ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ نَزَّلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 176
Translations
That is [deserved by them] because Allāh has sent down the Book in truth. And indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension.
Transliteration
Dhālika bi-anna Allāha nazzala al-Kitāba bi-al-ḥaqq, wa-inna alladhīna ikhtalafu fī al-Kitābi la-fī shiqāq ba'īd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that Allah revealed the Book (Qur'an) with truth, and those who dispute and differ about the Book are in severe discord and opposition. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse condemns those who reject the clear truth of the Qur'an and engage in baseless argumentation, emphasizing that disagreement stemming from denial of divine revelation leads to profound spiritual schism. The verse establishes that the Qur'an's truth is absolute, and deliberate disagreement with it represents a fundamental breach from the straight path.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) and their contradictions regarding the Qur'an. The broader context addresses how some Jews and Christians distorted their own scriptures and rejected the Qur'an despite its clarity, making it a Medinan ayah responding to specific interfaith disputes the Muslim community encountered.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing proper understanding of the Book. Additionally, the Hadith Qudsi: 'Indeed, those who dispute about My ayat have gone far astray' reflects the gravity of quarreling about divine revelation (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true knowledge comes from accepting the Qur'an's truth without needless disputation, and that disagreement rooted in denial of divine guidance creates profound spiritual distance from Allah's path. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of studying scripture with sincere intention to understand rather than to argue or find faults.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
And remember Allāh during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allāh. And fear Allāh and know that unto Him you will be gathered.
۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ
And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,