وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ 73
Translations
And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allāh. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allāh - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Wise."
Transliteration
Wa lā tu'minū illā liman tabi'a dīnakum qul inna al-hudā hudā Allāh an yu'tā ahadun mithla mā ūtītum aw yuhājjūkum 'inda rabbikum qul inna al-faḍla biyad Allāh yu'tīhi man yashā' wa Allāh wāsi'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the arrogant claim of certain People of the Book (Jews and Christians of Medina) who demanded exclusive belief in their way and denied others salvation. Allah commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to respond by clarifying that true guidance belongs solely to Allah, not to human institutions or claims of exclusivity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that the ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute sovereignty in granting mercy and guidance—He is not bound by the claims or lineage of any group, and His grace extends to whomever He wills.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period when the Prophet (ﷺ) was in dialogue with the Jewish tribes of Medina, particularly addressing their sectarian attitude and their resistance to accepting believers from other backgrounds. It occurs within the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of interfaith relations and the universality of Allah's message, refuting the notion of spiritual monopoly.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most righteous among you' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3956), which reinforces that merit with Allah is based on taqwa (piety), not lineage or sectarian affiliation. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Night Journey emphasizes that guidance is from Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
True guidance and divine favor cannot be monopolized by any human group or institution; they flow from Allah's infinite wisdom and mercy. Muslims should avoid arrogance about their faith and recognize that righteousness and God-consciousness, not mere tribal or sectarian affiliation, determine one's standing before Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment
وَلَقَدْ كُنتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ ٱلْمَوْتَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَلْقَوْهُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
And you had certainly wished for death [i.e., martyrdom] before you encountered it, and you have [now] seen it [before you] while you were looking on.
وَلَا يَحْزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَلَّا يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظًّا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And do not be grieved, [O Muḥammad], by those who hasten into disbelief. Indeed, they will never harm Allāh at all. Allāh intends that He should give them no share in the Hereafter, and for them is a great punishment.
وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ أَرْبَابًا ۗ أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
Nor could he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelief after you had been Muslims?