002:218

Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                             002:218

يَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ عَنِ الشَّهۡرِ الۡحَـرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيۡهِ‌ؕ قُلۡ قِتَالٌ فِيۡهِ كَبِيۡرٌ ‌ؕ   وَصَدٌّ عَنۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَ کُفۡرٌ ۢ بِهٖ وَالۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَـرَامِ  وَاِخۡرَاجُ اَهۡلِهٖ مِنۡهُ اَكۡبَرُ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ ‌‌ۚ   وَالۡفِتۡنَةُ اَکۡبَرُ مِنَ الۡقَتۡلِ‌ؕ  وَلَا يَزَالُوۡنَ يُقَاتِلُوۡنَكُمۡ حَتّٰى يَرُدُّوۡكُمۡ عَنۡ دِيۡـنِکُمۡ اِنِ اسۡتَطَاعُوۡا ‌ؕ   وَمَنۡ يَّرۡتَدِدۡ مِنۡكُمۡ عَنۡ دِيۡـنِهٖ فَيَمُتۡ وَهُوَ کَافِرٌ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ حَبِطَتۡ اَعۡمَالُهُمۡ فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَالۡاٰخِرَةِ ‌‌ۚ   وَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ‌‌ۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ

Yus-aloo-na-ka-aa-nish-shah-ril-ha-raa-may-qay-taa-lin-fee-hay                                        Qool-qay-taa-loon-fee-hay-ka-bee-r                                                                                             Wa-su-doon-un-sa-bee-lil-laa-hay                                                                                                     Wa-koof-room-bay-he-wul-mus-jay-dil-ha-raa-may                                                                    Wa-ikh-raa-jo-aah-lay-he-min-ho-uk-ba-ro-in-dul-laa-hay                                                   Wul-fit-na-to-uk-ba-ro-may-nul-qut-lay.                                                                                          Wa-laa-ya-zaa-loo-na-yo-qaa-tay-loo-na-koom                                                                         Hut-ta-yo-rud-doo-koom-un-de-nay-koom-aiy-nis-ta-taa-oo                                                 Wa-mun-yur-ta-did-min-koom-un-de-nay-he                                                                                 Fa-ya-moot-wa-ho-wa-kaa-fay-roon                                                                                                 Fa-olaa-aiy-ka-ha-bay-tut-au-maa-lo-hoom                                                                                   Fid-doon-ya-wul-aa-khay-ra-tay                                                                                                        Wa-olaa-aiy-ka-us-haa-boon-naar-hoom-fee-haa-khaa-lay-doo-n.

They ask you about the fighting in the sacred month.                                                   You say, “Fighting in it is a very big wrong.                                                                   And blocking people from the path of Allah                                                                    And disbelieving in Him and the sanctity of the Holy Mosque                                 And turning out its occupants is far greater wrong in Allah’s sight.”                 And the mischief is greater wrong than the killing.                                                   And they will never cease oppressing you                                                                       Until they turn you back from your religion – if they could.                                  And whoever among you turns back from his religion                                                And then dies and while he is a disbeliever                                                                    Then they all are whose deed are wasted                                                                            In the Hither life and the Hereafter.                                                                                And they all are the inmates of fire.  They will dwell in it. 

• يَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَ  — Yus-aloo-na –They ask (= v., pres. pl., 3^rd person. Ask; beg; demand; inquire; interrogate; question; request; seek info)
• كَ — Ka — You   (= pro., s., m., 2^nd person.   You single male.   The addressee of this divine message is initially the Holy Prophet s.a.w and secondarily every Moslem, in fact every  human being. See the Note under 002:005)
• عَنِ — Aa-n…(ish) — About (= Concerning; regarding; relative to)
• الشَّهۡرِ — Shah-ray…(il) — Month (= 28 to 31 days period that varies in solar or lunar calendars)
• الۡحَـرَامِ — Ha-raa-may — Sacred (= Forbidden; holy; holiest; inviolable; prohibited for any wasteful activity.   The phrase refers to the 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th month of the Islamic calendar)
• قِتَالٍ — Qay-taa-lin — Fighting (= 1.  Act in self-defense; attack; fight back; push back; retaliate; strive; struggle.    2. Battle; combat; war.   More meanings at 002:217)
• فِىۡ — Fee — In (= Inside a duration, event, time, place, period or situation)
• هِ — Hay — That (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person.  Refers to the ‘Sacred Month)
• قُلۡ — Qool — You  say (= Announce; broadcast; convey; declare; elaborate; explain; inform; reply; specify; state; tell.   More meanings at  “ ‘You say’… means“)
• قِتَالٌ — Qay-taa-loon — Fighting (= 1. Act in self-defense; attack; fight back; oppose; push back; retaliate; strive; struggle.   2. Battle; combat; war.  More meanings at 002:217)
• فِىۡ — Fee —  In (= Inside a duration, event, time, place, period or situation)
• هِ — Hay — That (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to the ‘Sacred Month’)
• كَبِيۡرٌ‌ — Ka-bee-r — Very big (= adj., Enormous; gigantic; grave; great; heinous; huge;   large; immense; massive. Grievous, serious or severe concern, matter, offence, sin, thing, transgression or wrong )
• وَ — Wa — But (= Additionally; also; although; and; in addition to; yet)
• صَدٌّ — Sud-doon — Blocking  (= Barring, debarring, denying, hindering, hurdling, interrupting, limiting, obstructing, preventing, restraining, restricting or stopping free access.   Creating hurdles in the way or totally turning away)
• عَنۡ — Un — About (= Concerning; regarding; relative to)
• سَبِيۡلِ — Sa-bee-l…(il) — Path (= Cause; line; road; way; for the sake of)
• اللّٰهِ‌ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but; in addition to; though; yet)
• کُفۡرٌ — Koof-roon —  Disbelieving (= Denial; denying; disbelief; discarding; disowning; failure to appreciate; faithlessness; ingratitude; refusal; rejection; thanklessness; ungratefulness)
• بِ — Bay  — In (= Literal translation and best sense conveyed is ‘with’)
• هٖ  —  He — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to Allah)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Additionally; also; although; but.  See وَ  above)
• الۡمَسۡجِدِ   — Ul-mus-jay-dil — The Mosque — (= n., The placement of ا لۡ before the word  مَسۡجِدِ  [which means a ‘house of worship’] has particularized it to the one Holiest Place of worship for the Moslems built around Kau-ba located in Muk-kah)
• الۡحَـرَامِ — Ha-ra-may — Sacred (= Holiest; most holy; inviolable; prohibited for any  wasteful activity; the Sanctuary)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but. See وَ  above)
• اِخۡرَاجُ — Ikh-raa-jo — Turning out (= n., Arbitrary, compulsory or forced ban, banishment, deportation, driving out, ejection, eviction, exile, expelling, expulsion or throwing out)
• اَهۡلِ — Aah-lay —  Occupants (= 1. Families; folks; household; kith and kin; near  kindred.  2. Companions; inhabitants; occupants; possessors; residents; tenants.  3. Masters; members; owners; people)
• هٖ — He — It (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to the ‘Sacred Mosque’)ه
• مِنۡ — Min — Out of (= From; from the class, category or count of)
• هُ — Ho — It (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person.  Refers to the ‘Sacred Mosque’)
• اَكۡبَرُ — Uk-ba-ro — Far greater (= Bigger, graver, stronger, or more heinous, massive, serious or severe concern, matter, offense, thing, transgression or wrong; worse)
• عِنۡدَ — In-da…(ul) — With (= In the estimate, eyes, reckoning, sight or view; close to)
• اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Additionally; also; although; but.  See وَ  above)
• الۡفِتۡنَةُ — Fit-na-to– Mischief (= n., 1. Creation of differences and law & order situation. Developing troubles. Disregard of peaceful status quo. Eruption of commotion, confusions, disagreements, discords, disorders, disputes, disruptions, dissensions, disturbances, hullabaloo, lawlessness, panic, uproar, tumult or violent wrangling. Fanning uprisings.  2. Oppression; persecution.  3. Test; turmoil; trial.  4. Forced idolatry; misleading; polytheism. Persecuting people to sway them from God’s religion)
• اَكۡبَرُ — Uk-ba-ro — Far greater (= Bigger, graver, stronger, or more heinous, massive, serious or severe concern, matter, offense, thing, transgression or wrong; worse)
• مِنَ — May-na…(ul) — From (= From the class, category or count of; out of)
• الۡقَتۡلِ — Qut-lay — Persecution (= n.,1. Aggression; oppression; suppression; violence.   2. Attack; fight, battle; combat; war.  3. Committing    carnage, killing, massacre, mayhem, murder, slaying, slaughter. More meanings at 002:217)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but.  See وَ  above )
• لَا — Laa  — Never (= Absolute denial; never; no; not at all; total negation)
• يَزَالُوۡنَ — Ya-zaa-loona — Will cease  (= End; desist; stop; withhold.  A/t/a persistently pursue and continue with their misconduct)
