هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ حَـٰجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 66
Translations
Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allāh knows, while you know not.
Transliteration
Ha antum haula'i hajajtum fima lakum bihi 'ilm, falima tuhaajjun fima laysa lakum bihi 'ilm, wa-Allahu ya'lamu wa-antum la ta'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who argue about matters within their knowledge while simultaneously disputing things about which they have no knowledge, particularly regarding the nature of 'Isa (Jesus) and his relationship to Allah. Classical exegetes like Ibn Kathir note this was revealed in response to the Christians and Jews of Medina who disputed the true status of 'Isa despite lacking proper understanding, while simultaneously the Quran itself provides clear knowledge on matters within human comprehension. The ayah concludes with a powerful reminder that Allah possesses complete knowledge while human knowledge is fundamentally limited.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader passage (3:61-66) addressing disputes between Muslims and the People of the Book—specifically Christians from Najran who came to Medina to debate the nature of 'Isa. The context involves their rejection of 'Isa as a messenger and their theological claims about him, demonstrating the irrationality of disputing what has been made clear while claiming knowledge they do not possess.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the delegation of Najran (recorded in Sahih Muslim and other collections) documents the actual dispute that prompted this revelation, where the Christian delegation came to debate the Prophet Muhammad about the nature of 'Isa and the Trinity. Additionally, relevant is the hadith: 'The best of knowledge is to know Allah and not to associate anything with Him' (attributed to various sources in Islamic tradition).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us the importance of intellectual humility and distinguishing between matters we can know with certainty and those beyond our comprehension, encouraging Muslims to avoid fruitless arguments on subjects outside their knowledge while grounding their positions on verified understanding. It serves as a timeless reminder that the strength of faith lies not in endless debate but in acknowledging the limits of human knowledge before the infinite wisdom of Allah.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
[Who say], "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِّأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوٓا۟ إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time [of enjoyment] it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.
قُلْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, "We have believed in Allāh and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ], and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him."