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Surah 3. Aal-Imran

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3:71
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ Y a ahla alkit a bi lima talbisoona al h aqqa bi a lb at ili wataktumoona al h aqqa waantum taAAlamoon a
O followers of earlier revelation! Why do you cloak the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth of which you are [so well] aware?
  - Mohammad Asad
O People of the Book! Why do you confound the truth with falsehood and knowingly conceal the truth?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
O People of the Book! Why do you mix the truth with falsehood and hide the truth knowingly?
  - Mustafa Khattab
O People of the Scripture! Why confound ye truth with falsehood and knowingly conceal the truth?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while ye have knowledge? 405
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There are many ways of preventing the access of people to the truth. One is to tamper with it, or trick it out in colours of falsehood: haf-truths are often more dangerous than obvious falsehoods. Another is to conceal it altogether. Those who are jealous of a prophet of Allah, whom they actually see before them, do not allow his credentials or virtues to be known, or vilify him, or conceal facts which would attract people to him. When people do this of set purpose, against their own light ("of which ye are yourselves witnesses"), they are descending to the lowest depths of degradation, and they are doing more harm to themselves than to anyone else.

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3:72
وَقَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَجْهَ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱكْفُرُوٓا۟ ءَاخِرَهُۥ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ Waq a lat ta ifatun min ahli alkit a bi a minoo bi a lla th ee onzila AAal a alla th eena a manoo wajha a l nnah a ri wa o kfuroo a khirahu laAAallahum yarjiAAoon a
And some of the followers of earlier revelation say [to one another]: "Declare your belief in what has been revealed unto those who believe [in Muhammad] at the beginning of the day, and deny the truth of what came later,54 so that they might go back [on their faith];
  - Mohammad Asad

Most of the commentators, relying on views current among some of the tabi'un (i.e., the generation that came after the Companions of the Prophet), understand this passage thus: "Declare at the beginning of the day your belief in what has been revealed unto those who believe in Muhammad, and deny the truth [thereof] in its latter part." This rendering would imply that the Judaeo-Christian attempts at confusing the Muslims, to which the above verse refers, consisted in alternatingly declaring belief and disbelief in the Qur'anic message. On the other hand, the rendering adopted by me (and supported by Al-Asam, whose interpretation has been quoted by Razi in his commentary on this verse) implies that some Jews and Christians have been and are hoping to achieve this end by admitting, however reluctantly, that there may be "some truth" in the early Qur'anic revelations ("that which has been revealed at the beginning of the day"), while they categorically reject its later parts inasmuch as they clearly contradict certain Biblical teachings.

Some of the People of the Book say to one another: "Believe in what is revealed to the believers (Muslims) in the morning and deny it in the evening; so that they (the Muslims) may follow suit and abandon their faith.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
A group among the People of the Book said 'to one another', 'Believe in what has been revealed to the believers in the morning and reject it in the evening, so they may abandon their faith.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And a party of the People of the Scripture say: Believe in that which hath been revealed, unto those who believe at the opening of the day, and disbelieve at the end thereof, in order that they may return;
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
A section of the People of the Book say: "Believe in the morning what is revealed to the believers but reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) turn back. 406
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Wajh here has the sense of "beginning", early part. The cynics who plotted against Islam actually asked their accomplies to join the believers and then repudiate them.

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3:73
وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ Wal a tuminoo ill a liman tabiAAa deenakum qul inna alhud a hud a All a hi an yut a a h adun mithla m a ooteetum aw yu ha jjookum AAinda rabbikum qul inna alfa d la biyadi All a hi yuteehi man yash a o wa A ll a hu w a siAAun AAaleem un
but do not [really] believe anyone who does not follow your own faith." Say: "Behold, all [true] guidance is God's guidance consisting in one's being granted [revelation] such as you have been granted."55 Or would they contend against you before your Sustainer? Say: "Behold, all bounty is in the hand of God; He grants it unto whom He wills:56 for God is infinite all-knowing,
  - Mohammad Asad

This refers to the Jews and the Christians, who are not prepared to accept the Qur'anic message on the ground that it conflicts with parts of their own scriptures.

In this context, the term fadl ("bounty") is synonymous with the bestowal of divine revelation.

