Surah Baqarah Ayat 11 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 11
And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.”
“When it is said to them: “Make not mischief on the earth,” they say: “Why, we only Want to make peace!”
Whenever it is said to them, “Spread not disorder on the earth”, their reply is, “We only seek to put things aright”.
And when it is said to them: “Make not mischief on the earth,” they say: “We are only peacemakers.”
And when it is said unto them: Make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only.
And when it is said to them, “Do not corrupt in the earth, ” they say, “Surely we are only doers of righteousness.” (i.e. reformers, peacemakers)
When it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption in the land,’ they say, ‘We are only putting things right,’
اور جب ان سے کہا جاتا ہے کہ زمین میں فساد نہ کرو تو جواب دیتے ہیں کہ ہم تو صرف اصلاح کرنے والے ہیں
Quran 2 Verse 11 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 11, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:11) Whenever they are told: “Do not spread mischief on earth,” they say: “Why! We indeed are the ones who set things right.”
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
Ibn-Kathir
11. And when it is said to them: “Do not make mischief on the earth,” they say: “We are only peacemakers.” 12. Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.
In his Tafsir, As-Suddi said that Ibn `Abbas and Ibn Mas`ud commented,
(And when it is said to them: “Do not make mischief on the earth,” they say: “We are only peacemakers.”) “They are the hypocrites. As for,
(“Do not make mischief on the earth”), that is disbelief and acts of disobedience.” Abu Ja`far said that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that Abu Al-`Aliyah said that Allah’s statement,
(And when it is said to them: “Do not make mischief on the earth,”), means, “Do not commit acts of disobedience on the earth. Their mischief is disobeying Allah, because whoever disobeys Allah on the earth, or commands that Allah be disobeyed, he has committed mischief on the earth. Peace on both the earth and in the heavens is ensured (and earned) through obedience (to Allah).” Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.
Ibn Jarir said, “The hypocrites commit mischief on earth by disobeying their Lord on it and continuing in the prohibited acts. They also abandon what Allah made obligatory and doubt His religion, even though He does not accept a deed from anyone except with faith in His religion and certainty of its truth. The hypocrites also lie to the believers by saying contrary to the doubt and hesitation their hearts harbor. They give as much aid as they can, against Allah’s loyal friends, and support those who deny Allah, His Books and His Messengers. This is how the hypocrites commit mischief on earth, while thinking that they are doing righteous work on earth.”
The statement by Ibn Jarir is true, taking the disbelievers as friends is one of the categories of mischief on the earth. Allah said,
(And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, if you do not do this (help each other), there will be turmoil and oppression on the earth, and great mischief.) (8:73), In this way Allah severed the loyalty between the believers and the disbelievers. Similarly, Allah said,
(O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as Awliya’ (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves) (4: 144).
Allah then said,
(Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depth of the Fire; no helper will you find for them) (4:145).
Since the outward appearance of the hypocrite displays belief, he confuses the true believers. Hence, the deceitful behavior of the hypocrites is an act of mischief, because they deceive the believers by claiming what they do not believe in, and because they give support and loyalty to the disbelievers against the believers.
If the hypocrite remains a disbeliever (rather than pretending to be Muslim), the evil that results from him would be less. Even better, if the hypocrite becomes sincere with Allah and makes the statements that he utters conform to his deeds, he will gain success. Allah said,
(And when it is said to them: “Do not make mischief on the earth,” they say: “We are only peacemakers.”) meaning, “We seek to be friends with both parties, the believers and the disbelievers, and to have peace with both parties.” Similarly, Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said,
(And when it is said to them: “Do not make mischief on the earth,” they say: “We are only peacemakers.”) means, “We seek to make amends between the believers and the People of the Book. ” Allah said,
(Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.). This Ayah means that the hypocrites’ behavior, and their claim that it is for peace, is itself mischief, although in their ignorance, they do not see it to be mischief.
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