The Holy Quran 2:217 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

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

Translation

They question you (O Muhammad ﷺ) about warfare in the sacred months (Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab). Say, "Warfare in these months is a grave matter (major sin), but to prevent (others) from Allaah's way (from Islaam), to disbelieve in Him, (to prevent people from) the Masjidul Haraam and to expel (drive out) its people from it (as the Mushrikeen did to Rasulullaah ﷺ and the Sahabah رضي الله تعالى عنهم is a far greater sin in the sight of Allaah. Corruption (especially Shirk and causing mischief in religion) is worse than killing." They (the Kaafiroon) will continue fighting you until (with the intention that) they turn you away from your Deen if they can (by preventing others from accepting Islaam). Whoever turns away from his Deen (of Islaam) and then dies as a Kaafir, such people are the ones whose actions are lost in this world and in the Aakhirah. These are the dwellers of the fire where they shall live forever. (However, if people who left Islaam return to its fold and repent, Allaah will forgive them and reward them for their good actions.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The prohibition of fighting in a sacred month: the Pride of the World ﷺ sent a party of his men against the disbelievers. They killed some disbelievers and brought back plundered wealth. The Muslims believed that it was the last day of Jumada al-Thani, whereas it was the first of Rajab, which is included among the sacred months.

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