قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ 99
Translations
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."
Transliteration
Qul ya ahlal-kitabi lima tasudduna an sabili-llahi man amana tabghawniha iwaja wa antum shuhada wa ma-llahu bi-ghafil in amma ta'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) why they turn believers away from Allah's path and seek to make it crooked, despite being witnesses to the truth themselves. Ibn Kathir notes this refers to their deliberate distortion of religious guidance despite possessing scriptural knowledge, and the ayah emphasizes that Allah is fully aware of their actions and will hold them accountable. Al-Qurtubi highlights that 'twisting' the path (iwaja) refers to their attempts to discourage converts and spread confusion about Islam's straightness and clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Medinan context addressing interactions between the Muslim community and the People of the Book in Medina. It follows verses discussing disputes with Christians and Jews about theological matters, and reflects the historical reality of certain scholars among Ahl al-Kitab actively opposing the Prophet's message despite their knowledge of the Torah and Gospel.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that some People of the Book know the truth about him 'as they know their own sons' relates to the theme of their culpable knowledge. Additionally, hadiths about the distortion (tahrif) of scriptures by previous communities (Sahih Muslim) contextualize why they might twist the path.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that knowledge without sincere intention becomes a source of accountability rather than salvation, and that attempting to mislead others from truth does not escape Allah's awareness or justice. Believers should remain steadfast in the clear guidance they have been given and not be swayed by those who twist religion for worldly motives.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَـٰشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allāh and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to Allāh. They do not exchange the verses of Allāh for a small price. Those will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.
وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ أُو۟لَآءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِبُّونَكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ كُلِّهِۦ وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ عَضُّوا۟ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْأَنَامِلَ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۚ قُلْ مُوتُوا۟ بِغَيْظِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Here you are loving them but they are not loving you, while you believe in the Scripture - all of it. And when they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips at you in rage. Say, "Die in your rage. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts."
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Let not believers take disbelievers as allies [i.e., supporters or protectors] rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing [i.e., no association] with Allāh, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allāh warns you of Himself, and to Allāh is the [final] destination.