Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 205

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Once he turns back, he moves about in the land trying to spread disorder in it, and to destroy the tillage and the stock; and Allah does not like disorder.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And when they leave ˹you˺,[[ Another possible translation: “And when they assume authority, they strive …”]] they strive throughout the land to spread mischief in it and destroy crops and cattle. Allah does not like mischief.

Ruwwad Translation Center

When they leave [you], they strive to spread corruption in the land and destroy crops and livestock, whereas Allah does not like corruption.

A. J. Arberry

and when he turns his back, he hastens about the earth, to do corruption there and to destroy the tillage and the stock; and God loves not corruption;

Abdul Haleem

When he leaves, he sets out to spread corruption in the land, destroying crops and live-stock- God does not like corruption.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when he turnoth away, he speedeth through the land that He may act corruptly therein and destroy the tilth and the stock. And Allah approveth not corruptness.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When he turns his back, His aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle. But Allah loveth not mischief.

Abul Ala Maududi

When he gets power he directs all his efforts towards spreading mischief in the land, destroying harvests and killing the human race whereas Allah (Whom he makes his witness) does not like mischief.

Ahmed Ali

For when his back is turned he goes about spreading disorder in the land, destroying fields and flocks; but God does not love disorder.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when he turns away, he creates turmoil in the earth and destroys crops and lives; and Allah is not pleased with turmoil.

Ali Quli Qarai

If he were to wield authority, he would try to cause corruption in the land and to ruin the crop and the stock, and Allah does not like corruption.

Ali Ünal

When he leaves (you) or attains authority, he rushes about the land to foment disorder and corruption therein and to ruin the sources of life and human generations. Surely God does not love disorder and corruption.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when he is in authority, he runs about in the land (striving) to create chaos and lawlessness in it, and to destroy the tillage and the stock, but Allâh does not love disorder (and lawlessness).

English Literal

And if he turned away he strived/hastened in the earth/Planet Earth to corrupt/disorder in it, and destroys the agricultural land/plants and the off spring/descendants , and God does not love/like the corruption .

Faridul Haque

And when he turns away, he creates turmoil in the earth and destroys crops and lives; and Allah is not pleased with turmoil.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when he turns away, he strives upon the earth to do evil therein, and to destroy the tilth and the stock; verily, Allah loves not evil doing.

Hilali & Khan

And when he turns away (from you "O Muhammad SAW "), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when he holds authority, he makes effort in the land to cause mischief in it and destroy tilth and offspring; and Allah loves not mischief.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when he turns back, he runs along in the land that he may cause mischief in it and destroy the tilth and the stock, and Allah does not love mischief-making.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when he turneth away (from thee) his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle; and Allah loveth not mischief.

Muhammad Sarwar

As soon as they leave you, they quickly commit evil in the land, destroying the farms and people. God does not love evil.

Qaribullah & Darwish

No sooner does he leave than he hastens about the earth to corrupt there and destroy crops and cattle. Allah does not love corruption.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when he turns away (from you O Muhammad), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief.

Wahiduddin Khan

When he turns away, he sets out to spread corruption in the land, destroying crops and cattle. God does not love corruption.

Talal Itani

When he gains power, he strives to spread corruption on earth, destroying properties and lives. God does not like corruption.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when he turns his back, leaving you behind, he hastens, he walks, about the earth to do corruption there and to destroy the tillage and the stock (these [last two actions] are included in such `corruption'); and God loves not corruption, that is to say, it does not please Him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَإِذَا تَوَلَّى سَعَى فِي الَارْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيِهَا وَيُهْلِكَ الْحَرْثَ وَالنَّسْلَ

And when he turns away (from you O Muhammad), he struggles in the land to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle,

This Ayah indicates that such persons are deviant in the tongue, evil in the deeds, their words are fabricated, their belief is wicked and their works are immoral.

The Ayah used the (Arabic word) Sa`a (literally, `tries' or `intends').

This word was also used to describe Pharaoh;

ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَى

فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَى

فَقَالَ أَنَاْ رَبُّكُمُ الاٌّعْلَى

فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الاٌّخِرَةِ وَالاٍّوْلَى

إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَى

Then he turned his back, Yas`a (striving hard against Allah). Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud saying, `I am your lord, most high.' So Allah, seized him with a punishing example for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah. (79;22-26)
Sa`a was also used in the Ayah);

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumuah prayer), As`aw come to the remembrance of Allah. (62;9)

This Ayah means, `(when the call to the Friday prayer is announced) intend and then proceed to attend the Friday prayer.'

We should mention that hastening to the mosque is condemned by the Sunnah (as this is another meaning for the word Sa`a);

إذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الصَّلَةَ فَلَ تَأْتُوهَا وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْعَوْنَ وَأْتُوهَا وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةُ والْوَقَار

When you come to attend the prayer, do not come in a Sa`i (haste). Rather, come to it while walking at ease and in peace (or grace).

The hypocrite has no motive in this life but to cause mischief and to destroy the crops and the offspring, including what the animals produce and what the people depend on for their livelihood.

Mujahid said,

"If the hypocrite strives for mischief in the land, Allah prevents the rain from falling and thus the crops and the offspring perish."

The Ayah continues;

وَاللّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الفَسَادَ


and Allah likes not mischief.

that is, Allah does not like those who possess these characteristics, or those who act like this.
Rejecting Advice is Characteristic of the Hypocrites

Allah said