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.