التفسير التبليغي
(And if We had enjoined upon them, 'Kill yourselves' or 'Depart from your homes,' they would not have done it, except for a few of them. And if they had done what they were admonished to do, it would have been better for them and a stronger confirmation [of their faith].) (4:66)
(And if We had enjoined upon them, 'Kill yourselves' or 'Depart from your homes') – Departure from one's homes is a difficult matter for the soul, because leaving and abandoning family and possessions is akin to killing oneself.
(Kill yourselves or depart from your homes) – Killing is the soul departing from the body, and expulsion from one's homes is moving away from the land where a person lives.
(Kill yourselves or depart from your homes) – The act of killing is paired with the act of expulsion from one's homes.
(Kill yourselves or depart from your homes) – When a person is killed, they suffer, and when they depart in the way of Allah, they suffer... both are difficult for a human being.
(And if they had done what they were admonished to do), if we assume that Allah had said: (Kill yourselves or depart from your homes), and then they had done it, they would have found in that a goodness beyond what they had imagined.
Allah, the Exalted, did not enjoin that upon us, knowing that most would not comply, so He left it out of gentleness towards us, lest our disobedience become manifest.
Most people, if they were commanded to show readiness to depart in the way of Allah, would not do so.
Bad natures are predisposed to disobeying commands.
We have sufficed by obligating them with easy matters, so let them accept them and abandon rebellion.
He did not obligate them with these difficult things, because if He had obligated them with them, they would not have done them, and if they had not done them, they would have incurred punishment.
If He had enjoined upon His servants difficult commands for the souls, such as killing themselves and departing from their homes, only a few of them, and rare ones, would have done it.
(And if they had done what they were admonished to do), meaning: what was assigned to them at all times according to its requirement of readiness and sacrifice by departing in the way of Allah, it would have been better for them in this world and the Hereafter, and a stronger confirmation (of their faith), meaning: stronger for their faith.
(And if they had done what they were admonished to do, it would have been better for them and a stronger confirmation [of their faith]) – This goodness is a stronger confirmation for others.
(what they were admonished to do) – The obligations of commands and prohibitions.
(it would have been better for them) – meaning: they would have been among the best in the sight of Allah.
(and a stronger confirmation) – Allah strengthens those who believe because of what they have upheld of faith and the effort of faith, which is fulfilling what they were admonished to do.
The acts of Da'wah (inviting to Islam) are a cause for steadfastness in effort.
The first thing that came from the religion was the soundness of the heart, and after that came employment, so they were employed for sacrifice and struggle.
When this verse was revealed, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, said: "O Messenger of Allah, if Allah had commanded us, we would have done it." So, because of the soundness of their hearts, they had complete readiness for self-sacrifice and compliance with Allah's command.
Allah condemned the Children of Israel; they did not have complete servitude.
Complete servitude is to have readiness to accept commands... Complete servitude is learning the preoccupation with good deeds.
Indeed, among my Ummah are men whose faith is more firmly rooted in their hearts than the towering mountains.
Faith is more firmly rooted in the hearts of its people than the towering mountains.
Source: التفسير التبليغي