وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍۭ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱتَّقُونِ 41
Translations
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
Transliteration
Wa-āminū bimā anzaltu musaddiqan li-mā maʿakum wa-lā takūnū awwala kāfirin bihī wa-lā tashtarū bi-āyātī thaman qalīlan wa-iyyāya fattaqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the People of the Book (Christians and Jews), commanding them to believe in the Qur'an as a confirmation of their scriptures and warning them not to be the first to reject it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah instructs them not to exchange His signs for a small price (worldly gain, status, or material benefit), and to fear and obey only Him. The ayah emphasizes that rejecting divine truth for worldly interests is a grave transgression that contradicts genuine faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the early period after the Hijrah, addressing the Jewish and Christian communities of Medina who possessed knowledge of previous scriptures. The context reflects Allah's appeal to these groups to recognize the continuity of divine revelation through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while warning against allowing worldly interests and tribal loyalties to obstruct their faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever conceals knowledge, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire' (Sahih Muslim 2159) relates to the theme of not hiding truth for material gain.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that no worldly benefit or social pressure is worth compromising divine truth, and that believers must prioritize their relationship with Allah over material gain and human approval. For contemporary Muslims, it reinforces the importance of maintaining integrity in faith and resisting the temptation to exchange religious principles for transient worldly advantages.