2. Surah al-Baqara

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللّهِ...

2:161. Those who reject faith, and die rejecting, on them is Allah's curse,

... وَالْمَلآئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٦١﴾

and the curse of angels, and of all mankind.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ...

2:162. They will abide therein:

C164. Therein: in the curse.

A curse is not a matter of words: it is a terrible spiritual state, opposite to the state of Grace.

Can man curse?

Not of course in the same sense in which we speak of the curse of Allah. A mere verbal curse is of no effect. Hence the English saying:

"A causeless curse will not come."

But if men are oppressed or unjustly treated, their cries can ascend to Allah in prayer, and then it becomes Allah's "wrath" or curse, the deprivation of Allah's Grace as regards the wrongdoer.

... لاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلاَ هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿١٦٢﴾

Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their (lot).

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ...

2:217. They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month.

C237. Prohibited Month: See 2:194, n. 209.

... قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ...

Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence);

... وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ اللّهِ...

but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah,

to deny Him,

to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque,

and drive out its members.

C238. The intolerance and persecution of the Pagan clique at Makkah caused untold hardships to the holy Messenger of Islam and his early disciples. They bore all with meekness and long-suffering patience until the holy one permitted them to take up arms in self-defence. Then they were twitted with breach of the custom about Prohibited Months, though they were driven to fight during that period against their own feeling in self defence.

But their enemies not only forced them to engage in actual warfare, but interfered with their conscience, persecuted them and their families, openly insulted and denied Allah, kept out the Muslim Arabs from the Sacred Mosque, and exiled them. Such violence and intolerance are deservedly called worse than slaughter.

... وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ...

Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.

C239. Cf. 2:191, 193, where a similar phrase occurs.

Fitnah: trial, temptation, as in 2:102; or tumult, sedition, oppression, as here;

Mawlvi Muhammad Ali, Hafiz Sarwar, and M Pickthall translate "persecution" in this passage, which is also legitimate, seeing that persecution is the suppression of some opinion by violence, force, or threats.

... وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىَ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُواْ...

Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can.

... وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ ...

And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief,

... فَأُوْلَـئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ...

their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter;

... وَأُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿٢١٧﴾

they will be Companions of the Fire and will abide therein.

Others version:

2: 161

Asad Behold, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and die as deniers of the truth – their due is rejection by God, and by the angels, and by all [righteous] men.

Pickthall Lo! those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers; on them is the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined.

Transliteration Innal lazina kafaru_ wa ma_tu_ wa hum kuffa_run ula_'ika 'alaihim la'natulla_hi wal mala_'ikati wan na_si ajma'in(a).

2: 162

Asad In this state shall they abide; [and] neither will their suffering be lightened, nor will they be granted respite.

Pickthall They ever dwell therein. The doom will not be lightened for them, neither will they be reprieved.

Transliteration Kha_lidina fiha_, la_ yukhaffafu 'anhumul 'aza_bu wa la_ hum yunzaru_n(a).

2: 217

Asad They will ask thee about fighting in the sacred month. Say: “Fighting in it is as awesome thing; but turning men away from the path of god and denying Him, and [turning them away from] the Inviolable House of Worship and expelling its people there from- [all this] is yet more awesome in the sight of God, since oppression is more awesome than killing.” ….till they have turned away form you faith, if they can. But if any of you should turn away from his faith and die as a denier of the truth – these it is whose works will go for nought in this world and in thelife to come; and thse it is who are destined for the fire, therein to abide.

Pickthall They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel his people thence, is a greater with Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease from fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your religion, if they can. And whoso becometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter. Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein.

Yas'alu_naka 'anisy syahril hara_mi qita_lin fih(i), qul qita_lun fihi kabir(un), wa saddun 'an sabililla_hi wa kufrum bihi wal masjidil hara_mi wa ikhra_ju ahlihi minhu akbaru 'indalla_h(i), wal fitnatu akbaru minal qatl(i), wa la_ yaza_lu_na yuqa_tilu_nakum hatta_ yaruddu_kum 'an dinikum inistata_'u_, wa may yartadid minkum 'an dinihi fa yamut wa huwa ka_firun fa ula_'ika habitat a'ma_luhum fid dunya_ wal a_khirah(ti), wa ula_'ika asha_bun na_r(i), hum fiha_ kha_lidu_n(a).

[ Asad’s note 102 – For an explanation of the “sacred months”, see note 171 above.]