Surah An-Nisa (النساء) • The Women

Quran 4:86

4:86

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا

wa-idhā ḥuyyītum bitaḥiyyatin faḥayyū bi-aḥsana min'hā aw ruddūhā inna l-laha kāna ʿalā kulli shayin ḥasīban

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

— Saheeh International

But [even in battle] when you [believers] are offered a greeting, respond with a better one, or at least return it: God keeps account of everything.

— M. A. S. Abdel Haleem

When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allâh is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.

— Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Juz 5Page 91medinan

Word by Word

وَإِذَاwa-idhāAnd when
حُيِّيتُمḥuyyītumyou are greeted
بِتَحِيَّةٍۢbitaḥiyyatinwith a greeting
فَحَيُّوا۟faḥayyūthen greet
بِأَحْسَنَbi-aḥsanawith better
مِنْهَآmin'hāthan it
أَوْawor
رُدُّوهَآۗruddūhāreturn it
إِنَّinnaIndeed
ٱللَّهَl-lahaAllah
كَانَkānais
عَلَىٰʿalāof
كُلِّkullievery
شَىْءٍshayinthing
حَسِيبًاḥasībanan Accountant