وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأَدْخَلْنَـٰهُمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ 65
Translations
And if only the People of the Scripture had believed and feared Allāh, We would have removed from them their misdeeds and admitted them to Gardens of Pleasure.
Transliteration
Wa law anna ahla al-kitabi amanoo wa-ttaqaw lakaffarna anhum sayyi'atihim wa-la-adkhalnhum jannati an-na'im
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a conditional statement (hypothetical): if the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) had believed in the Prophet Muhammad and feared Allah, He would have forgiven their sins and admitted them to gardens of bliss. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as demonstrating Allah's mercy and justice—emphasizing that sincere faith and piety are the true paths to redemption, regardless of one's previous religious affiliation. The ayah underscores that Allah's doors of forgiveness remain open to all who genuinely believe and adopt taqwa (God-consciousness).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Ma'idah's discussion of the People of the Book and their relationship with Islamic teachings. It reflects the Medinan period when the Muslim community had established itself and was engaging with Jewish and Christian communities. The ayah is part of a broader Quranic theme encouraging the People of the Book to embrace Islam while highlighting the consequences of their rejection of the prophetic message.
Related Hadiths
1) The Quran itself (3:64) calls to common ground: 'Say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you...' 2) Hadith in Sahih Muslim: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent,' emphasizing that sincere faith requires righteous conduct.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere belief coupled with God-consciousness is the universal pathway to salvation available to all people, regardless of their background, reminding us that Allah's mercy encompasses those who genuinely turn to Him with faith and piety. For modern readers, it emphasizes that sincere repentance and righteous living can transform one's spiritual state and secure divine forgiveness.
Related Ayahs
تَرَىٰ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِى ٱلْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved [i.e., the polytheists]. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allāh has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally.
ٱلْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ ۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخْدَانٍ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لِيَفْتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - if they should have all that is in the earth and the like of it with it by which to ransom themselves from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them, and for them is a painful punishment.
قَالُوا۟ نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses."