ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 121
Translations
Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers.
Transliteration
Alladhīna ātaynāhumu al-kitāba yatlūnahū haqqa tilāwatihi ūlā'ika yu'minūna bih. Wa man yakfur bih fa-ūlā'ika hum al-khāsirūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse describes those who have been given the Scripture and recite it with proper reverence and understanding—these are the true believers who accept it fully. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'haqq tilāwatihi' (reciting it properly) means not only reciting with correct pronunciation (tajweed) but understanding, contemplating, and implementing its teachings. Conversely, those who reject the Scripture are among the greatest losers in both this life and the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the early Medinan surahs and follows the discussion of those who believe in the Quran. It establishes a criterion for true belief: not merely possessing the Scripture, but engaging with it properly through recitation combined with understanding and acceptance. The context addresses both the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and Muslims, distinguishing between nominal possession and genuine faith.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, 'Whoever recites the Quran and acts according to it, his parents will be crowned with a light on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires not just passive possession of sacred texts but active, mindful engagement with them—understanding their meanings and implementing their teachings in daily life. The measure of a believer's success is not merely recitation, but the comprehensive acceptance and application of divine guidance, which determines eternal success or loss.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَـٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And [recall] when We saved you [i.e., your forefathers] from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with the worst torment, slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَٱدَّٰرَْٰٔتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allāh was to bring out that which you were concealing.
وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
Fight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.
نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا۟ حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُم مُّلَـٰقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Your wives are a place of cultivation [i.e., sowing of seed] for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. And fear Allāh and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.