وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِّنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَٱعْفُوا۟ وَٱصْفَحُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 109
Translations
Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allāh delivers His command. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Wadda katheerun min ahli al-kitabi law yaruddunakum min ba'di imanikum kuffaran hasadan min 'indi anfusihim min ba'da ma tabayyana lahum al-haqqu fa'fu wa asfahu hatta ya'ti Allahu bi-amrihi, inna Allahu 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the envy and hostility of some People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who wish to turn Muslims away from their faith after they have embraced Islam, driven by jealousy despite knowing the truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this reflects the historical opposition faced by the Muslim community, particularly in Medina. The ayah concludes by commanding believers to exercise forgiveness and patience, entrusting ultimate judgment and justice to Allah's divine will and omnipotence.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period of escalating tensions between the Muslim community and certain Jewish tribes who refused to acknowledge the Prophet Muhammad's message. This ayah specifically addresses the persistent attempts by some People of the Book to undermine Muslim faith through various means, reflecting the documented historical conflicts during the early Medinan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing forbearance: 'The strong person is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger' (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that facing opposition and hostility from those who reject faith is a trial that should be met with patience, forgiveness, and moral excellence rather than retaliation. Ultimate victory and justice belong to Allah alone, and the believer's role is to maintain integrity of faith while extending mercy, trusting in Divine omnipotence to settle all matters justly.