ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ٱبْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَـٰهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ رِضْوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا ۖ فَـَٔاتَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ 27
Translations
Then We sent following their footsteps [i.e., traditions] Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allāh. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
Transliteration
Thumma qaffaynā alā āthārahum bi-rusulinnā wa-qaffaynā bi-ʿĪsā ibni Maryama wa-ātaynāhu al-injīla wa-jaʿalnā fī qulūbi alladhīna ittabaʿūhu raʾfatan wa-raḥmatan wa-rahbāniyyatan ibtadaʿūhā mā katabnāhā ʿalayhim illā ibtighāʾa riḍwāni Allāhi fa-mā raʿawhā ḥaqqa riʿāyatihā fa-ātaynā alladhīna āmanū minhum ajrahum wa-kathīrun minhum fāsiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse describes how Allah sent messengers in succession following the prophets of old, culminating with Jesus (ʿĪsā) son of Mary, to whom the Gospel (Injīl) was revealed. Allah placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of Jesus's followers, and monasticism (rahbāniyyah) emerged among them—a practice they invented themselves seeking Allah's pleasure, though many did not preserve it properly. The verse concludes that among Jesus's followers, some believers received their reward while many became transgressors (fāsiqūn), indicating a division in the Christian community regarding adherence to divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Hadid's discussion of successive prophets and the continuity of divine revelation. The broader context addresses how different communities received messengers and how some distorted or abandoned their teachings. While no specific incident of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl) is documented for this particular verse, it relates to the surah's theme of spiritual commitment (ruhbāniyyah) and accountability before Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'Monasticism was not prescribed for us, but the monasticism of my Ummah is the Hijrah (migration) and Jihād.' (Musnad Ahmad). Additionally, hadith literature addresses how early Christian monks diverged from Jesus's actual teachings, supporting the Qur'anic point about innovation in religion.
Themes
Key Lesson
Sincere intentions to please Allah are essential, but must be paired with adherence to authentic divine guidance—personal piety without scriptural foundation can lead to deviation. Believers should seek to preserve the true teachings of their faith while avoiding innovations (bidʿah) that, though well-intentioned, distance them from Allah's actual commands.
Related Ayahs
لَّهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.
لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent.
فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ مَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ هِىَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination."
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ ٱلْفَتْحِ وَقَـٰتَلَ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And why do you not spend in the cause of Allāh while to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought. But to all Allāh has promised the best [reward]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Aware.