سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 216
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿216﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Jihâd (holy fighting in Allâh’s cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
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 Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
216. 1. By giving an example of the command of jihad, the believers are being made to understand that act upon every command of Allah, even if it seems burdensome and unpleasant to you, because only Allah knows its outcome and result, you do not know. It is possible that there is goodness in it for you, just as through jihad you may attain victory and dominance, honor and elevation, and wealth and resources. Similarly, what you prefer (i.e., staying at home instead of jihad), its result may be dangerous for you, meaning the enemy may overpower you and you may have to face humiliation and disgrace.
