أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْجِبْتِ وَٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ سَبِيلًا 51
Translations
Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in jibt [superstition] and ṭāghūt [false objects of worship] and say about the disbelievers, "These are better guided than the believers as to the way"?
Transliteration
Alam tara ilal-ladhina ootoo naseeban min al-kitabi yu'minoona bil-gibti wa-al-taghuti wa-yaqooloona lil-ladhina kafaru ha'ula'i ahda min al-ladhina amanu sabila
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah criticizes certain People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who, despite receiving knowledge from the Scripture, believe in al-jibt (false deities/sorcery) and al-taghut (false authorities/idols) and then dare to claim that the disbelievers are more rightly guided than the believers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to those who abandoned the truth they knew and adopted pagan practices, then arrogantly proclaimed falsehood as superior to faith. This represents a grave contradiction: possessing divine knowledge yet rejecting it in favor of superstition and falsehood.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and addresses the hypocrisy and misguided claims of certain groups among the People of the Book who lived in Medina. It reflects the broader Quranic critique of those who reject clear truth despite having knowledge of it, particularly relevant to the early Islamic community's interaction with Jewish and Christian groups who opposed the Prophet Muhammad.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not sit in a gathering where alcohol is drunk or where backbiting occurs' (Tirmidhi). More directly relevant: 'The example of the one who recites the Quran and acts upon it is like the citron which tastes good and smells good; and the one who does not recite the Quran but acts upon it is like the date which has a good taste but no smell; and the one who recites the Quran but does not act upon it is like the flower which smells good but has no taste' (Sahih Bukhari) - addressing the disconnect between knowledge and practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against the grave danger of possessing knowledge of truth yet abandoning it for falsehood, and cautions against arrogantly defending false beliefs even when one knows better. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that having intellectual knowledge of Islam is insufficient without sincere practice and belief, and that we must constantly examine whether our actions align with our claimed faith.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱعْتَصَمُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِى رَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَيْهِ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
So those who believe in Allāh and hold fast to Him - He will admit them to mercy from Himself and bounty and guide them to Himself on a straight path.
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَـٰحًا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا
And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allāh will cause it between them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Aware.
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا
Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allāh has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allāh would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly]. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted and Grand.