Surah 2 Al-Baqara — Ayah 216
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Ҷанг бар шумо муқаррар шуд, дар ҳоле ки онро нохуш доред. Шояд чизеро нохуш бидоред ва дар он хайри шумо бошад ва шояд чизеро дӯст дошта бошед ва бароятон нописанд афтад. Худо медонад ва шумо намедонед!
kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu wahuwa kur'hun lakum waʿasā an takrahū shayan wahuwa khayrun lakum waʿasā an tuḥibbū shayan wahuwa sharrun lakum wal-lahu yaʿlamu wa-antum lā taʿlamūna
Word by word
- كُتِبَ kutiba Is prescribed
- عَلَيْكُمُ ʿalaykumu upon you
- ٱلْقِتَالُ l-qitālu [the] fighting
- وَهُوَ wahuwa while it
- كُرْهٌۭ kur'hun (is) hateful
- لَّكُمْ ۖ lakum to you
- وَعَسَىٰٓ waʿasā But perhaps
- أَن an [that]
- تَكْرَهُوا۟ takrahū you dislike
- شَيْـًۭٔا shayan a thing
- وَهُوَ wahuwa and it
- خَيْرٌۭ khayrun (is) good
- لَّكُمْ ۖ lakum for you
- وَعَسَىٰٓ waʿasā and perhaps
- أَن an [that]
- تُحِبُّوا۟ tuḥibbū you love
- شَيْـًۭٔا shayan a thing
- وَهُوَ wahuwa and it
- شَرٌّۭ sharrun (is) bad
- لَّكُمْ ۗ lakum for you
- وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
- يَعْلَمُ yaʿlamu knows
- وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum while you
- لَا lā (do) not
- تَعْلَمُونَ taʿlamūna know
Tafsir · Ibn Kathir (Abridged)
Jihad is made Obligatory
In this Ayah, Allah made it obligatory for the Muslims to fight in Jihad against the evil of the enemy who transgress against Islam. Az-Zuhri said, "Jihad is required from every person, whether he actually joins the fighting or remains behind. Whoever remains behind is required to give support, if support is warranted; to provide aid, if aid is needed; and to march forth, if he is commanded to do so. If he is not needed, then he remains behind." It is reported in the Sahih:
(Whoever dies but neither fought (i.e., in Allah's cause), nor sincerely considered fighting, will die a death of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance).)
On the day of Al-Fath (when he conquered Makkah), the Prophet said:
(There is no Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Al-Madinah) after the victory, but only Jihad and good intention. If you were required to march forth, then march forth.)
Allah's statement:
(...though you dislike it) means, `Fighting is difficult and heavy on your hearts.' Indeed, fighting is as the Ayah describes it, as it includes being killed, wounded, striving against the enemies and enduring the hardship of travel. Allah then said:
(. ..and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you) meaning, fighting is followed by victory, dominance over the enemy, taking over their lands, money and offspring. Allah continues:
(...and that you like a thing which is bad for you.)
This Ayah is general in meaning. Hence, one might covet something, yet in reality it is not good or beneficial for him, such as refraining from joining the Jihad, for it might lead to the enemy taking over the land and the government. Then, Allah said:
(Allah knows, but you do not know.) meaning, He has better knowledge than you of how things will turn out to be in the end, and of what benefits you in this earthly life and the Hereafter. Hence, obey Him and adhere to His commands, so that you may acquire the true guidance.