وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 101
Translations
And when a messenger from Allāh came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allāh [i.e., the Torah] behind their backs as if they did not know [what it contained].
Transliteration
Wa-lamma jaa'ahum rasoolun min 'indi-Allahi musaddiqun lima ma'ahum nabaza fareequn mina-alladhina ootoo al-kitaba kitaba Allahi wara'a zuhoorihim ka-annahum la ya'lamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how when Prophet Muhammad came to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) as a messenger from Allah confirming what they already possessed in their scriptures, a group of them rejected and discarded the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they had no knowledge. Ibn Kathir explains this as their deliberate rejection despite recognizing the truth, while Al-Tabari emphasizes their willful ignorance and stubbornness in refusing to accept confirmation of their own scriptures through the Final Prophet.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage addressing the hypocrisy and rejection of the People of the Book, particularly those who refused to recognize Prophet Muhammad despite clear signs. The context concerns the behavior of Jewish tribes in Medina who possessed knowledge of the Torah containing descriptions of the Prophet but chose to deny him out of jealousy and tribal prejudice.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Bukhari (4:55:604): The Prophet said regarding the People of the Book, 'They altered their scriptures.' This supports the theme of their rejection and distortion. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the covenant of the People of the Book to believe in the final messenger.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against the spiritual danger of possessing knowledge yet choosing to reject it—true belief requires both intellectual recognition and sincere acceptance. It teaches that God's message brings clarity, and deliberate rejection despite understanding constitutes a grave spiritual offense.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَعْسًا لَّهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
But those who disbelieve - for them is misery, and He will waste their deeds.
وَإِذْ قَالُوا۟ ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـٰذَا هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَوِ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
And [remember] when they said, "O Allāh, if this should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment."
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ
Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are for [i.e., in pursuit of] the Fire!
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
And Allāh presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allāh. So Allāh made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.