Quran 2:216 — Al-Baqara, verse 216
M. A. S. Abdel Haleem · selected translation
Fighting is ordained for you, though you dislike it. You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: God knows and you do not.’
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu wahuwa kur'hun lakum waʿasā an takrahū shayan wahuwa khayrun lakum waʿasā an tuḥibbū shayan wahuwa sharrun lakum wal-lahu yaʿlamu wa-antum lā taʿlamūna
Other translations
- A. J. Arberry
- Prescribed for you is fighting, though it be hateful to you. Yet it may happen that you will hate a thing which is better for you; and it may happen that you will love a thing which is worse for you; God knows, and you know not.
- Muhammad Asad
- FIGHTING is ordained for you, even though it be hateful to you; but it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know.
- Sahih International
- Battle 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 Allāh knows, while you know not.
Words
| # | Word | Meaning | Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | كُتِبَkutiba | Is prescribed | كتب |
| 2 | عَلَيْكُمُʿalaykumu | upon you | — |
| 3 | ٱلْقِتَالُl-qitālu | [the] fighting | قتل |
| 4 | وَهُوَwahuwa | while it | — |
| 5 | كُرْهٌۭkur'hun | (is) hateful | كره |
| 6 | لَّكُمْ ۖlakum | to you | — |
| 7 | وَعَسَىٰٓwaʿasā | But perhaps | عسي |
| 8 | أَنan | [that] | — |
| 9 | تَكْرَهُوا۟takrahū | you dislike | كره |
| 10 | شَيْـًۭٔاshayan | a thing | شيأ |
| 11 | وَهُوَwahuwa | and it | — |
| 12 | خَيْرٌۭkhayrun | (is) good | خير |
| 13 | لَّكُمْ ۖlakum | for you | — |
| 14 | وَعَسَىٰٓwaʿasā | and perhaps | عسي |
| 15 | أَنan | [that] | — |
| 16 | تُحِبُّوا۟tuḥibbū | you love | حبب |
| 17 | شَيْـًۭٔاshayan | a thing | شيأ |
| 18 | وَهُوَwahuwa | and it | — |
| 19 | شَرٌّۭsharrun | (is) bad | شرر |
| 20 | لَّكُمْ ۗlakum | for you | — |
| 21 | وَٱللَّهُwal-lahu | And Allah | أله |
| 22 | يَعْلَمُyaʿlamu | knows | علم |
| 23 | وَأَنتُمْwa-antum | while you | — |
| 24 | لَاlā | (do) not | — |
| 25 | تَعْلَمُونَtaʿlamūna | know | علم |