Surah Al Imran ayat 19 Tafsir Quran 3:19

﴿إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ ۗ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ﴾
[ آل عمران: 19]

3:19 Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.

Lo! the religion with God pleasing to Him is submission to the One God al-islām that is to say the Divine Law with which the messengers were sent founded upon the affirmation of God’s Oneness a variant reading for inna ‘lo!’ has anna ‘that’ as an inclusive substitution for annahu to the end of that verse sc. shahida Llāhu … anna l-dīna ‘inda Llāhi l-islām ‘God bears witness that religion with God is Islām. Those who were given the Scripture the Jews and the Christians differed in religion some affirming God’s Oneness others rejecting it only after the knowledge of Oneness came to them through transgression on the part of the disbelievers among themselves. And whoever disbelieves in God’s signs God is swift at reckoning that is at requiting him.

The religion, the system of faith and worship, commended by Allah is Islam or the recognition on the part of man of Allah’s Omnipotence and Authority and His power to control destiny besides acceptance of this feeling as a standard of spiritual and practical life. Yet not until they had received the divine discourse and intellectual acquaintance of the truth did Ahl al-Kitab fall into dispute and become divided through mutual envy and ill intention. He who disregards Allah’s revelations and visible signs shall find that Allah is indeed swift in putting the law in execution

The Testimony of Tawhid Allah bears witness, and verily, Allah is sufficient as a Witness, and He is the Most Truthful and Just Witness there is; His statement is the absolute truth, أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ( that La ilaha illa Huwa ) meaning, He Alone is the Lord and God of all creation; everyone and everything are His servants, creation and in need of Him.
Allah is the Most Rich, Free from needing anyone or anything.
Allah said in another Ayah, لَّـكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ ( But Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down (the Qur'an ) unto you ( O Muhammad )) 4:166. Allah then mentioned the testimony of His angels and those who have knowledge after he mentioned His own testimony, شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ ( Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He ), and the angels, and those having knowledge ( also bear witness to this )).
This Ayah emphasizes the great virtue of those who have knowledge. قَآئِمَاً بِالْقِسْطِ ( (He ) maintains His creation in justice) in all that He does, لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ( None has the right to be worshipped but He ) thus emphasizing this fact, العَزِيزُ الحَكِيمُ ( the Almighty, the All-Wise. ) the Mighty that does not submit to weakness due to His might and greatness, the Wise in all His statements, actions, legislation and decrees. The Religion with Allah is Islam Allah said, إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلَـمُ ( Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. ) Allah states that there is no religion accepted with Him from any person, except Islam.
Islam includes obeying all of the Messengers until Muhammad who finalized their commission, thus closing all paths to Allah except through Muhammad .
Therefore, after Allah sent Muhammad , whoever meets Allah following a path other than Muhammad's, it will not be accepted of him.
In another Ayah, Allah said, وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلَـمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ ( And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him ) 3:85. In this Ayah 3:19, Allah said, asserting that the only religion accepted with Him is Islam, إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلَـمُ ( Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. ) Allah then states that those who were given the Scripture beforehand divided in the religion after Allah sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to them providing them the necessary proofs to not do so.
Allah said, وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ( Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians ) did not differ except out of rivalry, after knowledge had come to them.) meaning, some of them wronged others.
Therefore, they differed over the truth, out of envy, hatred and enmity for each other.
This hatred made some of them defy those whom they hated even if they were correct.
Allah then said, وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَـتِ اللَّهِ ( And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat of Allah ) meaning, whoever rejects what Allah sent down in His Book, فَإِنَّ اللَّهِ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ ( then surely, Allah is Swift in reckoning. ) Allah will punish him for his rejection, reckon him for his denial, and torment him for defying His Book.
Thereafter, Allah said. فَإنْ حَآجُّوكَ ( So if they dispute with you (Muhammad )) so if they argue with you about Tawhid, فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِىَ للَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ ( Say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam ), and ( so have ) those who follow me") meaning, Say, `I have made my worship sincere for Allah Alone without partners, rivals, offspring or companion, وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ ( and those who follow me ) who followed my religion and embraced my creed.' In another Ayah, Allah said, قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِى أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِى ( Say (O Muhammad ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me...") 12:108. Islam is the Religion of Mankind and the Prophet Was Sent to all Mankind Allah commanded His servant and Messenger, Muhammad , to call the People of the Two Scriptures and the unlettered idolators to his religion, way, Law and all that Allah sent him with.
Allah said, وَقُلْ لِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ وَالاٍّمِّيِّينَ ءَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ ( And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians ) and to those who are illiterates ( Arab pagans ): "Do you ( also ) submit yourselves" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message.) meaning, their reckoning is with Allah and their return and final destination is to Him.
It is He Who guides whom He wills and allows whom He wills to stray, and He has the perfect wisdom and the unequivocal proof for all of this.
This is why Allah said, وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ( And Allah sees the servants. ) for He has perfect knowledge of who deserves to be guided and who does not deserve to be guided.
Verily, لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَلُونَ ( He cannot be questioned for what He does, while they will be questioned. ) 21:23 because of His perfect wisdom and mercy.
This and similar Ayat are clear proofs that the Message of Muhammad is universal to all creation, as it is well established in the religion, according to the various texts of the Book and Sunnah.
For instance, Allah said, قُلْ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ( Say (O Muhammad ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.") 7:158, and, تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَـلَمِينَ نَذِيراً ( Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion to His servant that he may be a warner to the `Alamin (mankind and Jinn ).) 25:1. The Two Sahihs and other collections of Hadith recorded that the Prophet sent letters to the kings of the earth during his time and to different peoples, Arabs and non-Arabs, People of the Book and the unlettered, just as Allah had commanded him.
`Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ma`mar said, that Hammam said that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,
«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ: يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ، وَمَاتَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ، إِلَّا كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّار»
( By He in Whose Hand is my soul! No member of this Ummah, no Jew or Christian, hears of me but dies without believing in what I was sent with, but will be among the people of the Fire. ) Muslim recorded this Hadith. The Prophet said,
«بُعِثْتُ إِلَى الْأَحْمَرِ وَالْأَسْوَد»
( I was sent to the red and black.
) and,
«كَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّة»
( A Prophet used to be sent to his people, but I was sent to all mankind. )

