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
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it."
ٱلشَّهْرُ ٱلْحَرَامُ بِٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَٱلْحُرُمَـٰتُ قِصَاصٌ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱعْتَدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا ٱعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
[Battle in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is with those who fear Him.
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ
And establish prayer and give zakāh and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
Fight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.