وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا 161
Translations
And [for] their taking of usury while they had been forbidden from it, and their consuming of the people's wealth unjustly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa-akhdhihimu-r-riba wa-qad nuhū 'anhu wa-aklihim amwāla-n-nāsi bi-l-bātil. Wa-a'tadnā li-l-kāfirīna minhum 'adhāban alīmā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the Jewish scholars and rabbis who engaged in usury (riba) and consumed people's wealth unlawfully despite explicit prohibition in their own scriptures. The verse emphasizes that their deliberate violation of divine commands after receiving knowledge of them constitutes disbelief (kufr), and warns of severe punishment in the Hereafter. Classical mufassirun like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this refers specifically to those among the People of the Book who knowingly transgressed divine prohibitions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, revealed in Medina, and specifically addresses the violations of Jewish religious scholars during the Prophet's time in Medina. The broader context discusses the deviations of the People of the Book who distorted their scriptures and engaged in forbidden practices despite possessing divine knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The curse of Allah is upon those who consume riba, those who give it, the witnesses to it, and the scribe who records it.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 2277). Also, Surah 2:275 extensively forbids riba with similar severity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that possessing religious knowledge while violating divine commands is not merely a mistake but constitutes disbelief and invites severe consequences. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder that financial dealings must remain halal and that knowledge of prohibition brings greater responsibility, making intentional violations especially grave.
Related Ayahs
۞ فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَٱللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوٓا۟ ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُوا۟ مَنْ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلًا
What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allāh has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allāh has sent astray? And he whom Allāh sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance].
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ ثَوَابُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
Whoever desires the reward of this world - then with Allāh is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Seeing.
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَضْلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمًا
That is the bounty from Allāh, and sufficient is Allāh as Knower.
لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ ۚ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا
For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share.