Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

So fight thou in the cause of God; thou art not charged save with thyself. And rouse thou the believers: it may be that God will restrain the might of those who ignore warning; and God is stronger in might, and stronger in exemplary punishment.

فَقَاتِلْ ف۪ي سَب۪يلِ اللّٰهِۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ اِلَّا نَفْسَكَ وَحَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِن۪ينَۚ عَسَى اللّٰهُ اَنْ يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ الَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُواۜ وَاللّٰهُ اَشَدُّ بَأْساً وَاَشَدُّ تَنْك۪يلاً
Faqatil fee sabeeli Allahi latukallafu illa nafsaka waharridialmu/mineena AAasa Allahu an yakuffa ba/sa allatheenakafaroo wallahu ashaddu ba/san waashaddu tankeela
#wordmeaningroot
1faqātilSo fightقتل
2in
3sabīli(the) wayسبل
4l-lahi(of) Allah
5not
6tukallafuare you responsibleكلف
7illāexcept
8nafsaka(for) yourselfنفس
9waḥarriḍiAnd encourageحرض
10l-mu'minīnathe believersامن
11ʿasāperhapsعسي
12l-lahuAllah
13anwill
14yakuffarestrainكفف
15basa(the) mightباس
16alladhīna(of) those who
17kafarūdisbelievedكفر
18wal-lahuAnd Allah
19ashaddu(is) Strongerشدد
20basan(in) Mightباس
21wa-ashadduand Strongerشدد
22tankīlan(in) punishmentنكل
  • Aisha Bewley

    So fight in the way of Allah – you are only answerable for yourself – and spur on the muminun. It may well be that Allah will curb the force of the kuffar. Allah has greater force and greater power to punish.

  • Progressive Muslims

    So fight in the cause of God; you are not responsible except for yourself. And enjoin the believers: "Perhaps God will put a stop to the might of those who disbelieved." And God is far Mightier and far more Punishing.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    O Messenger! Fight in the Cause of Allah. You are responsible only for your own actions. While conveying the Revelation is your prime duty, you also teach the believers wisdom, knowledge and self-development by serving humanity (2:151). Therefore, inspire the believers to overcome all fear of death. Allah may well restrain the fury of the unbelievers who are bent upon destroying the System. Allah is Strongest in Might, Strict in Restraining.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    So fight thou in the cause of God; thou art not charged save with thyself. And rouse thou the believers: it may be that God will restrain the might of those who ignore warning; and God is stronger in might, and stronger in exemplary punishment.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    So fight in the cause of God; you are not responsible except for yourself. And enjoin the believers: "Perhaps God will put a stop to the might of those who disbelieved." And God is far Mightier and far more Punishing.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    So fight in the cause of God. You are not responsible except for yourself. Enjoin those who acknowledge, "Perhaps God will put a stop to the might of those who are ingrates." God is far Mightier and far more Punishing.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    You shall fight for the cause of GOD; you are responsible only for your own soul, and exhort the believers to do the same. GOD will neutralize the power of those who disbelieve. GOD is much more powerful, and much more effective.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    So fight on in the way of God (irrespective of the others). You cannot compel any one except your own self; but urge the believers to fight. It may well be that God will keep back the might of the infidels, for God's might is greater, and severe His punishment.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    So fight, , in the cause of Allah; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers that perhaps Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve. And Allah is greater in might and stronger in punishment.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Fight thou, then, in God's cause - since thou art but responsible for thine own self - and inspire the believers to overcome all fear of death. God may well curb the might of those who are bent on denying the truth: for God is stronger in might, and stronger in ability to deter.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    So fight (O Muhammad) in the way of Allah Thou art not taxed (with the responsibility for anyone) except thyself - and urge on the believers. Peradventure Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve. Allah is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (So, O Messenger!) Fight in the way of Allah -since you are responsible for none except yourself - and rouse the believers to fight, for Allah may well curb the might of the unbelievers. Indeed Allah is strongest in power and most terrible in chastisement.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Therefore, fight O Muhammad in the cause of Allah; you are not responsible for anyone but yourself, But incite those whose hearts have been touched with the divine hand to make war against positive unbelief; perhaps Allah may curb the hostile appetite of those infidels who wish to display their might against you. Allah's Omnipotence infinitely exceeds man's might and when He avenges His right He strikes at the root.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Fight for the cause of God. You (Mohammad, as well as any body) are not responsible for any one else but yourself. Encourage the others May God neutralize the power of your disbeliever enemies. God is much more powerful and has the highest hand in punishment

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Then fight (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the Cause of Allâh, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight along with you), it may be that Allâh will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers. And Allâh is Stronger in Might and Stronger in punishing.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Then fight in Allah's cause - Thou art held responsible only for thyself - and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the Unbelievers; for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    So fight in the cause of Allah ˹O Prophet˺. You are accountable for none but yourself. And motivate the believers ˹to fight˺, so perhaps Allah will curb the disbelievers’ might. And Allah is far superior in might and in punishment.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, fight in the way of Allah. You are not responsible but for yourself, and persuade the believers (to fight in Allah’s way). It is likely that Allah will prevent the mischief of those who disbelieve. Allah is the strongest in power and the mightiest in punishing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    So fight in God’s way. You are accountable only for yourself. Urge the believers on. God may well curb the power of the disbelievers, for He is stronger in might and more terrible in punishment.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    So do thou fight in the way of God; thou art charged only with thyself. And urge on the believers; haply God will restrain the unbelievers' might; God is stronger in might, more terrible in punishing.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Fight, then, in the way of God; impose not aught on any but thyself, and urge on the believers; it may be that God will restrain the violence of those who misbelieve, for God is more violent and more severe to punish.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Fight, then, in the way of Allah; impose nothing on anyone else but on thyself (or you are responsible only for thyself), and urge on (or rouse, encourage) the believers. Perchance Allah will restrain the violence of those who disbelieve, for Allah is Mightier, severer in punishment.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So fight in the way of Allah. You are not charged with (anyone) except yourself. And exhort the believers; it may be that Allah would restrain the violence of (the ones) who have disbelieved. And Allah is more strict in violence and more strict in torture.

  • George Sale

    Fight therefore for the religion of God, and oblige not any to what is difficult, except thy self; however excite the faithful to war, perhaps God will restrain the courage of the unbelievers; for God is stronger than they, and more able to punish.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Then fight in Allah’s cause— You are held responsible only for yourself— And stir up the believers (to fight with you). It may be that Allah will hold back the fury of the unbelievers; And Allah is the Strongest in might and punishment.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Prophet!) fight, therefore, in the cause of Allâh, you are made responsible only for your ownself, and urge on the faithful (to fight a war in self-defence). It may be, Allâh will restrain the fury of those who have chosen disbelief. Allâh is mightier in prowess and stronger in inflicting exemplary punishment.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    So fight in the way of Allah: you are responsible only for yourself, but urge on the faithful . Maybe Allah will curb the might of the faithless, for Allah is greatest in might and severest in punishment.