(3:19) The true religion with Allah is Islam. *16 The People of the Book adopted many different ways rather than follow the true way of Islam even after the knowledge of truth had reached them, and this merely to commit excesses against one another. *17 Let him who refuses to follow the ordinances and directives of Allah know that Allah is swift in His reckoning.

Indeed, the religion in the sight of meaning

*16).
In the sight of God there is only one system of life and way of conduct which is both in accord with reality and morally right.
This consists of man's acknowledging God as his Lord and the sole object of his worship and devotion; of surrendering himself unreservedly to God in obedience and service.
In doing so he should follow in toto the guidance communicated by God through His Messengers rather than try to devise ways of serving God according to his own lights.
This mode of thought and action is known as Islam, and it is only reasonable that the Lord and Creator of the universe should accept nothing less from His creatures and servants.
In his folly man thinks that he has the right to believe in and follow every doctrine that comes his way whether it be atheism or idolatry.
In the sight of the Sovereign of the universe, however, all such attitudes amount to nothing short of rebellion against God.

*17).
This shows that the religion of every Messenger of God, in every age and clime, was none other than Islam ( submission to God ).
Likewise, every Divine book, in whichever language it was revealed, and to whichever people it was addressed, contained the teachings of Islam.
The various religions which have spread among mankind are distortions of this true, original religion, and are the result of tampering.
Coveting privileges over and above those to which they were entitled, people altered the beliefs, principles and injunctions of the true religion in a manner conducive to their own interests.

 

