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Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

Verse 216of 286

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﴿٢١٦﴾

Translation (Sahih International)

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

Word-by-word meaning

كُتِبَkutibaIs prescribed
عَلَيْكُمُʿalaykumuupon you
ٱلْقِتَالُl-qitālu[the] fighting
وَهُوَwahuwawhile it
كُرْهٌۭkur'hun(is) hateful
لَّكُمْ ۖlakumto you
وَعَسَىٰٓwaʿasāBut perhaps
أَنan[that]
تَكْرَهُوا۟takrahūyou dislike
شَيْـًۭٔاshayana thing
وَهُوَwahuwaand it
خَيْرٌۭkhayrun(is) good
لَّكُمْ ۖlakumfor you
وَعَسَىٰٓwaʿasāand perhaps
أَنan[that]
تُحِبُّوا۟tuḥibbūyou love
شَيْـًۭٔاshayana thing
وَهُوَwahuwaand it
شَرٌّۭsharrun(is) bad
لَّكُمْ ۗlakumfor you
وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd Allah
يَعْلَمُyaʿlamuknows
وَأَنتُمْwa-antumwhile you
لَاlā(do) not
تَعْلَمُونَtaʿlamūnaknow

Commentary (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Jihad is made ObligatoryIn 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.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir — abridged excerpt

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