Surah Tawbah ayat 31 Tafsir Quran 9:31

﴿اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾
[ التوبة: 31]

9:31 They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, 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.

They have taken their rabbis the scholars among the Jews and their monks the devout among the Christians as lords beside God — following them in making lawful what God has made unlawful and making unlawful what He has made lawful — and the Messiah son of Mary when they were not commanded in the Torah and the Gospel except to worship One God there is no god except Him; glory be to Him as an affirmation of His transcendence high above what they associate with Him.

They took their Rabbins and their monks as well as the AL- Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), as tutelary Masters besides Allah, yet they have been commanded to worship but One Allah, the only Ilah there is. Praise be to Him and extolled are His glorious attributes. He is far beyond all those they incorporate with Him

Fighting the Jews and Christians is legislated because They are Idolators and Disbelievers Allah the Exalted encourages the believers to fight the polytheists, disbelieving Jews and Christians, who uttered this terrible statement and utter lies against Allah, the Exalted.
As for the Jews, they claimed that `Uzayr was the son of God, Allah is free of what they attribute to Him.
As for the misguidance of Christians over `Isa, it is obvious.
This is why Allah declared both groups to be liars, ذلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَهِهِمْ ( That is their saying with their mouths ), but they have no proof that supports their claim, other than lies and fabrications, يُضَـهِئُونَ ( resembling ), imitating, قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَبْلُ ( the saying of those who disbelieved aforetime. ) They imitate the previous nations who fell into misguidance just as Jews and Christians did, قَـتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ( may Allah fight them ), Ibn `Abbas said, "May Allah curse them." أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ ( how they are deluded away from the truth! ) how they deviate from truth, when it is apparent, exchanging it for misguidance.
Allah said next, اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَـرَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـنَهُمْ أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ( They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah, and the Messiah, son of Maryam ) 9:31.
Imam Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir At-Tabari recorded a Hadith via several chains of narration, from `Adi bin Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, who became Christian during the time of Jahiliyyah.
When the call of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached his area, `Adi ran away to Ash-Sham, and his sister and several of his people were captured.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ freed his sister and gave her gifts.
So she went to her brother and encouraged him to become Muslim and to go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
`Adi, who was one of the chiefs of his people ( the tribe of Tai' ) and whose father, Hatim At-Ta'i, was known for his generosity, went to Al-Madinah.
When the people announced his arrival, `Adi went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wearing a silver cross around his neck.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this Ayah; اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَـرَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـنَهُمْ أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ( They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah ).
`Adi commented, "I said, `They did not worship them."' The Prophet said,
«بَلَى إِنَّهُمْ حَرَّمُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْحَلَالَ وَأَحَلُّوا لَهُمُ الْحَرَامَ فَاتَّبَعُوهُمْ فَذَلِكَ عِبَادَتُهُمْ إِيَّاهُم»
( Yes they did.
They (rabbis and monks ) prohibited the allowed for them ( Christians and Jews ) and allowed the prohibited, and they obeyed them.
This is how they worshipped them.) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to `Adi,
«يَا عَدِيُّ مَا تَقُولُ؟ أَيُفِرُّكَ أَنْ يُقَالَ: اللهُ أَكْبَرَ؟ فَهَلْ تَعْلَمُ شَيْئًا أَكْبَرَ مِنَ اللهِ؟ مَا يُفِرُّكَ؟ أَيُفِرُّكَ أَنْ يُقَالَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ؟ فَهَلْ تَعْلَمُ مَنْ إِلهٌ إِلَّا اللهُ؟»
( O `Adi what do you say Did you run away (to Ash-Sham ) so that 'Allahu Akbar' ( Allah is the Great ) is not pronounced Do you know of anything greater than Allah What made you run away Did you run away so that `La ilaha illallah' is not pronounced Do you know of any deity worthy of worship except Allah) The Messenger ﷺ invited `Adi to embrace Islam, and he embraced Islam and pronounced the Testimony of Truth.
The face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ beamed with pleasure and he said to `Adi,
«إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ مَغْضُوبٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالنَّصَارَى ضَالُّون»
( Verily, the Jews have earned the anger (of Allah ) and the Christians are misguided.) Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman, `Abdullah bin `Abbas and several others said about the explanation of, اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَـرَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـنَهُمْ أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ( They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah... ) that the Christians and Jews obeyed their monks and rabbis in whatever they allowed or prohibited for them.
This is why Allah said, وَمَآ أُمِرُواْ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُواْ إِلَـهاً وَحِداً ( while they were commanded to worship none but One God ), Who, whatever He renders prohibited is the prohibited, whatever He allowed is the allowed, whatever He legislates, is to be the law followed, and whatever He decides is to be adhered to; لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ سُبْحَـنَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ( None has the right to be worshipped but He.
Hallowed be He above what they associate (with Him ).) Meaning, exalted, sanctified, hallowed above partners, equals, aids, rivals or children, there is no deity or Lord worthy of worship except Him.

(9:31) They have made their scholars and monks as their Lords beside Allah, *31 and likewise the Messiah, the son of Mary, although they were enjoined not to worship any other than the One Deity, besides Whom there is none worthy of worship. He is absolutely pure and free from what they associate with Him.