• يُقَاتِلُوۡنَ — Yo-qaa-tay-loo- na Oppressing    (= v., 1- Attacking; fighting; persecuting; suppressing; 2- Battling; combating; warring.  See الۡقَتۡلِ  above)
• کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You. The Holy Qor-aan states   this way when addressing both men and women jointly )
• حَتّٰى — Hut-ta –Until (= Till; unless)
• يَرُدُّوۡ — Yo-rud-doo — Turn back (= v., pres., pl., Arbitrarily, compulsorily or forcibly made to betray, defect, desert, get out, recant, renounce, return, reverse, revert or turn back. Convert into a renegade. Turn back; turn over; turn into a turncoat)
• کُمۡ — Koom — You all  (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You.  See  کُمۡ above)
• عَنۡ — Un — From (=About; concerning; regarding; relative to)
• دِيۡـنِ — De-nay — Religion (= n., Belief system. Divine Rules. Faith. See Commentary Islam – 106 – Religion Established Nation … )
• کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You.  See  کُمۡ above)
• اِنِ — Aiy-n…(is) — If (= If the situation arises; in case; under the circumstances)
• اسۡتَطَاعُوۡا — Iss-ta-taa-oo — They could (= Had the ability; possibly could; were able)
• وَ  — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but.  See وَ  above)
• مَنۡ — Mun  — Who is (= What; which; whoever)
• يَّرۡتَدِدۡ — Yur-ta-did — Turns back (= v., pres., s., 3^rd person. Betrays; defects; deserts; gets out of; recants; reverts, renounces; returns; reverses; is sent back; turns back; turns over; turns into a turncoat.  Converts and becomes a renegade)
• مِنۡ — Min — Among (= From; from the class, category, count or out of)
• کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2^nd person. You.  See  کُمۡ above)
• عَنۡ — Un — From (= Concerning; regarding; relative to)
• دِيۡـنِ — De-nay — Religion (= n., Belief system. Divine Rules. Faith. See Commentary Islam – 106 – Religion Established Nation … )
• هٖ — He — His (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid person)
• فَ — Fa  — Then (= Consequently; resultantly; so; thereafter; therefore; yet)
• يَمُتۡ  — Ya-moot  — Dies (= Hits the bucket; passes away)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but.(= Additionally; also; although; but; while. See وَ  above) )
• هُوَ — Ho-wa — He is  (= Refers to one. In third person, male gender)
• کَافِرٌ — Kaa-fay-roon — Disbeliever (= n., s., 1.Denier who refuses or rejects the Faith or belief in Allah, the Holy Qor-aan and Islaam and be a Moslem.   2. Faithless; heretic; infidel; non-believer; rejecter of, resistor to and unbeliever in God.  3. The ungrateful who fails to appreciate, thank for or utilize God-given abilities, blessings, capabilities,  capacities, gifts, opportunities afforded and talents provided by abusing or misusing them; renegade;  ousted)
• فَ — Fa — So (= Consequently; resultantly; then; thereafter; therefore; yet)
• اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ — Olaa-aiy-ka — They all (= Aforesaid facts, persons or things. Here the reference is to the said folks, people; sinner; wrong-doers)
• حَبِطَتۡ — Ha-bay-tut  — Wasted (= Amount to nothing; brought to naught; come to nothing destroyed; failed; fallen; go for nothing; lost; rendered fruitless; ruined; spoiled; prove or turned in vain)
• اَعۡمَال — Au-maa-lo —  Actions (= Acts; good deeds; feats; efforts; labors; performances; virtuous acts; works; practices.  A/t/a consequences and results of above acts)
• ھُمۡ‌ — Hoom — Them (= pro., pl., m., 3^rd person.  Refers to aforesaid persons.   In instant case the inmates of the Fire)
• فِىۡ — F…(id) — In  (= Inside a duration, event, time, place. See  فِىۡ  above)
• الدُّنۡيَا — Doon-ya  — Present life (= Close at hand.  Life … on earth, of near or short term.   The near life, of this world.   The near one.   The Present.  The World at hand, of benefits, happiness or pleasures.  Hither, the opposite of the Hereafter or Life after death)
• وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Additionally; also; although; but; while. See وَ  above)
• الۡاٰخِرَةِ — Aa-khay-ra-tay — The Hereafter (= Life in the Hereafter; beyond this life; life after death; next life or world; the distant world yet to come later on the far one; yet to come)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but  See وَ  above)
• اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ — Olaa-aiy-ka — They all (= Aforesaid facts, persons or things. Here the reference is to the said folks, people; sinner; wrong-doers) **
• اَصۡحٰبُ — Us-haa-bo..(on) — Residents (= pl., 1. Associates; companions; folks; friends; people.  2.  Citizens; denizens; dwellers; families; fellows; heirs;  inhabitants; inmates; live-ins; natives; occupants; occupiers; populace; population; tenant.   3. Controllers; masters; owners; possessors. Often added are qualifications of’ rightfully deserving / well-deserved’)
• النَّارِ‌‌ — Naa-r — Fire (= Anger, punishment or wrath of Allah.   Hell.   Purgatory.  The Fire of punishment.   Literally, the rapid sustained reaction or source of releasing the light and heat.  The rule in  اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ‌‌ۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ  is also repeated several times including in 002:040,  002:082, 002:218, 002:258, 003:117)
• هُمۡ‌ — Hoom —  They (= pro., pl., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid persons. In instant case the inmates of the Fire)
• فِىۡ — Fee — In (= Inside a duration, event, time, place, period or situation)
• هَا — Haa — It (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to the fire)
• خٰلِدُوۡنَ — Khaa-lay-doo-n — Dwell (= n., Those abiding, living, staying or residing for a long period of Time which is unspecified.  Some interpreters have incorrectly labeled that period of time to forever. See the Note 002:040 )

