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Muhammad Asad   
FIGHTING is ordained for you, even though it be hateful to you; but it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Fighting has been made obligatory upon you ˹believers˺, though you dislike it. Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.
Safi Kaskas   
Fighting is ordained for you, even though it repulses you. You may hate something that is good for you, or love something that is evil for you. God knows, but you do not.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرۡهࣱ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰۤ أَن تَكۡرَهُوا۟ شَیۡءࣰا وَهُوَ خَیۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰۤ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَیۡءࣰا وَهُوَ شَرࣱّ لَّكُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ یَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٢١٦
Transliteration (2021)   
kutiba ʿalaykumu l-qitālu wahuwa kur'hun lakum waʿasā an takrahū shayan wahuwa khayrun lakum waʿasā an tuḥibbū shayan wahuwa sharrun lakum wal-lahu yaʿlamu wa-antum lā taʿlamūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps [that] you dislike a thing and it (is) good for you; and perhaps [that] you love a thing and it (is) bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
FIGHTING is ordained for you, even though it be hateful to you; but it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know
M. M. Pickthall   
Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Fighting has been made obligatory upon you ˹believers˺, though you dislike it. Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.
Safi Kaskas   
Fighting is ordained for you, even though it repulses you. You may hate something that is good for you, or love something that is evil for you. God knows, but you do not.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Fighting [in defence] is ordained for you, abhorent as it may be to you. You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: God knows but you do not
Shakir   
Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Fighting was prescribed for you although it is disliked by you. And perhaps you dislike a thing and it is good for you. And perhaps you love a thing, and it is worse for you. And God knows and, truly, you know not.
T.B.Irving   
Fighting is also prescribed for you even though it may seem detestable to you. It may be that you detest something which is good for you; while perhaps you love something even though it is bad for you. God knows, while you do not know."
Abdul Hye   
Fighting (in Allah’s cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it. It may be that you dislike a thing and it is good for you, and you like a thing and it is bad for you. Allah knows but you don’t know.
The Study Quran   
Fighting has been prescribed for you, though it is hateful to you. But it may be that you hate a thing though it be good for you, and it may be that you love a thing though it be evil for you. God knows, and you know not
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Fighting has been ordained for you, even though you dislike it. It is possible that you dislike something which is good for you, and that you like something which is bad for you. God knows, and you don’t.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Fighting is ordained for you, even though you dislike it. But it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you like something while it is bad for you. God knows, and you do not know
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Qital is ordained for you and it appears unpalatable to you! And it is possible that you dislike a thing and it is good for you; and that you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows and you do not know
M. Farook Malik   
Fighting has been made obligatory for you, much to your dislike. It is quite possible that something which you don’t like is good for you and that something which you love is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Prescribed for you is fighting, and you have a hatred for it; and it may be that you hate a thing, while (Literally: and) it is most charitable for you; and it may be that you love a thing while (Literally: and) it is evil for you; and Allah knows and you do not know
Muhammad Sarwar   
Fighting is made mandatory for you, but you dislike it. You may not like something which, in fact, is for your good and something that you may love, in fact, may be evil. God knows, but you do not know
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Fighting is enjoined upon you, while it is hard on you. It could be that you dislike something, when it is good for you; and it could be that you like something when it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know
Shabbir Ahmed   
When establishing the Divine Order, you will meet aggression from those who wish to maintain the status quo for their vested interests. Therefore, fighting in the Cause of Allah is ordained for you, even though you dislike it. It may happen that you hate a thing that is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing that is bad for you. Allah knows and you know not
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Warfare (for the sake of Allah) has been ordained for you, though it is not something you like. It is possible that the thing you detest might just (turn out to) be good for you. It is possible that the thing you like (the most) might in reality be bad for you. Allah knows (all) while you know nothing (at all)
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Fighting is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But you may dislike a thing that is good for you and that you may love a thing that is bad for you. But Allah knows and you know not
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Warfare has been decreed for you while you hate it; and perhaps you may hate something while it is good for you, and perhaps you may love something while it is bad for you; God knows while you do not know
Abdel Haleem   
Fighting is ordained for you, though you dislike it. You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: God knows and you do not.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Prescribed unto you is fighting, albeit it is abhorrent unto you. Belike ye abhor at thing whereas it is good for you, and belike ye desire a thing whereas it Is bad for you. And Allah knowcth and ye know not
Ahmed Ali   
Enjoined on you is fighting, and this you abhor. You may dislike a thing yet it may be good for you; or a thing may haply please you but may be bad for you. Only God has knowledge, and you do not know
Aisha Bewley   
Fighting is prescribed for you even if it is hateful to you. It may be that you hate something when it is good for you and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.
Ali Ünal   
Prescribed for you is fighting, though it is disliked by you. It may well be that you dislike a thing but it is good for you, and it may well be that you like a thing but it is bad for you. God knows, and you do not know
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Warfare has been prescribed for you, though it is repulsive to you. Yet it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you love something while it is bad for you, and Allah knows and you do not know
Hamid S. Aziz   
Prescribed for you is Warfare, though it is hateful to you. But it is possible that you hate a thing while it is good for you, and it is possible that you love a thing while it is bad for you; Allah knows, and ye, you do not
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Fighting is prescribed to you, even though you do not like it. You may dislike something, and it is good for you, and you may like something and it is bad for you. God knows and you do not know.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Fighting is prescribed for you though you dislike it. But it is possible that you may dislike a thing that is good for you, and that you may love a thing that is harmful to you, but God knows and you know not
Musharraf Hussain   
War is ordained though you dislike it. Sometimes, you may dislike something that is good for you, and sometimes you may like something that is bad for you. Only Allah knows the whole truth, not you.
