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 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.
216. Fighting has been prescribed for you, though it is disliked by you [285]. But it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you love something while it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.
[285]
The Benefits and Importance of Jihad:
During the Makkan period, some enthusiastic Muslims kept asking for permission to engage in jihad, but instead of jihad, they were continually advised to be patient. Here, after coming to Madinah, when Allah Almighty granted permission and made jihad obligatory, some Muslims found it difficult. Because in every society, not all people are the same; some are enthusiastic, brave, and young, while others are old, weak, and less courageous. This address is directed towards this second group of people, and they are being made to understand that what seems bad to you may not actually be bad, but rather very beneficial for you, and the opposite may also be true. Especially, this is mentioned in the context of jihad because by nature, every human being dislikes fighting, as love for life is inherently present in every living being, and apparently, it seems that jihad will result in loss of life and wealth. However, this very jihad is the driving spirit of any nation. The martyr's death is the life of the nation. That is why, in the Book and Sunnah, jihad has been declared a very virtuous deed, and some people give it so much importance that they consider jihad not as a collective obligation (fard kifayah) but as an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), and regard it as the sixth pillar of Islam. But their way of thinking is not correct. Despite jihad being among the most virtuous deeds, it is neither an individual obligation nor the sixth pillar of Islam. [تفصيل كے ليے ديكهئے سورة نساء كي آيت نمبر 96 اور سورة توبه كي آيت نمبر 92 كے حواشي]
[285]
The Benefits and Importance of Jihad:
During the Makkan period, some enthusiastic Muslims kept asking for permission to engage in jihad, but instead of jihad, they were continually advised to be patient. Here, after coming to Madinah, when Allah Almighty granted permission and made jihad obligatory, some Muslims found it difficult. Because in every society, not all people are the same; some are enthusiastic, brave, and young, while others are old, weak, and less courageous. This address is directed towards this second group of people, and they are being made to understand that what seems bad to you may not actually be bad, but rather very beneficial for you, and the opposite may also be true. Especially, this is mentioned in the context of jihad because by nature, every human being dislikes fighting, as love for life is inherently present in every living being, and apparently, it seems that jihad will result in loss of life and wealth. However, this very jihad is the driving spirit of any nation. The martyr's death is the life of the nation. That is why, in the Book and Sunnah, jihad has been declared a very virtuous deed, and some people give it so much importance that they consider jihad not as a collective obligation (fard kifayah) but as an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), and regard it as the sixth pillar of Islam. But their way of thinking is not correct. Despite jihad being among the most virtuous deeds, it is neither an individual obligation nor the sixth pillar of Islam. [تفصيل كے ليے ديكهئے سورة نساء كي آيت نمبر 96 اور سورة توبه كي آيت نمبر 92 كے حواشي]
