Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 244 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:244

وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“And fight in the cause of Allāh and know that Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.”

Saheeh International

Essence

No one outruns death, so let no fear of it keep you from Allah's way; He hears every word and knows every motive.

A reflection

He hears the commentators, and knows the hearts

A young doctor volunteers for a month in a field hospital in a war zone. Her relatives tell her she is reckless and selfish. When she comes home safely, the same relatives share her photograph with pride.

The ayah closes: 'and know that Allah is Hearing, Knowing'. A classical commentator explains what He hears. It is the words people use to encourage others towards striving, or to put them off it. He knows the motives in their chests: whether the struggle is for the religion or for some worldly gain. Another commentator recalls the hypocrites after a battle. Had they listened to us and stayed at home, they would not have been killed (3:168). He hears that sentence too.

This is majesty that sees through two kinds of performance. The armchair critic who discourages every brave act, and then claims credit when it succeeds. And the fighter, or volunteer, who goes for applause rather than for Allah. Both are known.

The ego loves to manage how its choices look. The cautious ego calls itself wise; the bold ego calls itself heroic. The ayah says that neither label matters. The Hearing, the Knowing has the only accurate record of what was said and why.

Does Allah need to be acknowledged as Hearing and Knowing? He is the Free of need (35:15). We need it. It frees the brave from needing approval, and it warns the critics that their words were heard.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.