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Wa ‘asa an takrahu shay’an wa huwa khayrun lakum

وعسى أن تكرهوا شيئا وهو خير لكم

Surah Al-Baqarah (2), verse 2161 verse

Wa ‘asa an takrahu shay’an wa huwa khayrun lakum is found in the Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah (2), verse 216. Read the Arabic text with its translation and explanation, and listen to it verse by verse.

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 ۝٢١٦

216. 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.

Listen to verse 216 of Surah Al-Baqarah

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Full Surah Al-Baqarah by: Mahmoud Khalil Al-HussarySaad Al-GhamdiAbdul Rahman Al-SudaisMaher Al-MuaiqlyMishary Rashid AlafasyAbdul Basit Abdul Samad

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Tafsir of verse 216

Al-Mukhtasar

Fighting in Allah’s path has been chosen for believers even though it is something that is naturally disliked, because it means risking one’s life and wealth. However, you may dislike something when, it is good and beneficial. An example of this is striving in Allah’s path, which means – in addition to the great reward – the defeat of the enemy and promotion of Allah’s word. On the other hand, you may like something whilst it is bad and harmful to you, such as holding back from fighting: this will result in you being defeated and the enemy’s gaining authority over you. Allah knows full well what is good and what is not, whereas you do not. Therefore, follow His instruction which is better for you.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Baqarah

Other translations of verse 216

Fighting has been enjoined upon you, even though you dislike it. But it maybe that you dislike something which is good for you, and you like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.

Jihâd 51 (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.

Notes

[51] (V.2:216) See the footnote of (V.2:190).

Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not.

Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.

Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know.

Prescribed for you is fighting, and you have a hatred for it; and it may be that you hate a thing, while (Literally: and) it is most charitable for you; and it may be that you love a thing while (Literally: and) it is evil for you; and Allah knows and you do not know.

Verse 216 word by word

  1. كُتِبَ kutiba Is prescribed ك ت ب
  2. عَلَيْكُمُ ʿalaykumu upon you
  3. ٱلْقِتَالُ l-qitālu [the] fighting ق ت ل
  4. وَهُوَ wahuwa while it
  5. كُرْهٌ kur'hun (is) hateful ك ر ه
  6. لَّكُمْ lakum to you
  7. وَعَسَىٰٓ waʿasā But perhaps ع س ي
  8. أَن an [that]
  9. تَكْرَهُوا۟ takrahū you dislike ك ر ه
  10. شَيْـًٔا shayan a thing ش ي أ
  11. وَهُوَ wahuwa and it
  12. خَيْرٌ khayrun (is) good خ ي ر
  13. لَّكُمْ lakum for you
  14. وَعَسَىٰٓ waʿasā and perhaps ع س ي
  15. أَن an [that]
  16. تُحِبُّوا۟ tuḥibbū you love ح ب ب
  17. شَيْـًٔا shayan a thing ش ي أ
  18. وَهُوَ wahuwa and it
  19. شَرٌّ sharrun (is) bad ش ر ر
  20. لَّكُمْ lakum for you
  21. وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
  22. يَعْلَمُ yaʿlamu knows ع ل م
  23. وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum while you
  24. لَا lā (do) not
  25. تَعْلَمُونَ taʿlamūna know ع ل م

Verses related to verse 216

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • An-Nahl 16:74

    فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    So do not assert similarities to Allāh. Indeed, Allāh knows and you do not know.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:66

    هَٰٓأَنتُمْ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ حَٰجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allāh knows, while you know not.

  • An-Nur 24:19

    إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ ٱلْفَٰحِشَةُ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allāh knows and you do not know.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:232

    وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوْا۟ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ذَٰلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they [i.e., all parties] agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allāh and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allāh knows and you know not.

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