4. Sura an-Nisa

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ أَوِ اخْرُجُواْ مِن دِيَارِكُم ...

4: 66.  If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes,

... مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ...  

very few of them would have done it:

C584. The highest in faith willingly sacrifice their lives, their homes. and all that they hold dearest, in the cause of Allah.

Those whose faith is not so strong are expected at least to do what a loyal member of any society does, submit his doubts and disputes to the head of the society and cheerfully accept his decision and submit to it,

The contrast is between the Hypocrites who will not even do this, and the really devoted men and women who would voluntarily sacrifice their lives.

... وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُواْ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا ﴿٦٦﴾

but if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (faith).

وَإِذاً لَّآتَيْنَاهُم مِّن لَّدُنَّـا أَجْراً عَظِيمًا ﴿٦٧﴾

4: 67.  And We should then have given them from Our Presence a great reward.

وَلَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا ﴿٦٨﴾

4: 68.  And We should have shown them the Straight Way.

C585. Four advantages of obedience to Allah are mentioned, in the order in which they will appeal to the beginner in faith:

1.     his own benefit ("best for them"):

2.     strengthening of his faith, as he becomes more and more at home in the world of faith:

3.     reward from Allah's own Presence, such intense conviction that no further arguments are needed:

4.     the Straight Way, in which there is no doubt or difficulty whatever in our practical conduct.

Asad’s Version:

4: 66 Yet We were to ordain for them, "Lay down your lives," or, "Forsake your homelands," only a very few of them would do - although, if they did what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in faith]

4: 67 Whereupon We should indeed grant them, out of Our Grace, a mighty reward,

4: 68 and indeed guide them on to a straight way.