Surah Al Imran ayat 64 Tafsir Quran 3:64

﴿قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 64]

3:64 Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]."

Say ‘O People of the Scripture! Jews and Christians come now to a word agreed upon sawā’ is the verbal noun meaning mustawin amruhā ‘a word regarding which the matter is upright’ between us and you and it is that we worship none but God allā is made up of an-lā ‘that…not’ and that we do not associate anything with Him and do not take each other for lords beside God’ as you have taken rabbis and monks; and if they turn their backs in rejection of God’s Oneness say you to them ‘Bear witness that we have submitted’ that we are of those who affirm the Oneness of God.

Say to them: “O you Ahl al-Kitab, let us come to terms to agree among ourselves that we venerate and worship no one but Allah and that we shall not incorporate with Him other deities. Nor shall any of us take another for a godhead or a tutelary guardian besides Allah. If they turn a deaf ear and insist upon hugging their irreverent conviction to their hearts, then say to them: Do then bear witness that we conform our will to Allah’s blessed will, and this reflects conformity to Islam

Every Person Knows about Tawhid This Ayah includes the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians, and those who follow their ways. قُلْ يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ ( Say: "O people of the Scripture! Come to a word" ) `Word' - in Arabic - also means a complete sentence, as evident from this Ayah.
Allah described this word as being one, سَوَآءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ ( that is the same between us and you ), an honest and righteous word that is fair to both parties.
Allah then explained this word, أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً ( that we worship none but Allah (Alone ), and that we associate no partners with Him,) we worship neither a statue, cross, idol, Taghut ( false gods ), fire or anything else.
Rather, we worship Allah Alone without partners, and this is the message of all of Allah's Messengers.
Allah said, وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ ( And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying ): "None has the right to be worshipped but I ( Allah ), so worship Me ( Alone and none else ).") 21:25 and, وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ ( And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming ): "Worship Allah ( Alone ), and avoid ( or keep away from ) Taghut ( all false deities ).") 16:36.
Allah said next, وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ( "and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah." ) Ibn Jurayj commented, "We do not obey each other in disobedience to Allah." فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ( Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims." ) if they abandon this fair call, then let them know that you will remain in Islam as Allah has legislated for you. We should mention that the letter that the Prophet sent to Heraclius reads, "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, to Heraclius, Leader of the Romans: peace be upon those who follow the true guidance.
Embrace Islam and you will acquire safety, embrace Islam and Allah will grant you a double reward.
However, if you turn away from it, then you will carry the burden of the peasants, and, يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ( "O people of the Scripture: Come to a word that is the same between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (Alone ), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah." Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims.")" Muhammad bin Ishaq and other scholars said that the beginning of Surah Al `Imran, and more than eighty verses thereafter; were revealed about the delegation of Najran.
Az-Zuhri stated that the people of Najran were the first people to pay the Jizyah ( tax money paid to the Muslim State ).
However, there is no disagreement that the Ayah that ordained the Jizyah 9:29 was revealed after the Fath ( conquering Makkah, and therefore, after the delegation of Najran came to Al-Madinah ).
So, how can this Ayah 3:64 be contained in the Prophet's letter to Heraclius before the victory of Makkah, and how can we harmonize between the statements of Muhammad bin Ishaq and Az-Zuhri The answer is that the delegation of Najran came before Al-Hudaybiyyah ( before the victory of Makkah ), and what they paid was in lieu of the Mubahalah; not as Jizyah.
The Ayah about the Jizyah was later revealed, and its ruling supported what occurred with the Najran people.
In support of this opinion, we should mention that in another instance, the ruling on dividing the booty into one - fifth ( for the Prophet ) and four-fifths ( for the fighters ) agreed with the practice of `Abdullah bin Jahsh during the raid that he led before Badr.
An Ayah later on upheld the way `Abdullah divided the booty.
Therefore, it is possible that the Prophet wrote this statement ( Say, "O People of the Scripture.
.." ) in his letter to Heraclius before the Ayah was revealed.
Later on, the Qur'an agreed with the Prophet's statement, word by word.
It is also a fact that the Qur'an was revealed in agreement with what `Umar said regarding the captured disbelievers at Badr, the Hijab ( Muslim woman code of dress ), refraining from performing prayer for the hypocrites, and regarding his statements: وَاتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ( And take you the Maqam (place ) of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.) 2:125, and, عَسَى رَبُّهُ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُ أَزْوَجاً خَيْراً مِّنكُنَّ ( It may be if he divorced you (all ) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you.) 66:5.

(3:64) Say: *56 'People of the Book! Come to a word common between us and you: *57 that we shall serve none but Allah and shall associate none with Him in His divinity and that some of us will not take others as lords beside Allah.' And if they turn their backs (from accepting this call), tell them: 'Bear witness that we are the ones who have submitted ourselves exclusively to Allah.'

