ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَآءَهُمُ ۘ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 20
Translations
Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize it as they recognize their [own] sons. Those who will lose themselves [in the Hereafter] do not believe.
Transliteration
Alladhīna ātaynāhumu al-kitāba yaʿrifūnahū kamā yaʿrifūna abnāʾahum. Alladhīna khasirū anfusahum fahum lā yuʾminūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who possess the Torah and Injil and recognize the truth about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with the same clarity as they recognize their own children, yet they deliberately reject faith out of envy and stubbornness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this describes those scholars among the People of the Book who encountered clear evidence of the Prophet's truthfulness in their scriptures but chose denial, thereby losing their own souls. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that their rejection despite such clear knowledge represents a profound loss—they are those who have ruined themselves spiritually.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. The context addresses the stubbornness of those who rejected the Prophet despite possessing previous scriptures that contained prophecies about him. This reflects the broader theme of the surah regarding the rejection of divine signs by those with knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The example of the one who has knowledge of the Quran is like the example of a full saddlebag of musk—its fragrance spreads everywhere' (Tirmidhi). This contrasts with those who possess knowledge but do not act upon it, relating to the ayah's theme of wasted knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
Possessing knowledge of divine truth without acting upon it and believing in it leads to profound spiritual ruin—knowledge without faith is a loss, not a gain. We must reflect on whether we recognize truth when presented to us, and whether we have the courage to follow it despite social or personal pressures that may make us resistant to change.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا ٱضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَآئِهِم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allāh has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors.
وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْـَٔوْنَ عَنْهُ ۖ وَإِن يُهْلِكُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
And they prevent [others] from him and are [themselves] remote from him. And they do not destroy except themselves, but they perceive [it] not.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ ۖ وَلَوْ أَنزَلْنَا مَلَكًا لَّقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ثُمَّ لَا يُنظَرُونَ
And they say, "Why was there not sent down to him an angel?" But if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been decided; then they would not be reprieved.
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ سَمْعَكُمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرَكُمْ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُم مَّنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ هُمْ يَصْدِفُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should take away your hearing and your sight and set a seal upon your hearts, which deity other than Allāh could bring them [back] to you?" Look how We diversify the verses; then they [still] turn away.