قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ 98
Translations
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allāh while Allāh is Witness over what you do?"
Transliteration
Qul ya ahla al-kitabi lima takfuruna bi-ayati Allahi wa-Allahu shahidun ala ma tamalun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to address the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), questioning why they reject the clear signs of Allah despite their knowledge of scripture. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah highlights the willful rejection of truth by those who possessed knowledge, and that Allah bears witness to all their deeds—nothing is hidden from Him. The ayah serves as both a rebuke and a call to reflection, reminding the People of the Book of their accountability before Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader Medinan context of Surah Ali 'Imran, which frequently addresses the People of the Book regarding their resistance to Islamic teachings despite the similarities between Islamic monotheism and their own traditions. The specific context involves dialogue with the Jews and Christians of Medina who rejected the Qur'an despite recognizing many of its truths from their own scriptures.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). This relates to the theme of knowledge and responsibility before Allah. Additionally, the hadith about the People of the Book's resistance to truth is reflected in various narrations about the Prophet's interactions with Jewish and Christian scholars in Medina.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that possessing knowledge of truth does not excuse us from following it; rather, it increases our responsibility and accountability before Allah. We should reflect on how we respond to clear signs of truth in our lives, knowing that Allah is fully aware of our actions and intentions.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدْعُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
So who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allāh or denies His signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًا
Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any weight [i.e., importance].
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِقَآئِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَئِسُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَتِى وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And the ones who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and the meeting with Him - those have despaired of My mercy, and they will have a painful punishment.