They have taken their scholars and monks meaning

*31) " They have taken their scholars and monks as their Lords the Holy Prophet himself explained its true significance.
According to a Tradition, when Hadrat `Adi bin Hatim, who was formerly a Christian, came to the Holy Prophet with the intention of understanding Islam, he asked several questions in order to remove his doubts.
One of these was: "This verse accuses us of taking our scholars and monks as our lords.
What is its real meaning, sir? For we do not take them as our fords."
As a reply to this, the Holy Prophet put him a counter-question: "Is it not a fact that you accept as unlawful what they declare to be unlawful, and lawful what they declare to be lawful?" 'Adi confessed, "Yes, sir, it is so." The Holy Prophet replied, "This amounts to making them your lords." Incidentally, this Tradition shows that those who themselves set limits to the lawful and the unlawful without the authority of Allah's Book, assume for themselves the rank of Godhead, and those who acknowledge their right of making laws take them as their Lords.

It should be noted that they have been charged with ( a ) attributing sons to AIlah, and ( b ) giving the right of making laws to others than Allah.
These are to prove that their claim, that they believed in Allah, is false, even though they should believe in his existence.
But such a wrong conception of AIIah makes their belief in Allah meaningless.

 

Fighting the Jews and Christians is legislated because They are Idolators and Disbelievers Allah the Exalted encourages the believers to fight the polytheists, disbelieving Jews and Christians, who uttered this terrible statement and utter lies against Allah, the Exalted.
As for the Jews, they claimed that `Uzayr was the son of God, Allah is free of what they attribute to Him.
As for the misguidance of Christians over `Isa, it is obvious.
This is why Allah declared both groups to be liars, ذلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَهِهِمْ ( That is their saying with their mouths ), but they have no proof that supports their claim, other than lies and fabrications, يُضَـهِئُونَ ( resembling ), imitating, قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَبْلُ ( the saying of those who disbelieved aforetime. ) They imitate the previous nations who fell into misguidance just as Jews and Christians did, قَـتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ( may Allah fight them ), Ibn `Abbas said, "May Allah curse them." أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ ( how they are deluded away from the truth! ) how they deviate from truth, when it is apparent, exchanging it for misguidance.
Allah said next, اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَـرَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـنَهُمْ أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ( They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah, and the Messiah, son of Maryam ) 9:31.
Imam Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir At-Tabari recorded a Hadith via several chains of narration, from `Adi bin Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, who became Christian during the time of Jahiliyyah.
When the call of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached his area, `Adi ran away to Ash-Sham, and his sister and several of his people were captured.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ freed his sister and gave her gifts.
So she went to her brother and encouraged him to become Muslim and to go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
`Adi, who was one of the chiefs of his people ( the tribe of Tai' ) and whose father, Hatim At-Ta'i, was known for his generosity, went to Al-Madinah.
When the people announced his arrival, `Adi went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wearing a silver cross around his neck.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this Ayah; اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَـرَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـنَهُمْ أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ( They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah ).
`Adi commented, "I said, `They did not worship them."' The Prophet said, «بَلَى إِنَّهُمْ حَرَّمُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْحَلَالَ وَأَحَلُّوا لَهُمُ الْحَرَامَ فَاتَّبَعُوهُمْ فَذَلِكَ عِبَادَتُهُمْ إِيَّاهُم» ( Yes they did.
They (rabbis and monks ) prohibited the allowed for them ( Christians and Jews ) and allowed the prohibited, and they obeyed them.
This is how they worshipped them.) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to `Adi, «يَا عَدِيُّ مَا تَقُولُ؟ أَيُفِرُّكَ أَنْ يُقَالَ: اللهُ أَكْبَرَ؟ فَهَلْ تَعْلَمُ شَيْئًا أَكْبَرَ مِنَ اللهِ؟ مَا يُفِرُّكَ؟ أَيُفِرُّكَ أَنْ يُقَالَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ؟ فَهَلْ تَعْلَمُ مَنْ إِلهٌ إِلَّا اللهُ؟» ( O `Adi what do you say Did you run away (to Ash-Sham ) so that 'Allahu Akbar' ( Allah is the Great ) is not pronounced Do you know of anything greater than Allah What made you run away Did you run away so that `La ilaha illallah' is not pronounced Do you know of any deity worthy of worship except Allah) The Messenger ﷺ invited `Adi to embrace Islam, and he embraced Islam and pronounced the Testimony of Truth.
The face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ beamed with pleasure and he said to `Adi, «إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ مَغْضُوبٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالنَّصَارَى ضَالُّون» ( Verily, the Jews have earned the anger (of Allah ) and the Christians are misguided.) Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman, `Abdullah bin `Abbas and several others said about the explanation of, اتَّخَذُواْ أَحْبَـرَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـنَهُمْ أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ( They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah... ) that the Christians and Jews obeyed their monks and rabbis in whatever they allowed or prohibited for them.
This is why Allah said, وَمَآ أُمِرُواْ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُواْ إِلَـهاً وَحِداً ( while they were commanded to worship none but One God ), Who, whatever He renders prohibited is the prohibited, whatever He allowed is the allowed, whatever He legislates, is to be the law followed, and whatever He decides is to be adhered to; لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ سُبْحَـنَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ( None has the right to be worshipped but He.
Hallowed be He above what they associate (with Him ).) Meaning, exalted, sanctified, hallowed above partners, equals, aids, rivals or children, there is no deity or Lord worthy of worship except Him.

( They have taken as lords beside Allah ) i.e. they obeyed them in acts of disobedience ( their rabbis ) the men of knowledge among the Jews ( and their monks ) who reside in monasteries ( and the Messiah son of Mary ) and they have taken the Messiah son of Mary as lord, ( when they were bidden ) in all Scriptures ( to worship ) to confess the divine Oneness of ( only One God. There is no god save Him. Be He glorified from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him )!) Allah exalts Himself above all that which they ascribe to Him.

They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilah (God - Allah) La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)."

Page 191 English transliteration