Do not follow anyone except the one who follows your own religion." O Muhammad, tell them: "The only true guidance is the guidance of Allah." These people of the Book do not believe that revelation could be sent to anyone besides themselves, like that which has been sent to you; or that they will ever argue with you in the presence of your Rabb. Tell them: "For sure, grace is in the hands of Allah: He bestows it on whom He pleases; Allah has boundless knowledge."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And only believe those who follow your religion.' Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Surely, 'the only' true guidance is Allah's guidance.' 'They also said,' 'Do not believe that someone will receive 'revealed' knowledge similar to yours or argue against you before your Lord.' Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Indeed, all bounty is in the Hands of Allah- He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And believe not save in one who followeth your religion--Say (O Muhammad): Lo! the guidance is Allah's guidance--that any one is given the like of that which was given unto you or that they may argue with you in the presence of their Lord. Say (O Muhammad): Lo! the bounty is in Allah's hand. He bestoweth it on whom He will. Allah is All Embracing, All Knowing.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
"And believe no one unless he follows your religion." Say: "True guidance is the guidance of Allah; (fear ye) lest a revelation be sent to someone (else) like unto that which was sent unto you. Or that those (receiving such revelation) should engage you in argument before your Lord." Say: "All bounties are in the hand of Allah: He granteth them to whom He pleaseth; and Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things." 407 408
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The two clauses following have been variously construed, and some translations leave the sense ambiguous. I have construed the conjunction "an" to mean "lest", as it undoubtedly does in vii. 172. 'an taqulu", etc.

Cf. ii. 76. The People of the Book were doubly annoyed at the Muslims: (1) that they should (being outside their ranks) receive Allah's revelations, and (2) that having received such revelations, they should be able to convict them out of their own scriptures before their Lord.

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3:74
يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ Yakhta ss u bira h matihi man yash a o wa A ll a hu th oo alfa d li alAAa th eem i
singling out for His grace whom He wills. And God is limitless in His great bounty."
  - Mohammad Asad
He chooses for His mercy whom He pleases, Allah is the Owner of mighty grace.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
He chooses whoever He wills to receive His mercy. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.
  - Mustafa Khattab
He selecteth for His mercy whom He will. Allah is of infinite bounty.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
For His Mercy He specially chooseth whom He pleaseth: for Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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3:75
وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنطَارٍ يُؤَدِّهِۦٓ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِدِينَارٍ لَّا يُؤَدِّهِۦٓ إِلَيْكَ إِلَّا مَا دُمْتَ عَلَيْهِ قَآئِمًا ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِى ٱلْأُمِّيِّـۧنَ سَبِيلٌ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ Wamin ahli alkit a bi man in tamanhu biqin ta rin yuaddihi ilayka waminhum man in tamanhu bideen a rin l a yuaddihi ilayka ill a m a dumta AAalayhi q a iman tha lika biannahum q a loo laysa AAalayn a fee alommiyyeena sabeelun wayaqooloona AAal a All a hi alka th iba wahum yaAAlamoon a
AND AMONG the followers of earlier revelation there is many a one who, if thou entrust him with a treasure, will [faithfully] restore it to thee; and there is among them many a one who, if thou entrust him with a tiny gold coin, will not restore it to thee unless thou keep standing over him - which is an outcome of their assertion,57 "No blame can attach to us [for anything that we may do] with regard to these unlettered folk": and [so] they tell a lie about God, being well aware [that it is a lie].58
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "this, because they say". In Arabic usage, the verb qala (lit., "he said") often signifies "he asserted" or "expressed an opinion". As is evident from many Traditions, the people referred to are the Jews.

I.e., they falsely claim that God Himself has exempted them from all moral responsibility towards non-Jews (contemptuously described as "unlettered folk"), knowing well that their own scriptures provide no basis whatever for such a claim.

Among the People of the Book there are some who, if you trust them with a heap of gold, will readily return it back; and there are others who, if you trust them with a single dinar (silver coin) will not return it back unless you constantly keep on demanding; because they say, "We are not going to be called to account for our behavior with the illiterates (non Jews or Christians)." Thus they deliberately ascribe a lie to Allah - knowing well that He never permitted such wrongdoing.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
There are some among the People of the Book who, if entrusted with a stack of gold, will readily return it. Yet there are others who, if entrusted with a single coin, will not repay it unless you constantly demand it. This is because they say, 'We are not accountable for 'exploiting' the Gentiles.'1 And 'so' they attribute lies to Allah knowingly.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 “Gentiles” here refers to the pagans of Arabia.

