Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 207

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And among men there is one who sells his very soul to seek the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is Very-Kind to His servants.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And there are those who would dedicate their lives to Allah’s pleasure. And Allah is Ever Gracious to ˹His˺ servants.

Ruwwad Translation Center

But there are some people who sell their souls to seek Allah’s pleasure, and Allah is Most Gracious to His slaves.

A. J. Arberry

But other men there are that sell themselves desiring God's good pleasure; and God is gentle with His servants.

Abdul Haleem

But there is also a kind of man who gives his life away to please God, and God is most compassionate to His servants.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And of mankind is he who selleth his life even, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Tender unto His bond men

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah; And Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees.

Abul Ala Maududi

On the other side, there is another type of man who devotes his whole life to please Allah, and Allah is gracious to such of His servants.

Ahmed Ali

And there is a man who is willing to sell even his soul to win the favour of God; and God is compassionate to His creatures.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And among men is one who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Most Compassionate towards the bondmen.

Ali Quli Qarai

And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants.

Ali Ünal

And (in contrast, there is) among the people one who sells himself in pursuit of God’s good pleasure. God is All-Pitying towards His servants (and therefore commends to them reverent piety and fear of His punishment).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Of the people there is he who sacrifices his very life seeking the pleasure of Allâh. And Allâh is very Kind and Compassionate toward such (of His) servants.

English Literal

And from the people who buys/volunteers himself, desiring God`s acceptance/satisfaction , and God (is) merciful/compassionate with the worshippers/slaves.

Faridul Haque

And among men is one who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Most Compassionate towards the bondmen.

Hamid S. Aziz

And there is among men a type who sells his soul, craving, those things that are pleasing unto Allah, and Allah is kind unto His servants.

Hilali & Khan

And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of Kindness to (His) slaves.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And of men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is Compassionate to the servants.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Affectionate to the servants.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah hath compassion on (His) bondmen.

Muhammad Sarwar

There are those among people who give their lives to seek God's pleasure. God is Affectionate to His servants.

Qaribullah & Darwish

But there are among people he who would give away his life desiring the Pleasure of Allah. Allah is Gentle to His worshipers.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) servants.

Wahiduddin Khan

But there are others who would dedicate themselves to seeking the pleasure of God. God is compassionate to His servants.

Talal Itani

And among the people is he who sells himself seeking God’s approval. God is kind towards the servants.

Tafsir jalalayn

But there are other men who sell themselves, expend themselves in obedience to God, desiring God's pleasure; this was Suhayb [b. Sinn al-Rm], who emigrated to Medina when the idolaters began to persecute him, leaving them all his property; and God is Gentle with His servants, for He guides them to what pleases Him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللّهِ

And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Ibn Abbas, Anas, Sa`id bin Musayyib, Abu Uthman An-Nahdi, Ikrimah and several other scholars said that;

this Ayah was revealed about Suhayb bin Sinan Ar-Rumi. When Suhayb became a Muslim in Makkah and intended to migrate (to Al-Madinah), the people (Quraysh) prevented him from migrating with his money.

They said that if he forfeits his property, he is free to migrate. He abandoned his money and preferred to migrate, and Allah revealed this Ayah about him.

Umar bin Khattab and several other Companions met Suhayb close to the outskirts of Al-Madinah at Al-Harrah (flat lands with black stones). They said to him,

"The trade has indeed been successful."

He answered them, "You too, may Allah never allow your trade to fail. What is the matter?"

Umar told him that Allah has revealed this Ayah (2;207) about him.

It was also reported that Allah's Messenger said,

"The trade has been successful, O Suhayb!"

The meaning of the Ayah (2;207) includes every Mujahid in the way of Allah.

Allah said in another Ayah;

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَلَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الّجَنَّةَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالاِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْءانِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِى بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success. (9;111)

When Hisham bin Amr penetrated the lines of the enemy, some people criticized him. Umar bin Al-Khattab and Abu Hurayrah refuted them and recited this Ayah;

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ رَوُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ



And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) servants