وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 244
Translations
And fight in the cause of Allāh and know that Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa qātilū fī sabīli-llāhi wa-a'lamū anna-llāha samī'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to fight in the cause of Allah and assures them that Allah hears and knows all things. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this verse emphasizes that Allah is fully aware of the intentions, struggles, and sacrifices of those who fight in His path, encouraging steadfastness and sincere dedication. The attributes of being 'As-Samī' (All-Hearing) and 'Al-'Alīm' (All-Knowing) serve as a reminder that no effort goes unrecognized by Allah, whether it is seen by people or not.
Revelation Context
This verse comes within the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's guidance on jihād and fighting in the path of Allah, revealed in Medina when the Muslim community faced existential threats and was commanded to defend itself. The broader context discusses the permissibility and obligation of fighting against those who persecute believers, establishing both the spiritual and practical dimensions of struggle in Islam.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever dies without having fought or having resolved to fight, dies upon one of the branches of hypocrisy' (Sahih Muslim) relates to the obligation to strive in Allah's cause.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that their struggles and sacrifices for righteous causes are never hidden from Allah, regardless of worldly recognition, encouraging sincere effort in both spiritual and defensive endeavors with complete reliance on Divine justice. It reminds us to purify our intentions knowing that Allah is fully aware of our hearts, circumstances, and true motivations.
Related Ayahs
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا۟ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And to Allāh belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۘ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allāh are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account.
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.