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
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allāh those who believe, seeking to make it [seem] deviant, while you are witnesses [to the truth]? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do."
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], "Did you disbelieve [i.e., reject faith] after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject."
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allāh is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.
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.