قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًۭا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Qul yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi lima tusuddoona 'an sabeelil laahi man aamana tabghoonahaa 'iwajanw wa antum shuhadaaa'; wa mallaahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allah those who believe, seeking to make it [seem] deviant, while you are witnesses [to the truth]? And Allah is not unaware of what you do."
Tafsir
Scholars offer complementary perspectives
Say ‘O People of the Scripture why do you bar believers causing them to turn away from God’s way His religion by denying the truth of the Prophet and concealing His graces desiring to make it crooked ‘iwajan is the verbal noun meaning mu‘awwajatan ‘made crooked’ inclining away from the truth while you yourselves are witnesses while you know that the religion which is upright and pleasing to God is that of Islam as stated in your Book? God is not heedless of what you do’ in the way of unbelief and mendacity; instead He gives you respite until your appointed time and then requites you.
Related Hadiths
"O you people! You recite this Ayah: Take care of yourselves! If you follow the guidance no harm shall come to you. I indeed heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) saying: 'When the people see the wrongdoer and they do not take him by the hand, then soon Allah shall envelope you in a punishment from him.'"
"O you people! You recite this Ayah: Take care of yourselves! If you follow the guidance no harm shall come to you from those who are astray (5:105). I indeed heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: 'When the people see the wrongdoer, and they do not stop him (from doing wrong), then it is soon that Allah shall envelope you in a punishment from Him.'"
`Abdullah bin `Abbas said, "O the group of Muslims! How can you ask the people of the Scriptures
about anything while your Book which Allah has revealed to your Prophet contains the most recent
news from Allah and is pure and not distorted? Allah has told you that the people of the Scriptures
have changed some of Allah's Books and distorted it and wrote something with their own hands and
said, 'This is from Allah, so as to have a minor gain for it. Won't the knowledge that has come to you
stop you from asking them? No, by Allah, we have never seen a man from them asking you about that
(the Book Al-Qur'an ) which has been revealed to you.
Ibn `Abbas said, "O Muslims? How do you ask the people of the Scriptures, though your Book (i.e.
the Qur'an) which was revealed to His Prophet is the most recent information from Allah and you
recite it, the Book that has not been distorted? Allah has revealed to you that the people of the
scriptures have changed with their own hands what was revealed to them and they have said (as
regards their changed Scriptures): This is from Allah, in order to get some worldly benefit thereby."
Ibn `Abbas added: "Isn't the knowledge revealed to you sufficient to prevent you from asking them?
By Allah I have never seen any one of them asking (Muslims) about what has been revealed to you."
Ibn `Abbas said, "Why do you ask the people of the scripture about anything while your Book
(Qur'an) which has been revealed to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is newer and the latest? You read it pure,
undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the scripture (Jews and
Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and
said, 'It is from Allah,' to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you
prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them
asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!"
Related Topics
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ
And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally."
وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍۭ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِى ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا وَإِيَّٰىَ فَٱتَّقُونِ
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۭا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَإِذْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And [recall] when We gave Moses the Scripture and criterion that perhaps you would be guided.
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