Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Introduction

Quran 4:85 in Arabic and English:
مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةًۭ يَكُن لَّهُۥ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةًۭ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۭ مُّقِیتًۭا islamawakened.com. In the English translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, this verse reads: “Whoever speaks for a good cause will share in its benefits and whoever speaks for a bad cause will share in its burden: God controls everything” islamawakened.com. This scripture, from Surat an-Nisā’ (Chapter of Women), encapsulates a profound moral principle: when we encourage or assist good deeds, we partake in their reward; when we abet wrongdoing, we partake in the blame, under the all-encompassing watch of God’s justice.

This commentary will explore Quran 4:85 from multiple angles—psychological, philosophical, and theological—to show how it encourages more generous and compassionate living. We will examine how the verse motivates altruism and social cooperation (psychologically), how it reflects on moral responsibility and causality (philosophically), and how it aligns with concepts of divine reward and justice (theologically). Along the way, we will reference related Quranic teachings and Hadiths (Prophetic traditions) as well as parallels in the Bible, illustrating that the ethos of “sharing in the outcomes of the good we promote (and the bad we avoid)” is a broadly universal value. In doing so, we will see how this verse urges believers—and by extension all people of conscience—to become active agents of compassion and ethical responsibility in their communities, fostering a more generous and cooperative society.

Read further in Microsoft Word file: