ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 31
Translations
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
Transliteration
Ittakhazu ahbaarahum wa ruhbanahum arbaaban min doonillah wal-Masihb bnа Maryam wa maa umiroo illaa li-ya'budoo ilahan wahida la ilaha illa huwa subhanahu amma yushrikoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the practice of taking religious scholars (ahbar) and monks (ruhban) as lords or authorities equal to Allah, and similarly elevating Jesus son of Mary to divine status. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that obedience to these figures in matters contrary to Allah's commands constitutes shirk (polytheism), as true servitude and obedience belong to Allah alone. The ayah stresses that humans were commanded to worship only one God, and Allah is free from all imperfections and the associations made with Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated in Surah At-Tawbah's discussion of those who distort their faith and take false authorities. While no specific asbab al-nuzul is unanimously documented, scholars generally relate it to the Christian and Jewish practices of the time where religious scholars assumed authority to declare permissible and impermissible things without divine sanction. It addresses a universal principle applicable whenever religious figures are obeyed in contradiction to divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
Adi ibn Hatim reported: 'I came to the Prophet while wearing a cross around my neck. He said, 'O Adi, remove this idol from yourself.' And he heard him reciting Surah At-Tawbah 9:31 and said: 'They took their scholars as lords besides Allah.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3095). Also related: The Prophet ﷺ said that obedience to leaders in matters of disobedience to Allah is prohibited (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that blind obedience to religious or scholarly figures when they contradict Allah's guidance is a form of shirk, and Muslims must always prioritize obedience to Allah and His Messenger over any human authority. It reminds believers to critically examine teachings against the Quran and Sunnah, ensuring their religious practice remains rooted solely in authentic divine guidance.