Say, "O People of the Scripture, come meaning

*56).
This marks the beginning of the third discourse of this surah.
Its contents invite the conclusion that the surah was revealed sometime between the battles of Badr and Uhud.
The subjects of these three discourses are so closely interrelated that some commentators have wrongly understood the verses which follow to be part of the foregoing discourse.
From the whole tenor of the discourse which now begins, however, it is evident that it is addressed to the Jews.

*57).
The invitation here is for the two parties to agree on something believed in by one of them, the Muslims, and the soundness of which could hardly be denied by the other party, the Christians.
For this was the belief of their own Prophets and had been taught in their own scriptures.

 

Every Person Knows about Tawhid This Ayah includes the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians, and those who follow their ways. قُلْ يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ ( Say: "O people of the Scripture! Come to a word" ) `Word' - in Arabic - also means a complete sentence, as evident from this Ayah.
Allah described this word as being one, سَوَآءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ ( that is the same between us and you ), an honest and righteous word that is fair to both parties.
Allah then explained this word, أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً ( that we worship none but Allah (Alone ), and that we associate no partners with Him,) we worship neither a statue, cross, idol, Taghut ( false gods ), fire or anything else.
Rather, we worship Allah Alone without partners, and this is the message of all of Allah's Messengers.
Allah said, وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ ( And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying ): "None has the right to be worshipped but I ( Allah ), so worship Me ( Alone and none else ).") 21:25 and, وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ ( And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming ): "Worship Allah ( Alone ), and avoid ( or keep away from ) Taghut ( all false deities ).") 16:36.
Allah said next, وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ( "and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah." ) Ibn Jurayj commented, "We do not obey each other in disobedience to Allah." فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ( Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims." ) if they abandon this fair call, then let them know that you will remain in Islam as Allah has legislated for you. We should mention that the letter that the Prophet sent to Heraclius reads, "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, to Heraclius, Leader of the Romans: peace be upon those who follow the true guidance.
Embrace Islam and you will acquire safety, embrace Islam and Allah will grant you a double reward.
However, if you turn away from it, then you will carry the burden of the peasants, and, يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ( "O people of the Scripture: Come to a word that is the same between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (Alone ), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah." Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims.")" Muhammad bin Ishaq and other scholars said that the beginning of Surah Al `Imran, and more than eighty verses thereafter; were revealed about the delegation of Najran.
Az-Zuhri stated that the people of Najran were the first people to pay the Jizyah ( tax money paid to the Muslim State ).
However, there is no disagreement that the Ayah that ordained the Jizyah 9:29 was revealed after the Fath ( conquering Makkah, and therefore, after the delegation of Najran came to Al-Madinah ).
So, how can this Ayah 3:64 be contained in the Prophet's letter to Heraclius before the victory of Makkah, and how can we harmonize between the statements of Muhammad bin Ishaq and Az-Zuhri The answer is that the delegation of Najran came before Al-Hudaybiyyah ( before the victory of Makkah ), and what they paid was in lieu of the Mubahalah; not as Jizyah.
The Ayah about the Jizyah was later revealed, and its ruling supported what occurred with the Najran people.
In support of this opinion, we should mention that in another instance, the ruling on dividing the booty into one - fifth ( for the Prophet ) and four-fifths ( for the fighters ) agreed with the practice of `Abdullah bin Jahsh during the raid that he led before Badr.
An Ayah later on upheld the way `Abdullah divided the booty.
Therefore, it is possible that the Prophet wrote this statement ( Say, "O People of the Scripture.
.." ) in his letter to Heraclius before the Ayah was revealed.
Later on, the Qur'an agreed with the Prophet's statement, word by word.
It is also a fact that the Qur'an was revealed in agreement with what `Umar said regarding the captured disbelievers at Badr, the Hijab ( Muslim woman code of dress ), refraining from performing prayer for the hypocrites, and regarding his statements: وَاتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ( And take you the Maqam (place ) of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.) 2:125, and, عَسَى رَبُّهُ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُ أَزْوَجاً خَيْراً مِّنكُنَّ ( It may be if he divorced you (all ) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you.) 66:5.

After this, Allah invited them to accept Allah’s divine Oneness, saying: ( Say: O People of the Scripture. Come to an agreement ) the agreement is: there is no god except Allah ( between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah ) we shall declare Allah as the only One God, ( and that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him ) from among created beings, ( and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah ) that none of us shall obey another person in that which involves a transgression against Allah. ( And if they turn away ) and refuse to accept Allah’s divine Oneness, ( then say: Bear witness ) know ( that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him )) and acknowledge His divine Oneness and worship Him.

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."

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