* 002:218.    This verse gives an aspect of the Rules of Engagement that the Commentary Law of War explains.    The verses 002:073, 002:191 to 002:194 and 002:219 provide additional information about wars.    The Ahaadeeth illuminated many materially connected issues that less sophisticated eye missed.    The precedents set by the Holy Prophet s.a.w are in the reports of his acts done and word spoken.    The Ahaadeeth or reports authoritatively settled all meanings and interpretations of the war law.    The Commentaries and Notes on this site have critiqued some of the issues with heated debates.     There may be some content that taken on its own reflects a part of the True Teachings of Islaam.     But our Commentaries connect the verses and lead to a better understanding of the whole issue.   An accurate picture develops fast when the reader studies a verse in conjunction with the others.    That is why the hyper-linked verses and commentaries are  of a tremendous value to the readers.

** Note 002:218a. Mullah coined the theory that when a Moslem renounced Islam he must be put to death immediately. An instantaneous public lynching of anyone who recanted Islam to enter another Faith even before the State took action is a part of the Moslem history.

Common sense dictates that if a person merits execution for leaving Islam, the adherents of other Faiths have equal right to kill anyone who leaves their religion to enter Islam. That will end the evangelical spread of Islam by conversions which almost every Moslem believes.

A State-enforced death penalty for renouncing Islam is contrary to several provisions of the Holy Qor-aan. Freedom of religion and worship is a part of Islam. There is no compulsion in the matters of religion (002:257). Anyone can pursue any religion he deems fit (109:003 to 007).

God’s will established by verses 002:218, 003:087 to 003:092, and 003:107 categorically contradicts Mullah’s Modifications that entail death penalty for renouncing Islam. Those who abandon Islam suffer other after-effects mentioned in aforesaid verses. But Islam definitely does not mandate or even allow the execution of a convert from Islam to any other religion as a death penalty enforced by the State or public-lynching by the vigilantes.

The irresponsible, irreligious and inhumane Mullah’s Modification of Islam in the form of a death penalty for exiting Islam is one humongous misrepresentation of Islam.