ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ هُم بِهِۦ يُؤْمِنُونَ 52
Translations
Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it - they are believers in it.
Transliteration
Alladhīna ātaynāhumu al-kitāba min qablihi hum bihi yu'minūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who were given the Torah and Gospels before the Qur'an, and who recognize and believe in the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad as the continuation of God's revelation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this verse describes those righteous People of the Book who accepted Islam upon hearing the Qur'an, as their previous scriptures had already prepared them to recognize truth, fulfilling the prophecies contained in their own revelations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah Al-Qasas, which discusses various stories of God's guidance. The verse is part of a broader passage (28:52-55) describing how certain People of the Book responded positively to the Qur'an, contrasting them with those who rejected it. This reflects the historical reality of some Jewish and Christian communities who embraced Islam after recognizing its consistency with their own scriptures.
Related Hadiths
The Qur'an itself references this in 46:10: 'Say, "Have you considered: if this [Qur'an] is from Allah and you disbelieved in it, who would be more astray than one who is in extreme discord?"' Additionally, Sahih Muslim records narrations about Abdullah ibn Salam and other Jewish scholars who recognized the truth of the Qur'an through their knowledge of previous scriptures.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that those who sincerely seek truth and possess knowledge of God's previous revelations will recognize the Qur'an when it comes to them. It encourages believers that intellectual honesty and openness to God's signs, regardless of one's background, leads to faith and guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰٓ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, "Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.
وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَأَرَيْنَـٰكَهُمْ فَلَعَرَفْتَهُم بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ ۚ وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ فِى لَحْنِ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ
And if We willed, We could show them to you, and you would know them by their mark; but you will surely know them by the tone of [their] speech. And Allāh knows your deeds.
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانًا عَجَبًا
Say, [O Muḥammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’ān [i.e., recitation].
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ فَتَعْرِفُونَهَا ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh. He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do."