: 84.  Then fight in Allah's cause -- thou art held responsible only for thyself, and rouse the believers.

... عَسَى اللّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ...  

It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the unbelievers:

... وَاللّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلاً ﴿٨٤﴾

for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment.

C603. The courage of Muhammad was as notable as his wisdom, his gentleness, and his trust in Allah. Facing fearful odds, he often stood alone, and took the whole responsibility on himself. But his example and visible trust in Allah inspired and roused the Muslims, and also -speaking purely from a human point of view- restrained the fury of his enemies.

When we consider that he was Allah's inspired Messenger to carry out His Plan, we can see that nothing can resist that Plan. If the enemy happens to have strength, power, or resources, Allah's strength, power, and resources are infinitely greater. If the enemy is meditating punishment on the righteous for their righteousness. Allah's punishment for such wickedness will be infinitely greater and more effective.

Other versions:

4: 84 [ an-Nisa, Medina 92]

Asad Fight you [note 101] , then , in God's cause - since you are but responsible for your own self - and inspire the believers to overcome all fear of death [note 102]. God may well curb the might of those who are bent on denying the truth: for God is stronger in might, and stronger in ability to deter.

Yusuf Ali Then fight in Allah's cause thou art held responsible only for thyself and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the unbelievers: for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment.

Pickthall So fight (O Muhammad) in the way of Allah Thou art not taxed (with the responsibility for anyone) except for thyself and urge on the believers. Peradventure Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve. Allah is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment.

Fa qa_til fi sabililla_h(i), la_ tukallafu illa_ nafsaka wa harridil mu'minin(a),'asalla_hu ay yakuffa ba'sal lazina kafaru_, walla_hu asyaddu ba'saw wa asyaddu tankila_

[[ Asad’s note 101 - ………The above exhortation is to be understood in the context of a war already in progress, and not as an incitement to war.

note 102 – The term ‘harad’ signifies “corruption of body and mind” or “corruption in one’s conduct”, as well as “constant disquietude of mind” (Qamus). ..In the two instances where this verb occurs in the Quran (in this as well as in 8:65), it has the imperative form: “Render the believers free of all disquietude of mind” or, tropically, “of all fear of death”. The usual rendering of the phrase “harrid al-mu’minin’ as “urge [or “rouse” or “stir up”] the believers” does not convey the full meaning of the verb “harrada”, notwithstanding the fact that it has been suggested by some of the classical philologists….]]