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Quran 2:246

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verse 246 of 286 · Juz 2

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِنَبِىٍّ لَّهُمُ ٱبْعَثْ لَنَا مَلِكًا نُّقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ هَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ أَلَّا تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نُقَـٰتِلَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِن دِيَـٰرِنَا وَأَبْنَآئِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوْا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Translations of Quran 2:246
EnglishTalal Itani

Have you not considered the notables of the Children of Israel after Moses? When they said to a prophet of theirs, “Appoint a king for us, and we will fight in the cause of Allah.” He said, “Is it possible that, if fighting was ordained for you, you would not fight?” They said, “Why would we not fight in the cause of Allah, when we were driven out of our homes, along with our children?” But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. But Allah is aware of the wrongdoers.

EnglishPickthall, 1930

Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.

TurkishElmalılı Hamdi Yazır, 1935

Baksan â Beni İsrailin Musadan sonra yüze gelenlerine hani bir Peygamberlerine «bize bir melik gönder Allah yolunda muharebe edelim» dediler, nasıl dedi, üzerinize farz kılınırsa muharebe etmeyi verir misiniz? biz, dediler, neye muharebe etmiyelim? yurdlarımızdan çıkarıldık evlâdlarımızdan cüda edildik, vektaki bunun üzerine muharebe kendilerine farz kılındı fakat pek azından maadası dönüverdiler, Allah o zalimleri bilir

FrenchKazimirski, 1840

Rappelle-toi l’assemblée des enfants d’Israël après la mort de Moïse, lorsqu’ils dirent à un de leurs prophètes : Créez-nous un roi, et nous combattrons dans le sentier de Dieu. — Et lorsqu’on vous le commandera, leur répondit-il, ne vous y refuserez-vous pas ? — Et pourquoi ne combattrions-nous pas dans le sentier de Dieu, dirent-ils, nous qui avons été chassés de notre pays et séparés de nos enfants ? Cependant, lorsqu’on leur ordonna de marcher, ils changèrent d’avis, un petit nombre excepté. Mais Dieu connaît les méchants.

DutchKeyzer, 1860, from Kazimirski's French

Hebt gij nog niet teruggeblikt op de vergadering der kinderen Israëls, na den tijd van Mozes, toen zij tot den profeet zeiden: stel een koning over ons, dat wij voor des Heeren godsdienst mogen strijden. Hij antwoordde; Zult gij misschien niet weigeren te vechten, als u de oorlog bevolen wordt? Zij antwoordden; Zouden wij niet kampen voor den godsdienst onzes Heeren; wij die uit ons land verdreven en van onze kinderen gescheiden zijn? Toen hun nu echter de krijg werd bevolen, vloden zij op weinigen na. Maar God kent de goddeloozen.

ItalianCalza, 1847, from Kazimirski's French

Ricordati la radunanza dei figli d’Israele dopo la morte di Mosè, quan- dissero ad uno dei loro profeti: Creaci un re, e noi combatteremo nel sentiero di Dio. Ed esso rispose loro: E quando vi si comanderà non vi ricuserete? E perchè non combatteremmo nel sentiere di Dio, dissero noi che siamo stati scacciati dal nostro paese, e separati dai nostri figli? Nonostante quando si ordinò loro di andare a combattere, cambiarono d’avviso; meno ben pochi. Ma Dio conosce i malvagi.

Arabic: Tanzil Project. English: Translation by Talal Itani, ClearQuran.com. Other translations: public domain editions, listed in Sources.