Among the People of the Scripture there is he who, if thou trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to thee. And among them there is he who, if thou trust him with a piece of gold, will not return it to thee unless thou keep standing over him. That is because they say: We have no duty to the Gentiles. They speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Among the People of the Book are some who if entrusted with a hoard of gold will (readily) pay it back; others who if entrusted with a single silver coin will not repay it unless thou constantly stoodest demanding because they say "There is no call on us (to keep faith) with these ignorant (pagans)." But they tell a lie against Allah and (well) they know it. 409 410 411
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Hoard of gold: qintar: a talent of 1,200 ounces of gold. See iii. 14. n. 354.

Silver coin: dinar. In the later Roman Empire, the denarius was a small silver coin. It must have been current in Syria and the markets of Arabia in the time of the Prophet. It was the coin whose name is translated in the English Bible by the word penny. Matt. xxii, 19: hence the abbreviation of penny is d (= denarius). The later Arabian coin dinar coined by the Umaiyads, was a gold coin after the pattern of the Byzantine (Roman) denarius aureus and weighed about 66349 grains troy, just a little more than a half-sovereign.

Every race imbued with race arrogance resorts to this kind of moral or religious subterfuge. Even if its members are usually honest or just among themselves, they are contemptuous of those outside their circle, and cheat and deceive them without any qualms of conscience. This is a "lie against Allah."

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3:76
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ Bal a man awf a biAAahdihi wa i ttaq a fainna All a ha yu h ibbu almuttaqeen a
Nay, but [God is aware of] those who keep their bond with Him,59 and are conscious of Him: and, verily, God loves those who are conscious of Him.
  - Mohammad Asad

Some of the commentators relate the personal pronoun in 'ahdihi to the person or persons concerned, and therefore take 'ahd as meaning "promise" - thus: "[as for] him who fulfils his promise...", etc. It is, however, obvious from the next verse that the pronoun in 'ahdihi refers to God; consequently, the phrase must be rendered either as "those who fulfil their duty towards Him", or "those who keep their bond with Him" - the latter being, in my opinion, preferable. (For the meaning of man's "bond with God", see surah {2}, note [19].)

In fact, those who keep their promise and guard themselves against evil are His beloved, for Allah loves only those who guard themselves against such evils.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Absolutely! Those who honour their trusts and shun evil- surely Allah loves those who are mindful 'of Him'.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Nay, but (the chosen of Allah is) he who fulfilleth his pledge and wardeth off (evil); for lo! Allah loveth those who ward off (evil).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Nay. Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright verily Allah loves those who act aright.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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3:77
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَا خَلَـٰقَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ Inna alla th eena yashtaroona biAAahdi All a hi waaym a nihim thamanan qaleelan ol a ika l a khal a qa lahum fee al a khirati wal a yukallimuhumu All a hu wal a yan th uru ilayhim yawma alqiy a mati wal a yuzakkeehim walahum AAa tha bun aleem un
Behold, those who barter away their bond with God and their own pledges for a trifling gain - they shall not partake in the blessings of the life to come; and God will neither speak unto them nor look upon them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He cleanse them of their sins; and grievous suffering awaits them.
  - Mohammad Asad
In fact those who sell the covenants of Allah and their own oaths for a petty price, shall have no portion in the hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor even look at them nor cleanse them from their sins on the Day of Judgment. They shall have painful punishment.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Indeed, those who trade Allah's covenant and their oaths for a fleeting gain will have no share in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them, nor look at them, nor purify them on the Day of Judgment. And they will suffer a painful punishment.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Lo! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths, they have no portion in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor look upon them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He make them grow. Theirs will be a painful doom.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
As for those who sell the faith they owe to Allah and their own plighted word for a small price they shall have no portion in the hereafter: nor will Allah (deign to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment nor will He cleanse them (of sin); they shall have a grievous penalty. 412 413
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All our duties to our fellow creatures are referred to the service and faith we owe to Allah. But in the matter of truth an appeal is made to our self-respect as responsible beings: is it becoming that we should be false to our own word, to ourselves? And then we are reminded that the utmost we can gain by falsifying Allah's word or being untrue to ourselves is but a miserable price. We get at best something very paltry as the price for selling our very souls.

Even on sinners-ordinary sinners-Allah will look with compassion and mercy: He will speak words of kindness and cleanse them of their sins. But those who are in active rebellion against Allah and sin against their own light,-what mercy can they expect?

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3:78
وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُۥنَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ Wainna minhum lafareeqan yalwoona alsinatahum bi a lkit a bi lita h saboohu mina alkit a bi wam a huwa mina alkit a bi wayaqooloona huwa min AAindi All a hi wam a huwa min AAindi All a hi wayaqooloona AAal a All a hi alka th iba wahum yaAAlamoon a
And, behold, there are indeed some among them who distort the Bible with their tongues, so as to make you think that [what they say] is from the Bible, the while it is not from the Bible; and who say, "This is from God," the while it is not from God: and thus do they tell a lie about God, being well aware [that it is a lie].60
  - Mohammad Asad

Most of the commentators assume that this refers specifically to the Jews, whom the Qur'an frequently accuses of having deliberately corrupted the Old Testament. However, since the next two verses clearly relate to Jesus and to the false beliefs of the Christians regarding his nature and mission, we must conclude that both Jews and Christians are referred to in this passage. For this reason, the term al-kitab, which occurs three times in this sentence, has been rendered here as "the Bible". - According to Muhammad 'Abduh (Manar III, 345), the above-mentioned distortion of the Bible does not necessarily presuppose a corruption of the text as such: it can also be brought about "by attributing to an expression a meaning other than the one which was originally intended". As an example, 'Abduh quotes the metaphorical use, in the Gospels, of the term "my Father" with reference to God - by which term, as is evident from the Lord's Prayer, was obviously meant the "Father" - i.e., the Originator and Sustainer - of all mankind. Subsequently, however, some of those who claimed to be followers of Jesus lifted this expression from the realm of metaphor and "transferred it to the realm of positive reality with reference to Jesus alone": and thus they gave currency to the idea that he was literally "the son of God", that is, God incarnate.

There are some among them who twist their tongues pretending a quote from their Holy Book; so that you may think that what they read is a part of the Book, whereas, in fact it is not a part of the Book. They also assert, "It is from Allah" whereas, in fact it is not from Allah. Thus they deliberately ascribe a lie to Allah.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
There are some among them who distort the Book with their tongues to make you think this 'distortion' is from the Book- but it is not what the Book says. They say, 'It is from Allah'- but it is not from Allah. And 'so' they attribute lies to Allah knowingly.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And Lo! there is a party of them who distort the Scripture with their tongues, that ye may think that what they say is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture. And they say: It is from Allah, when it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues; (as they read) you would think it is a part of the Book but it is no part of the Book; and they say "That is from Allah" but it is not from Allah: it is they who tell a lie against Allah and (well) they know it!
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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3:79
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ M a k a na libasharin an yutiyahu All a hu alkit a ba wa a l h ukma wa al nnubuwwata thumma yaqoola li l nn a si koonoo AAib a dan lee min dooni All a hi wal a kin koonoo rabb a niyyeena bim a kuntum tuAAallimoona alkit a ba wabim a kuntum tadrusoon a
It is not conceivable that a human being unto whom God had granted revelation, and sound judgment, and prophethood, should thereafter have said unto people,61 "Worship me beside God"; but rather [did he exhort them], "Become men of God62 by spreading the knowledge of the divine writ, and by your own deep study [thereof]."
  - Mohammad Asad

This obvious reference to Jesus reads, literally, "It is not [possible] for a human being that God should grant him...and that thereafter he should say...". Zamakhshari regards the term hukm ("judgment" or "sound judgment") occurring in the above sentence as synonymous, in this context, with hikmah ("wisdom").

According to Sibawayh (as quoted by Razi), a rabbani is "one who devotes himself exclusively to the endeavour to know the Sustainer (ar-rabb) and to obey Him": a connotation fairly close to the English expression "a man of God".

It is not possible for a man whom Allah has given the Book, the Wisdom and the Prophethood, that he would say to the people: "Worship me instead of Allah." On the contrary he would say: "Be devoted worshippers of your Rabb in accordance with the Holy Book you have been teaching and reading."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
It is not appropriate for someone who Allah has blessed with the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to say to people, 'Worship me instead of Allah.' Rather, he would say, 'Be devoted to the worship of your Lord 'alone''- in accordance with what these prophets read in the Scripture and what they taught.
  - Mustafa Khattab
It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom and the Prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah; but (what he said was): Be ye faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant study thereof.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
It is not (possible) that a man to whom is given the Book and Wisdom and the prophetic office should say to people: "Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah's; on the contrary (he would say): "Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all for ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly." 414
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is not in reason or in the nature of things that Allah's messenger should preach against Allah. Jesus came to preach and convey the true message of Allah.

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3:80
وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ أَرْبَابًا ۗ أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ Wal a yamurakum an tattakhi th oo almal a ikata wa al nnabiyyeena arb a ban ayamurukum bi a lkufri baAAda i th antum muslimoon a
And neither did he bid you to take the angels and the prophets for your lords:63 [for] would he bid you to deny the truth after you have surrendered yourselves unto God?
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., to attribute divine or semi-divine powers to them: a categorical rejection of the adoration of saints and angelic beings.

He would never ask you to take angels and prophets as your lords. Would he ask you to become kafir (unbelievers) after you have become Muslims (believers)?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And he would never ask you to take angels and prophets as lords. Would he ask you to disbelieve after you have submitted?
  - Mustafa Khattab
And he commanded you not that ye should take the angels and the Prophets for lords. Would he command you to disbelieve after ye had surrendered (to Allah)?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Nor would he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Lords and Patrons. What! Would he bid you to unbelief after ye have bowed your will (to Allah in Islam)? 415
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Jesus was a prophet, and the Holy Spirit "with which he was strengthened" was the Angel who brought the revelations to him.

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3:81
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ Wai th akha th a All a hu meeth a qa a l nnabiyyeena lam a a taytukum min kit a bin wa h ikmatin thumma j a akum rasoolun mu s addiqun lim a maAAakum latuminunna bihi walatan s urunnahu q a la aaqrartum waakha th tum AAal a tha likum i s ree q a loo aqrarn a q a la fa i shhadoo waan a maAAakum mina a l shsh a hideen a
AND, LO, God accepted, through the prophets, this solemn pledge [from the followers of earlier revelation]:64 "If, after all the revelation and the wisdom which I have vouchsafed unto you, there comes to you an apostle confirming the truth already in your possession, you must believe in him and succour him. Do you" - said He - "acknowledge and accept My bond on this condition?" They answered: "We do acknowledge it." Said He: "Then bear witness [thereto], and I shall be your witness.65
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "the solemn pledge of the prophets". Zamakhshari holds that what is meant here is a pledge taken from the community as a whole: a pledge consisting in their acceptance of the messages conveyed through the prophets.

Lit., "and I am with you among the witnesses".

Allah took the covenant with the Prophets, saying: "Now that you have been given the Book and Wisdom; there will come to you a Rasool who will confirm that which is with you; you will have to believe in him and help him in his mission." Then He said "Do you affirm this covenant and agree to take this heavy responsibility?" The Prophets replied, "Yes, we do affirm." Allah said, "Very well, bear witness to this and I too bear witness with you."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Remember' when Allah made a covenant with the prophets, 'saying,' 'Now that I have given you the Book and wisdom, if there comes to you a messenger1 confirming what you have, you must believe in him and support him.' He added, 'Do you affirm this covenant and accept this commitment?' They said, 'Yes, we do.' Allah said, 'Then bear witness, and I too am a Witness.'
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Muḥammad (ﷺ).

When Allah made (His) covenant with the Prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree and take this My Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses." 416
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. ii. 63. n. 78. The argument is: You (People of the Book) are bound by your own oaths, sworn solemnly in the presence of your own Prophets. In the Old Testament as it now exists, Muhammad is foretold in Deut. xviii. 18: and the rise of the Arab nation in Isaiah. xlii. 11. for Kedar was a son of Ismail and the name is used for the Arab nation: in the New Testament as it now exists. Muhammad is foretold in the Gospel of St. John. xiv. 16, xv. 26, and xvi. 7: the future Comforter cannot be the Holy Spirit as understood by Christians, because the Holy Spirit already was present, helping and guiding Jesus. The Greek word translated "Comforter" is "Paracletos", which is an easy corruption from "Periclytos", which is almost a literal translation of "Muhammad" or "Ahmad": see Q lxi. 6. Further, there were other Gospels that have perished, but of which traces still remain, which were even more specific in their reference to Muhammad; e.g., the Gospel of St. Barnabas, of which an Italian translation is extant in the State Library at Vienna. It was edited in 1907 with an English translation by Mr. Lonsdale and Laura Ragg.

