سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 190
وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ ﴿190﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And fight in the Way of Allâh those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allâh likes not the transgressors. [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in connection with Jihâd, but it was supplemented by another (9:36)].
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟
waqātilū
And fight
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ
yuqātilūnakum
fight you
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ ۚ
taʿtadū
transgress
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يُحِبُّ
yuḥibbu
like
ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
l-muʿ'tadīna
the transgressors
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 190) ➊ When the Muslims came for Umrah, the disbelievers became ready for battle. The relevance of the command of fighting with the mention of Hajj is this.
➋ Some commentators have said that in this verse, the command is only to fight those disbelievers who themselves initiate fighting. The meaning they have taken of { ”وَ لَا تَعْتَدُوْا“ } (do not transgress) is that you should not initiate fighting. Then these commentators have considered it abrogated by those verses in which there is a command to fight all disbelievers, whether they initiate or not, for example: «وَ قَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ كَآفَّةً » [ التوبۃ : ۳۶ ] "And fight the polytheists in all circumstances." And He said: «قَاتِلُوا الَّذِيْنَ يَلُوْنَكُمْ مِّنَ الْكُفَّارِ» [ التوبۃ : ۱۲۳ ] "Fight those who are near to you among the disbelievers." And He said: «قَاتِلُوا الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ لَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ» [ التوبۃ : ۲۹ ] "Fight those who do not believe in Allah nor in the Last Day." But in reality, this verse is neither against the other verses, nor is it abrogated, nor does {”لَا تَعْتَدُوْا“} mean that you should not initiate fighting. Rather, in this, the Muslims are encouraged that when they do not refrain from fighting, then you also fight them, and from whichever places they have expelled you, you also expel them from there. (Ibn Kathir) And the meaning of {”لَا تَعْتَدُوْا“} has been explained by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Umar bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) that do not kill children and women, nor the elderly, nor the one who offers peace and refrains from fighting. If you do so, then you will be transgressing. (Ibn Kathir) It is narrated from Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed someone as the commander of an army, he would advise him and the rest of the believers: "Fight in the way of Allah, in the name of Allah, fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Fight, do not be treacherous, do not break covenants, do not mutilate, do not kill children, nor monks, nor hermits." [ مسلم، الجہاد، باب تأمیر الإمام الأمراء علی البعوث… : ۱۷۳۱ ] Imam Tabari said: "This is the correct meaning, because those who claim abrogation have no evidence, and anyone can make a claim without evidence." It is clear that after this offer, "Accept Islam, or pay Jizyah, or prepare for battle," if someone does not fight, rather accepts Islam, or is ready to pay Jizyah, then fighting him is transgression, and Allah does not like those who transgress.
➋ Some commentators have said that in this verse, the command is only to fight those disbelievers who themselves initiate fighting. The meaning they have taken of { ”وَ لَا تَعْتَدُوْا“ } (do not transgress) is that you should not initiate fighting. Then these commentators have considered it abrogated by those verses in which there is a command to fight all disbelievers, whether they initiate or not, for example: «وَ قَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ كَآفَّةً » [ التوبۃ : ۳۶ ] "And fight the polytheists in all circumstances." And He said: «قَاتِلُوا الَّذِيْنَ يَلُوْنَكُمْ مِّنَ الْكُفَّارِ» [ التوبۃ : ۱۲۳ ] "Fight those who are near to you among the disbelievers." And He said: «قَاتِلُوا الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ لَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ» [ التوبۃ : ۲۹ ] "Fight those who do not believe in Allah nor in the Last Day." But in reality, this verse is neither against the other verses, nor is it abrogated, nor does {”لَا تَعْتَدُوْا“} mean that you should not initiate fighting. Rather, in this, the Muslims are encouraged that when they do not refrain from fighting, then you also fight them, and from whichever places they have expelled you, you also expel them from there. (Ibn Kathir) And the meaning of {”لَا تَعْتَدُوْا“} has been explained by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Umar bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) that do not kill children and women, nor the elderly, nor the one who offers peace and refrains from fighting. If you do so, then you will be transgressing. (Ibn Kathir) It is narrated from Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed someone as the commander of an army, he would advise him and the rest of the believers: "Fight in the way of Allah, in the name of Allah, fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Fight, do not be treacherous, do not break covenants, do not mutilate, do not kill children, nor monks, nor hermits." [ مسلم، الجہاد، باب تأمیر الإمام الأمراء علی البعوث… : ۱۷۳۱ ] Imam Tabari said: "This is the correct meaning, because those who claim abrogation have no evidence, and anyone can make a claim without evidence." It is clear that after this offer, "Accept Islam, or pay Jizyah, or prepare for battle," if someone does not fight, rather accepts Islam, or is ready to pay Jizyah, then fighting him is transgression, and Allah does not like those who transgress.
