An-Nisa' 80–91
The attitude of believers and hypocrites is distinguished by how they face the obligation to strive, accompanied by the command to answer greetings with something better and the rules for dealing with two-faced hypocrites.
Verses 80-86 explain the difference between truly faithful believers and hypocrites in dealing with the obligation to fight in Allah's way. Obeying the Messenger is an absolute condition of obeying Allah. Hypocrites always seek excuses, and even behind the Messenger they express opinions that do not come from the Messenger. Allah commands His Messenger to avoid them. If only they would reflect upon the Qur'an, surely their faith would become true and strong, for the Qur'an is truly from Allah. Therefore, there is nothing wrong or contradictory in it. Hypocrites also love to divulge secrets and spread bad news among people without asking the Messenger or the concerned parties. Therefore, only by Allah's grace can we be protected from their evil. Allah reminds Muslims that fighting should be in Allah's way. If fighting were beyond human capability, surely Allah would not require it. Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to motivate believers to fight, for only through this can the evil of the disbelievers be prevented and stopped. Allah promises good to those who help people from injustice and, conversely, will punish the perpetrators of injustice with a severe punishment.
Verse 86 obligates us to answer the greeting of a fellow Muslim with something better, at minimum equal to what the greeter said.
Verses 87-91 still explain matters related to hypocrites and the stance Muslims must take toward them. Allah emphasizes that Muslims need not doubt or dispute about hypocrites. No matter what effort we make to guide them is futile because Allah has led them into misguidance due to their own actions. Allah will also gather all humanity on the Day of Judgment. On that day all matters will be decided. Those who believe and do good deeds will receive the reward of paradise, while the disbelievers and hypocrites will receive hellfire.
In fact, the hypocrites want the believers to disbelieve and go astray just as they have gone astray. Therefore, Allah prohibits believers from taking them as helpers or leaders until they migrate or return to the right path of Islam. If they turn away, then Allah commands fighting them except if they have a peace treaty or come to make peace. There is also another group of hypocrites who pretend to seek protection and security from believers for themselves and their people. But if they are urged to fight the believers, they will join. Toward such a group, Allah commands to capture and kill them wherever they are found. Allah has granted believers full authority to deal with hypocrites like that.
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