Maududi   
You have been enjoined to go to war, and you dislike it; it may be that you dislike a thing and the same is good for you, and you love a thing and the same is bad for you: Allah knows but you do not
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Warfare has been decreed for you while you hate it; and perhaps you may hate something while it is good for you, and perhaps you may love something while it is bad for you; and God knows while you do not know.
Mohammad Shafi   
Conscription is prescribed for you, although you are averse to it! And it may well be that you dislike a thing, although the thing is good for you. And it may well be that you like a thing, although the thing is bad for you. Allah knows, and you don't.to

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
It was made obligatory upon you, to fight in the path of God and though it is disliked by you, and it may happen that any thing may be disliked by you and that may be in your favour, and it may happen that anything may be liked by you and that may not be in your favour, and Allah knows and you do not know.
Rashad Khalifa   
Fighting may be imposed on you, even though you dislike it. But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
(Offensive) fighting is obligatory for you, though it is hateful to you. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and may love a thing although it is evil for you. Allah knows, and you do not
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Fighting is enjoined on you, though it is disliked by you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you; and Allah knows while you know not
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
It is written/ordered on you the fighting/killing, and it is hated to you and maybe/perhaps you hate a thing and it is best/good to you, and maybe/perhaps you like/love a thing and it is bad/evil to you, and God knows, and you do not know
Bijan Moeinian   
Fighting (for the cause of the Lord) is already imposed upon you as a duty. You may not like the idea of fighting; however, there are so many things that you resent them and they are good for you. On the contrary, there are many things that look good at first sight but are bad for you. God knows [what is good or bad for you] while you do not know
Faridul Haque   
Fighting in Allah's cause is ordained for you, whereas it is disliked by you; and it is possible that you hate a thing which is better for you; and it is possible that you like a thing which is bad for you; and Allah knows, and you do not know
Sher Ali   
Fighting is ordained for you, though it is repugnant to you; but it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you like a thing while it is bad for you. ALLAH knows and you know not
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Fighting (in self-defence, for restoration of peace and elimination of mischief and violence) has been made incumbent upon you although you are averse to it by temperament. It may be that you dislike a thing and (in fact) that is good for you. And it is (also) likely that you like a thing but (in fact) that is bad for you. And Allah knows well but you do not know
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Fighting has been ordained for you, though it is hard for you. But it may be that a thing is hard upon you though it is (really) good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is bad for you. Allah knows (all things) while you do not know
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Jihad (holy fighting in Allahs Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Prescribed for you is fighting, though it be hateful to you. Yet it may happen that you will hate a thing which is better for you; and it may happen that you will love a thing which is worse for you; God knows, and you know not
George Sale   
War is enjoined you against the infidels; but this is hateful unto you: Yet perchance ye hate a thing which is better for you, and perchance ye love a thing which is worse for you: But God knoweth and ye know not
Edward Henry Palmer   
Prescribed for you is fighting, but it is hateful to you. Yet peradventure that ye hate a thing while it is good for you, and peradventure that ye love a thing while it is bad for you; God knows, and ye,- ye do not know
John Medows Rodwell   
War is prescribed to you: but from this ye are averse. Yet haply ye are averse from a thing, though it be good for you, and haply ye love a thing though it be bad for you: And God knoweth; but ye, ye know not
N J Dawood (2014)   
Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God knows, but you know not

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
The fighting has been prescribed over you though it is something disliked by you but perhaps you may dislike something while it is good for you and perhaps you may love something while it is bad for you and Allah knows and you do not know.
Munir Mezyed   
Fighting has been prescribed for you although it is detestable to you. But it is possible that you might loathe something, it might turn out to be good for you. It is also possible that you might love something, it might turn out to be bad for you. And Allâh has full knowledge of that which you cannot encompass in knowledge.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Fighting has been prescribed for you although you resent it. It may be that you resent something whilst it is good for you, and it may be that you love something whilst it is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
War [for national security] is ordained for you, even though you hate it. It is possible that something you hate is actually a good thing, and that something you like is bad for you. Allah knows, and you don’t know.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Combat has been prescribed upon youpl, even though you dislike it. But it may be that youpl dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you like something while it is bad for you. For Allah knows, and youpl know not.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Fighting is also prescribed for you even though it may seem detestable to you. It may be that you detest something which is good for you; while perhaps you love something even though it is bad for you. Allah (God) knows, while you do not know."
Samy Mahdy   
Fighting is written upon you, and it is hateful for you. Perhaps that you hate a thing while it is good for you, and perhaps that you love a thing while it is evil for you. And Allah knows, and you are not knowing.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Fighting has been ordained for you, even though you despise it. Perhaps you dislike a thing that is good for you and like a thing that is bad for you. Allah knows, but you know not.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Fighting (in the cause of Allah) is prescribed for you, although you dislike it. Yet it may happen that you dislike a thing while it is good for you; and it may happen that you love a thing while it is evil for you; surely Allah knows, and you know not.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
O you Muslims: as much as you dislike fighting, it is nonetheless, a prescriptive rule decreed as duty and moral obligation to defend your faith and to repel your enemy. It may happen that you dislike something and it proves beneficial to you and it may also happen that you like something and it proves harmful to you; Allah is Alimun but you are not
Mir Aneesuddin   
Fighting is prescribed for you and it is (a matter of ) dislike for you. And it is possible that you dislike a thing while it is good for you and it is possible that you love a thing while it is bad for you. And Allah knows and you do not know.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps [that] you dislike a thing and it (is) good for you; and perhaps [that] you love a thing and it (is) bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know
OLD Transliteration   
Kutiba AAalaykumu alqitalu wahuwa kurhun lakum waAAasa an takrahoo shay-an wahuwa khayrun lakum waAAasa an tuhibboo shay-an wahuwa sharrun lakum waAllahu yaAAlamu waantum la taAAlamoona