Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 191
The Cow · 2:191 · 191/286
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
Waqtuloohum haythuthaqiftumoohum waakhrijoohum min haythu akhrajookum walfitnatuashaddu mina alqatli wala tuqatiloohum AAindaalmasjidi alharami hatta yuqatilookumfeehi fa-in qatalookum faqtuloohum kathalikajazao alkafireen
Translations of this verse 11
Saheeh International
And kill them [in battle] wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Ḥarām until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
Kill them wherever you encounter them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, for persecution is more serious than killing. Do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there. If they do fight you, kill them- this is what such disbelievers deserve-
Marmaduke Pickthall
And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
Kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, as Fitnah (to create disorder) is more severe than killing. However, do not fight them near Al-Masjid-ul-Harām (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) unless they fight you there. However, if they fight you (there) you may kill them. Such is the reward of the disbelievers.
Al-Hilali & Khan
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.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Kill them whenever you confront them and drive them out from where they drove you out. (For though killing is sinful) wrongful persecution is even worse than killing. Do not fight against them near the Holy Mosque unless they fight against you; but if they fight against you kill them, for that is the reward of such unbelievers.
Muhammad Asad — The Message of the Qur’an
And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away - for oppression is even worse than killing. And fight not against them near the Inviolable House of Worship unless they fight against you there first; but if they fight against you, slay them: such shall be the recompense of those who deny the truth.
Rowwad · source edition
And kill them wherever you find them[89], and drive them out from where they drove you out[90], for persecution[91] is far worse than killing. But do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there. However, if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Notes
[89] i.e., the disbelievers who raised arms against you. [90] i.e., the land of Makkah from which the Muslims were expelled. [91] Among the meanings of "fitnah" are: disbelief and its imposition on others, dissension, trial, and torment.
Noor International · source edition
(191) And kill them [in battle] wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah[69] is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Ḥarām until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Notes
[69]- Among the meanings of fitnah are disbelief and its imposition on others, discord, dissension, civil strife, persecution, oppression, injustice, seduction, terrorism, trial and torment.
Hilali and Khan · source edition
191. And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [41] is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm (the sanctuary at Makkah),[42] unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Notes
[41] (V.2:191) Al-Fitnah: polytheism, to disbelieve after one has believed in Allâh, or a trial or a calamity or an affliction. [42] (V.2:191) Narrated Abu-Bakrah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم delivered to us a Khutbah (religious talk) on the day of Nahr (10th of Dhul Hijjah ). He said, "Do you know what is the day today?" We said, "Allâh and His Messenger know better." He remained silent till we thought that he might give that day another name. He said, "Isn’t it the day of Nahr ?" We said, "It is." He further asked, "Which month is this?" We said, "Allâh and His Messenger know better." He remained silent till we thought that he might give it another name. He then said, "Isn’t it the month of Dhul-Hijjah ?" We replied: "Yes, it is." He further asked, "What town is this?" We replied, "Allâh and His Messenger know it better." He remained silent till we thought that he might give it another name. He then said, "Isn’t it the forbidden (sacred) town (of Makkah)?" We said, "Yes, it is." He said, "No doubt, your blood and your properties are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours, till the day you meet your Lord. No doubt! Haven’t I conveyed Allâh’s Message to you? We said, "Yes." He said, "O Allâh! Be witness. So it is in incumbent upon those who are present to convey it (this information) to those who are absent because the informed one might comprehend it (what I have said) better than the present audience, who will convey it to him. Beware! Do not renegade (as) disbelievers after me by striking the necks (cutting the throats) of one another." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.2, Hadîth No.797).