سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 191
وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ ۚ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ حَتَّىٰ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ ۖ فَإِن قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿191﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm (the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ
wa-uq'tulūhum
And kill them
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
wherever
ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ
thaqif'tumūhum
you find them
وَأَخْرِجُوهُم
wa-akhrijūhum
and drive them out
مِّنْ
min
from
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
wherever
أَخْرَجُوكُمْ ۚ
akhrajūkum
they drove you out
وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ
wal-fit'natu
and [the] oppression
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
(is) worse
مِنَ
mina
than
ٱلْقَتْلِ ۚ
l-qatli
[the] killing
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تُقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ
tuqātilūhum
fight them
عِندَ
ʿinda
near
ٱلْمَسْجِدِ
l-masjidi
Al-Masjid
ٱلْحَرَامِ
l-ḥarāmi
Al-Haraam
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ
yuqātilūkum
they fight you
فِيهِ ۖ
fīhi
in it
فَإِن
fa-in
Then if
قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ
qātalūkum
they fight you
فَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ ۗ
fa-uq'tulūhum
then kill them
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Such
جَزَآءُ
jazāu
(is the) reward
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
l-kāfirīna
(of) the disbelievers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
191. And kill them wherever you encounter them, and expel them from wherever they expelled you [252], for persecution [253] is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Haram unless they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers [254].
[252]
Prevention of Fitnah and Jihad:
Now, wherever the opportunity arises, you should fight them, and your objective should be that just as they expelled you from Makkah because you accepted Islam, you too should expel them from Makkah because of their polytheism and persistence in polytheism, and this is a tit-for-tat response.
[253] The word "fitnah" in the Arabic language is used in a very broad sense and in several meanings. For example, the polytheists of Makkah being custodians of the House of Allah and placing idols in the House of Allah, preventing Muslims from performing prayers in the House of Allah, even from entering it—these are all acts of fitnah. Thus, here, fitnah refers to every action of the polytheists of Makkah that they committed to hinder the religion of Islam. For example, oppressing and persecuting Muslims, tyranny and oppression, forcing them back into disbelief, not leaving them alone even if they migrated, and later usurping their wealth and property, etc.—all these things are included in fitnah. It has been made obligatory to perform jihad to prevent all such matters.
[254] That is, Makkah is indeed a place of peace, but if they fight you there, then as a counteraction, you too may do so. The initiation of fighting in Makkah should not be from your side.
[252]
Prevention of Fitnah and Jihad:
Now, wherever the opportunity arises, you should fight them, and your objective should be that just as they expelled you from Makkah because you accepted Islam, you too should expel them from Makkah because of their polytheism and persistence in polytheism, and this is a tit-for-tat response.
[253] The word "fitnah" in the Arabic language is used in a very broad sense and in several meanings. For example, the polytheists of Makkah being custodians of the House of Allah and placing idols in the House of Allah, preventing Muslims from performing prayers in the House of Allah, even from entering it—these are all acts of fitnah. Thus, here, fitnah refers to every action of the polytheists of Makkah that they committed to hinder the religion of Islam. For example, oppressing and persecuting Muslims, tyranny and oppression, forcing them back into disbelief, not leaving them alone even if they migrated, and later usurping their wealth and property, etc.—all these things are included in fitnah. It has been made obligatory to perform jihad to prevent all such matters.
[254] That is, Makkah is indeed a place of peace, but if they fight you there, then as a counteraction, you too may do so. The initiation of fighting in Makkah should not be from your side.
