4. Sura an-Nisa (women), Medina 92 [Hijra 4]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لاَّ يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِي الضَّرَرِ ...

4: 95.  Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt,

... وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ...  

and those who strive and fight in the Cause of Allah with their goods and their persons.

... فَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً...  

Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home):

... وَكُـلاًّ وَعَدَ اللّهُ الْحُسْنَى ...

unto all (in faith) hath Allah promised good:

C614. Allah's goodness is promised to all people of Faith. But there are degrees among men and women of Faith.

-        There are people with natural inertia: they do the minimum that is required of them, but no more.

-         There are people who are weak in will: they are easily frightened.

-        There are people who are so strong in will and so firm in faith that they are determined to conquer every obstacle, whether in their own physical or other infirmities or in the external world around them.

In a time of jihad, when people give their all, and even their lives, for the common cause, they must be accounted more glorious than those who sit at home, even though they have good will to the cause and carry out minor duties in aid.

The special reward of such self-sacrifice is special forgiveness and mercy, as proceeding from the direct approbation and love of Allah.

... وَفَضَّلَ اللّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٩٥﴾

but those who strive and fight hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward.

دَرَجَاتٍ مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرَحْمَةً...   

4: 96.  Ranks specially bestowed by Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy.

... وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٩٦﴾

For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.