إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 21
Translations
Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Inna alladhīna yakfurūna bi-āyāti Allāhi wa-yaqtulūna al-nabiyyīn bi-ghayri haqq wa-yaqtulūna alladhīna ya'murūna bi-al-qisṭi mina al-nāsi fa-bashshirhum bi-'adhāb alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who reject Allah's signs, murder the prophets unjustly, and kill those who call people to justice. Ibn Kathir notes this verse refers to the Jewish scholars who rejected Muhammad (peace be upon him) and their ancestors who killed previous prophets, as well as those who oppose righteous reformers. The verse warns of severe, painful punishment for such grave sins, emphasizing that opposing divine truth and justice—especially through violence—incurs Allah's most severe retribution.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period of increasing conflict between the Muslim community and those who rejected the message. The broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran addresses the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), their past transgressions, and their resistance to the Prophet Muhammad. This ayah specifically references the historical pattern of prophets being rejected and killed by their own peoples.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sins are: associating partners with Allah, disobeying parents, killing a soul, and bearing false witness' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Additionally, regarding the killing of righteous people, the Prophet warned: 'Whoever kills a person who has a covenant with Muslims will not smell the fragrance of Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 3166).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that standing for justice and truth often invites opposition and danger, yet Allah promises severe accountability for those who oppose His signs and silence His messengers. It calls Muslims to courageously uphold justice despite resistance, knowing that Allah's ultimate justice will prevail.
Related Ayahs
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱلذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَكِتَـٰبٌ عَزِيزٌ
Indeed, those who disbelieve in the message [i.e., the Qur’ān] after it has come to them... And indeed, it is a mighty Book.
أَءُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلذِّكْرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّن ذِكْرِى ۖ بَل لَّمَّا يَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِ
Has the message been revealed to him out of [all of] us?" Rather, they are in doubt about My message. Rather, they have not yet tasted My punishment.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ نُؤْمِنُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا وَرَآءَهُۥ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ ۗ قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنۢبِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And when it is said to them, "Believe in what Allāh has revealed," they say, "We believe [only] in what was revealed to us." And they disbelieve in what came after it, while it is the truth confirming that which is with them. Say, "Then why did you kill the prophets of Allāh before, if you are [indeed] believers?"