The Testimony of Tawhid Allah bears witness, and verily, Allah is sufficient as a Witness, and He is the Most Truthful and Just Witness there is; His statement is the absolute truth, أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ( that La ilaha illa Huwa ) meaning, He Alone is the Lord and God of all creation; everyone and everything are His servants, creation and in need of Him.
Allah is the Most Rich, Free from needing anyone or anything.
Allah said in another Ayah, لَّـكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ ( But Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down (the Qur'an ) unto you ( O Muhammad )) 4:166. Allah then mentioned the testimony of His angels and those who have knowledge after he mentioned His own testimony, شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ ( Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He ), and the angels, and those having knowledge ( also bear witness to this )).
This Ayah emphasizes the great virtue of those who have knowledge. قَآئِمَاً بِالْقِسْطِ ( (He ) maintains His creation in justice) in all that He does, لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ( None has the right to be worshipped but He ) thus emphasizing this fact, العَزِيزُ الحَكِيمُ ( the Almighty, the All-Wise. ) the Mighty that does not submit to weakness due to His might and greatness, the Wise in all His statements, actions, legislation and decrees. The Religion with Allah is Islam Allah said, إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلَـمُ ( Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. ) Allah states that there is no religion accepted with Him from any person, except Islam.
Islam includes obeying all of the Messengers until Muhammad who finalized their commission, thus closing all paths to Allah except through Muhammad .
Therefore, after Allah sent Muhammad , whoever meets Allah following a path other than Muhammad's, it will not be accepted of him.
In another Ayah, Allah said, وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلَـمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ ( And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him ) 3:85. In this Ayah 3:19, Allah said, asserting that the only religion accepted with Him is Islam, إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلَـمُ ( Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. ) Allah then states that those who were given the Scripture beforehand divided in the religion after Allah sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to them providing them the necessary proofs to not do so.
Allah said, وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ( Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians ) did not differ except out of rivalry, after knowledge had come to them.) meaning, some of them wronged others.
Therefore, they differed over the truth, out of envy, hatred and enmity for each other.
This hatred made some of them defy those whom they hated even if they were correct.
Allah then said, وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَـتِ اللَّهِ ( And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat of Allah ) meaning, whoever rejects what Allah sent down in His Book, فَإِنَّ اللَّهِ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ ( then surely, Allah is Swift in reckoning. ) Allah will punish him for his rejection, reckon him for his denial, and torment him for defying His Book.
Thereafter, Allah said. فَإنْ حَآجُّوكَ ( So if they dispute with you (Muhammad )) so if they argue with you about Tawhid, فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِىَ للَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ ( Say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam ), and ( so have ) those who follow me") meaning, Say, `I have made my worship sincere for Allah Alone without partners, rivals, offspring or companion, وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ ( and those who follow me ) who followed my religion and embraced my creed.' In another Ayah, Allah said, قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِى أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِى ( Say (O Muhammad ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me...") 12:108. Islam is the Religion of Mankind and the Prophet Was Sent to all Mankind Allah commanded His servant and Messenger, Muhammad , to call the People of the Two Scriptures and the unlettered idolators to his religion, way, Law and all that Allah sent him with.
Allah said, وَقُلْ لِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ وَالاٍّمِّيِّينَ ءَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ ( And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians ) and to those who are illiterates ( Arab pagans ): "Do you ( also ) submit yourselves" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message.) meaning, their reckoning is with Allah and their return and final destination is to Him.
It is He Who guides whom He wills and allows whom He wills to stray, and He has the perfect wisdom and the unequivocal proof for all of this.
This is why Allah said, وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ( And Allah sees the servants. ) for He has perfect knowledge of who deserves to be guided and who does not deserve to be guided.
Verily, لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَلُونَ ( He cannot be questioned for what He does, while they will be questioned. ) 21:23 because of His perfect wisdom and mercy.
This and similar Ayat are clear proofs that the Message of Muhammad is universal to all creation, as it is well established in the religion, according to the various texts of the Book and Sunnah.
For instance, Allah said, قُلْ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ( Say (O Muhammad ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.") 7:158, and, تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَـلَمِينَ نَذِيراً ( Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion to His servant that he may be a warner to the `Alamin (mankind and Jinn ).) 25:1. The Two Sahihs and other collections of Hadith recorded that the Prophet sent letters to the kings of the earth during his time and to different peoples, Arabs and non-Arabs, People of the Book and the unlettered, just as Allah had commanded him.
`Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ma`mar said, that Hammam said that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said, «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ: يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ، وَمَاتَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ، إِلَّا كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّار» ( By He in Whose Hand is my soul! No member of this Ummah, no Jew or Christian, hears of me but dies without believing in what I was sent with, but will be among the people of the Fire. ) Muslim recorded this Hadith. The Prophet said, «بُعِثْتُ إِلَى الْأَحْمَرِ وَالْأَسْوَد» ( I was sent to the red and black.
) and, «كَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّة» ( A Prophet used to be sent to his people, but I was sent to all mankind. )

( Lo! Religion ) that is accepted ( with Allah (is ) the Surrender ( to His will and guidance )). It is also said that this should be understood as: Allah bears witness that Religion with Him is Islam ( the Surrender ), and the angels, the prophets and the believers also bear witness to this. This verse was revealed about two men from Historic Syria who asked the Prophet ( pbuh ) which is the greatest witness in the Book of Allah. When he informed them about it, they embraced Islam. ( Those who (formerly ) received the Scripture) the Jews and Christians ( differed ) about Islam and Muhammad ( only after knowledge ) the exposition of what is in their Scripture ( came unto them, through transgression among themselves ) out of resentful envy. ( Whoso disbelieveth the revelations of Allah ) Muhammad and the Qur’an ( (will find that ) Lo! Allah is swift at reckoning) severe in His punishment.

Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, then surely, Allah is Swift in calling to account.

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