وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ 46
Translations
And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.
Transliteration
Wa qaffayna 'alá áthárihim bi-'Ísá ibni Maryama muṣaddiqan limá bayna yadayhi mina at-Tawráh, wa átaynáhu al-Injíl fíhi hudá wa núr, wa muṣaddiqan limá bayna yadayhi mina at-Tawráh wa hudá wa maw'iẓatan lil-muttaqín.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Jesus (upon whom be peace) was sent following the prophets before him, confirming and validating the Torah while bringing the Gospel as a guide and light. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the Gospel served as a continuation of divine guidance, not a replacement, maintaining the fundamental principles of monotheism while providing fresh rulings and moral teachings. The ayah emphasizes that both scriptures worked in harmony within God's progressive revelation, with the Gospel addressing those who fear God (al-muttaqín) with admonition and ethical instruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period as part of Surah Al-Ma'idah's discourse on People of the Book and their scriptures. It addresses disputes with Christians and Jews regarding the nature of Jesus and the validity of the previous scriptures, establishing the Islamic perspective that Jesus was a messenger confirming earlier revelation, not a divine being or son of God.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'I am the closest of all people to Jesus, son of Mary, in this life and the next life. The prophets are brothers from one father with different mothers, and their laws are one' (Sahih Bukhari 3442). Additionally, in Surah As-Saff 61:6, Jesus himself foretold the coming of Prophet Muhammad, reinforcing the continuity of prophecy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to respect and acknowledge the truth within previous scriptures while recognizing that God's final message came through Prophet Muhammad. For believers, it underscores that all authentic divine guidance points toward the same core principles of monotheism, righteousness, and moral conduct, and that recognizing Jesus as a noble messenger—while rejecting claims of divinity—is central to Islamic faith.