ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 121
Translations
Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers.
Transliteration
Alladhīna ātaynāhumu al-kitāba yatlūnahū haqqa tilāwatihi ūlā'ika yu'minūna bih. Wa man yakfur bih fa-ūlā'ika hum al-khāsirūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse describes those who have been given the Scripture and recite it with proper reverence and understanding—these are the true believers who accept it fully. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'haqq tilāwatihi' (reciting it properly) means not only reciting with correct pronunciation (tajweed) but understanding, contemplating, and implementing its teachings. Conversely, those who reject the Scripture are among the greatest losers in both this life and the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the early Medinan surahs and follows the discussion of those who believe in the Quran. It establishes a criterion for true belief: not merely possessing the Scripture, but engaging with it properly through recitation combined with understanding and acceptance. The context addresses both the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and Muslims, distinguishing between nominal possession and genuine faith.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, 'Whoever recites the Quran and acts according to it, his parents will be crowned with a light on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires not just passive possession of sacred texts but active, mindful engagement with them—understanding their meanings and implementing their teachings in daily life. The measure of a believer's success is not merely recitation, but the comprehensive acceptance and application of divine guidance, which determines eternal success or loss.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ بَل لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُۥ قَـٰنِتُونَ
They say, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him,
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَـٰكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Then We revived you after your death that perhaps you would be grateful.
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allāh who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ] and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."