Surah Al Imran ayat 79 Tafsir Quran 3:79

﴿مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِّي مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِن كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 79]

3:79 It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."

When the Christians of Najrān claimed that Jesus had commanded them to take him as a Divinity and some Muslims asked that they should be permitted to prostrate themselves before him the Prophet s the following was revealed It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book the Judgement the understanding of the Divine Law prophethood then that he should say to men ‘Be servants to me instead of God.’ Rather he should say ‘Be masters scholars labouring rabbāniyyūn ‘those of the Lord’ is derived from rabb ‘lord’ with the extra alif and nūn as a superlative of rabbiyyūn by virtue of what you know ta‘lamūn also read as tu‘allimūn ‘you teach’ of the Book and in what you study’ that is on account of the fact that you used to do this for its benefit is that you engage in action.

It is hardly intelligible that a human on whom Allah confers the Book and the wisdom and the prerogative of Prophethood would demand of the people to worship him in lieu of Allah. Rather he would ask of them by virtue of right and authority to pay reverence and veneration to Allah, the Creator, and to adore Him with appropriate acts and rites and devotion. This is the logical sequence which Allah has imparted to them, the divine knowledge which they have imparted to people, the divine knowledge which they themselves have applied their minds to its acquisition

No Prophet Ever Called People to Worship him or to Worship Other Than Allah This Ayah 3:79 means, it is not for a person whom Allah has given the Book, knowledge in the Law and prophethood to proclaim to the people, "Worship me instead of Allah," meaning, along with Allah.
If this is not the right of a Prophet or a Messenger, then indeed, it is not the right of anyone else to issue such a claim. This criticism refers to the ignorant rabbis, priests and teachers of misguidance, unlike the Messengers and their sincere knowledgeable followers who implement their knowledge; for they only command what Allah commands them, as their honorable Messengers conveyed to them.
They also forbid what Allah forbade for them, by the words of His honorable Messengers.
The Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on all of them, are the emissaries between Allah and His creation, conveying Allah's Message and Trust.
The messengers indeed fulfilled their mission, gave sincere advice to creation and conveyed the truth to them.
Allah's statement, وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّـنِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَـبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ( On the contrary (he would say ), "Be you Rabbaniyyun, because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it.") means, the Messenger recommends the people to be Rabbaniyyun.
Ibn `Abbas, Abu Razin and several others said that Rabbaniyyun means, "Wise, learned, and forbearing." Ad-Dahhak commented concerning Allah's statement, بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَـبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ( because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it. ) "Whoever learns the Qur'an deserves to become a Faqih ( learned )." وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ( and you are studying it ), preserving its words. Allah then said, وَلاَ يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُواْ الْمَلَـئِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّيْنَ أَرْبَابًا ( Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords. ) The Prophet does not command worshipping other than Allah, whether a sent Messenger or an angel. أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allah's will ) meaning, he would not do that, for whoever calls to worshipping other than Allah, will have called to Kufr.
The Prophets only call to Iman which commands worshipping Allah Alone without partners.
Allah said in other Ayat, وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ ( And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ) but We revealed to him ( saying ): "None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me".) 21:25, 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 Taghut ( all false deities ).") 16:36, and, وَاسْئلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ الرَّحْمَـنِ ءَالِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ ( And ask those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: "Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allah )") 43:45 Allah said concerning the angels, وَمَن يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّى إِلَـهٌ مِّن دُونِهِ فَذلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الظَّـلِمِينَ ( And if any of them should say: "Verily, I am a god besides Him (Allah )," such a one We should recompense with Hell.
Thus We recompense the wrongdoers.) 21:29.

(3:79) It does not befit a man that Allah should grant him His Book and sound judgement and prophet-hood, and thereafter he should say to men: 'Become servants to me apart from Allah.' He would rather say: 'Become dedicated men of Allah, *67 in accord with the dictates of the Book you have been teaching and studying.'

It is not for a human [prophet] meaning

*67).
The term rabbani is used here to denote Jewish religious scholars and functionaries who were supposed to provide true religious guidance to establish their rites of worship, implement religious laws, and so on.
The same word occurs in Surah 5: 44 and 63.
In the Christian tradition the word 'divine' is used as an equivalent to the word rabbani.

 

No Prophet Ever Called People to Worship him or to Worship Other Than Allah This Ayah 3:79 means, it is not for a person whom Allah has given the Book, knowledge in the Law and prophethood to proclaim to the people, "Worship me instead of Allah," meaning, along with Allah.
If this is not the right of a Prophet or a Messenger, then indeed, it is not the right of anyone else to issue such a claim. This criticism refers to the ignorant rabbis, priests and teachers of misguidance, unlike the Messengers and their sincere knowledgeable followers who implement their knowledge; for they only command what Allah commands them, as their honorable Messengers conveyed to them.
They also forbid what Allah forbade for them, by the words of His honorable Messengers.
The Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on all of them, are the emissaries between Allah and His creation, conveying Allah's Message and Trust.
The messengers indeed fulfilled their mission, gave sincere advice to creation and conveyed the truth to them.
Allah's statement, وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّـنِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَـبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ( On the contrary (he would say ), "Be you Rabbaniyyun, because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it.") means, the Messenger recommends the people to be Rabbaniyyun.
Ibn `Abbas, Abu Razin and several others said that Rabbaniyyun means, "Wise, learned, and forbearing." Ad-Dahhak commented concerning Allah's statement, بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَـبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ( because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it. ) "Whoever learns the Qur'an deserves to become a Faqih ( learned )." وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ( and you are studying it ), preserving its words. Allah then said, وَلاَ يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُواْ الْمَلَـئِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّيْنَ أَرْبَابًا ( Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords. ) The Prophet does not command worshipping other than Allah, whether a sent Messenger or an angel. أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allah's will ) meaning, he would not do that, for whoever calls to worshipping other than Allah, will have called to Kufr.
The Prophets only call to Iman which commands worshipping Allah Alone without partners.
Allah said in other Ayat, وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ ( And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ) but We revealed to him ( saying ): "None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me".) 21:25, 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 Taghut ( all false deities ).") 16:36, and, وَاسْئلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ الرَّحْمَـنِ ءَالِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ ( And ask those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: "Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allah )") 43:45 Allah said concerning the angels, وَمَن يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّى إِلَـهٌ مِّن دُونِهِ فَذلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الظَّـلِمِينَ ( And if any of them should say: "Verily, I am a god besides Him (Allah )," such a one We should recompense with Hell.
Thus We recompense the wrongdoers.) 21:29.

Then Allah said as regards their claim that they follow the Religion of Abraham and that Abraham commanded them to follow this Religion: ( It is not (possible ) for any human being) among the prophets ( unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom ) understanding ( and the prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah; but (what he said was ): Be you faithful servants of the Lord) men of knowledge, people of understanding as well as people who put what they learn into practice ( by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture ) from the Scripture; it is also said that this means: by virtue of your knowledge of the Scripture ( and of your constant study thereof ) of your reading from the Scripture.

It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukma (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion, etc.) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah's." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyun (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."

Page 60 English transliteration