وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُۥنَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ 78
Translations
And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allāh," but it is not from Allāh. And they speak untruth about Allāh while they know.
Transliteration
Wa-inna minhum lafariqqan yalwoon alsinatahum bil-kitabi litahsaboohu mina al-kitabi wa ma huwa mina al-kitabi wa yaqooloon huwa min indi Allah wa ma huwa min indi Allah wa yaqooloon ala Allah al-kadhiba wa hum yaAAlamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns a group among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who deliberately distort the words of scripture through misinterpretation and twisting of its meaning, presenting falsehoods as divine revelation while knowing the truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, they intentionally obscure the clear meanings to deceive people and attribute their fabrications to Allah, committing both intellectual dishonesty and blasphemy. The repetition of the negation emphasizes the severity of their deception and the deliberate nature of their corruption of divine truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Ali 'Imran, which frequently addresses the People of the Book and their distortions of scripture. It relates to the broader context of dialogue with Jewish and Christian scholars in Medina who were accused of concealing or misrepresenting scriptural passages concerning the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned about adding to or altering divine revelation. In Sahih Bukhari, Aishah reported that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fabricates lies against me intentionally, let him take his place in the Fire.' This principle applies to those who falsely attribute statements to Allah's revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must be vigilant against those who distort religious texts through deliberate misinterpretation, and we have a responsibility to seek authentic knowledge from reliable sources. This ayah reminds us that intentional deception in matters of faith is a grave sin that Allah fully sees and that honest adherence to divine truth is a moral and spiritual imperative.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Similar situations [as yours] have passed on before you, so proceed throughout the earth and observe how was the end of those who denied.
۞ لَيْسُوا۟ سَوَآءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ
They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allāh during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱبْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِى رَحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But as for those whose faces turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allāh. They will abide therein eternally.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Who remember Allāh while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.