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
لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ
Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land.
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَـٰحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allāh and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allāh? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
Muḥammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allāh at all; but Allāh will reward the grateful.
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."