۞ لَيْسُوا۟ سَوَآءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ 113
Translations
They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allāh during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].
Transliteration
Laysu sawaa'an min ahli al-kitabi ummah qa'imah yatloona ayati Allahi anaa'a al-layli wa hum yasjudun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the notion that all People of the Book are alike, highlighting that among them exists a righteous community (ummah) who stand in prayer during the night, reciting the signs of Allah and prostrating in worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this ayah acknowledges the existence of believing Christians and Jews who remained steadfast in worship and obedience to Allah, contrasting them with those who rejected the truth.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period of engagement with the People of the Book. This ayah comes within the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the relationship between Muslims and followers of previous scriptures, acknowledging both sincere believers and disbelievers among them, and promoting just treatment based on individual merit rather than blanket judgments.
Related Hadiths
Thematically related: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Also relevant: 'Whoever spends the night in prayer, he will find it easy' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to recognize and acknowledge sincere devotion wherever it exists and to avoid sweeping generalizations about groups of people, judging individuals by their actions and faith rather than their affiliation. It also emphasizes the virtues of night prayers and intensive Quranic recitation as marks of true devotion to Allah.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] - one fighting in the cause of Allāh and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allāh supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
O you who have believed, if you obey those who disbelieve, they will turn you back on your heels, and you will [then] become losers.
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Allāh took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.