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3:82
فَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ Faman tawall a baAAda tha lika faol a ika humu alf a siqoon a
And, henceforth, all who turn away [from this pledge] - it is they, they who are truly iniquitous!"
  - Mohammad Asad
Now if anyone turns back after this, he will become the transgressor.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Whoever turns back after this, they will be the rebellious.
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then whosoever after this shall turn away: they will be miscreants.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
If any turn back after this they are perverted transgressors.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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3:83
أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ ٱللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ Afaghayra deeni All a hi yabghoona walahu aslama man fee a l ssam a w a ti wa a lar d i t awAAan wakarhan wailayhi yurjaAAoon a
Do they seek, perchance, a faith other than in God,66 although it is unto Him that whatever is in the heavens and on earth surrenders itself, willingly or unwillingly, since unto Him all must return?67
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "[any] other than God's religion".

Lit., "will be returned". For an explanation of this sentence, see 13:15 and the corresponding notes.

Are they looking for a religion other than the Deen (religion and Way of Life) of Allah knowing well that everything in the heavens and in the earth, willingly or unwillingly, has submitted to Him? And to Him they shall all return.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Do they desire a way other than Allah's- knowing that all those in the heavens and the earth submit to His Will, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will 'all' be returned?
  - Mustafa Khattab
Seek they other than the religion of Allah, when unto Him submitteth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly, or unwillingly, and unto Him they will be returned.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah? While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have willing or unwilling bowed to His Will (accepted Islam) and to Him shall they all be brought back. 417
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's Truth is manifest, and all that is good and true and sane and normal accepts it with joy. But even where there is "disease in the heart" (Q. ii. 10), or judgment is obscured by perversity, every creature must eventually see and acknowledge Allah and His power (ii. 167). Cf. R. Bridges: "Testament of Beauty": iv. 1419-22:-"For God's love is unescapable as nature's environment, which if a man ignore or think to thrust it off, he is the ill-natured fool that runneth blindly on death." All Nature adores Allah, and Islam asks for nothing peculiar or sectarian; it but asks that we follow our nature and make our will conformable to Allah's Will as seen in Nature, history, and revelation. Its message is universal.

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3:84
قُلْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ Qul a mann a bi A ll a hi wam a onzila AAalayn a wam a onzila AAal a ibr a heema waism a AAeela wais ha qa wayaAAqooba wa a lasb at i wam a ootiya moos a waAAees a wa al nnabiyyoona min rabbihim l a nufarriqu bayna a h adin minhum wana h nu lahu muslimoon a
Say: "We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed by their Sustainer unto Moses and Jesus and all the [other] prophets: we make no distinction between any of them.68 And unto Him do we surrender ourselves."
  - Mohammad Asad

See 2:136 and the corresponding note [112].

O Prophet, say: "We believe in Allah and what is revealed to us and what was revealed to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma`il (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qoob (Jacob) and their descendants; and in that which was given to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and other Prophets from their Rabb; we do not discriminate any one of them, and to Allah do we submit in Islam."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Say, 'O Prophet,' 'We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord- we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we 'fully' submit.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Say (O Muhammad): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed unto Moses and Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Say: "We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham Isma`il Isaac Jacob and the Tribes and in (Books) given to Moses Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between one and another among them and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam)."
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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3:85
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ Waman yabtaghi ghayra alisl a mi deenan falan yuqbala minhu wahuwa fee al a khirati mina alkh a sireen a
For, if one goes in search of a religion other than self-surrender unto God, it will never be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the lost.
  - Mohammad Asad
If anyone is looking for a religion other than Islam, then let it be known that it will not be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Whoever seeks a way other than Islam,1 it will never be accepted from them, and in the Hereafter they will be among the losers.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., full submission to the Will of Allah.

And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good). 418
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Muslim position is clear. The Muslim does not claim to have a religion peculiar to himself. Islam is not a sect or an ethnic religion. In its view all Religion is one, for the Truth is one. It was the religion preached by all the earlier Prophets. It was the truth taught by all the inspired Books. In essence it amounts to a consciousness of the Will and Plan of Allah and a joyful submission to that Will and Plan. If any one wants a religion other than that, he is false to his own nature, as he is false to Allah's Will and Plan. Such a one cannot expect guidance, for he has deliberately renounced guidance. (A) Cf. ii. 161-62.

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