يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ ۖ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌۢ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِۦ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ 217
Translations
They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allāh and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allāh. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
Transliteration
Yas'alunaka 'anil-shahril-harami qitalin fiih. Qul qitalun fiih kabir. Wa saddun 'an sabili-illahi wa kufrun bihi wal-masjidil-harami wa ikhraj ahlih minhu akbaru 'indallah. Wal-fitnatu akbaru minal-qatl. Wa la yazalun yuqatilunakum hatta yarudukum 'an diinikum in istata'u. Wa man yartadid minkum 'an diinih fa yamut wa huwa kafir fa ulaa'ik habilat a'maluhum fid-dunya wal-akhirah. Wa ulaa'ik ashabu-n-nar hum fiha khalidun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Companions' question about fighting during the sacred month (Ramadan), which was considered forbidden in pre-Islamic Arabia. The Quran responds that while fighting in the sacred month is grave, the Quraysh's prevention of Muslims from worshipping at al-Masjid al-Haram and their persecution of believers (fitnah) are far greater evils in Allah's sight. The ayah concludes with a strong warning against apostasy: those who abandon Islam and die as disbelievers will have their deeds nullified in both this world and the Hereafter, destined for eternal punishment in Hell.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in response to the Battle of Nakhla (in 2 A.H./624 C.E.), when Muslim scouts under the command of 'Abdullah ibn Jahsh engaged a Qurayshi caravan during Rajab, a sacred month when fighting was traditionally forbidden. The Companions were uncertain whether this action was permissible, prompting them to question the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The broader context addresses the permission to fight in self-defense despite sacred month restrictions.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (2217): The Prophet said regarding those who fight in sacred months: 'The worst of people are those who are treacherous.' Also relevant is Sahih Muslim (147) which discusses the gravity of apostasy and its consequences.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that defending one's faith and preserving religious freedom may sometimes necessitate actions that would otherwise be prohibited, as the greater evil must be countered. Additionally, it emphasizes that apostasy is an irreversible spiritual catastrophe that renders all previous good deeds void, serving as a powerful warning to remain steadfast in faith even when facing trials and persecution.
Related Ayahs
۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبِهَا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the crescent moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for ḥajj [pilgrimage]." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allāh. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allāh that you may succeed.
أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَأَصَابَهُ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَلَهُۥ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَآءُ فَأَصَابَهَآ إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَٱحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak [i.e., immature] offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus does Allāh make clear to you [His] verses that you might give thought.
صِبْغَةَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبْغَةً ۖ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ عَـٰبِدُونَ
[And say, "Ours is] the religion of Allāh. And who is better than Allāh in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him."
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَأْذَنُوا۟ بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allāh and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.