وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأَدْخَلْنَـٰهُمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ 65
Translations
And if only the People of the Scripture had believed and feared Allāh, We would have removed from them their misdeeds and admitted them to Gardens of Pleasure.
Transliteration
Wa law anna ahla al-kitabi amanoo wa-ttaqaw lakaffarna anhum sayyi'atihim wa-la-adkhalnhum jannati an-na'im
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a conditional statement (hypothetical): if the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) had believed in the Prophet Muhammad and feared Allah, He would have forgiven their sins and admitted them to gardens of bliss. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as demonstrating Allah's mercy and justice—emphasizing that sincere faith and piety are the true paths to redemption, regardless of one's previous religious affiliation. The ayah underscores that Allah's doors of forgiveness remain open to all who genuinely believe and adopt taqwa (God-consciousness).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Ma'idah's discussion of the People of the Book and their relationship with Islamic teachings. It reflects the Medinan period when the Muslim community had established itself and was engaging with Jewish and Christian communities. The ayah is part of a broader Quranic theme encouraging the People of the Book to embrace Islam while highlighting the consequences of their rejection of the prophetic message.
Related Hadiths
1) The Quran itself (3:64) calls to common ground: 'Say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you...' 2) Hadith in Sahih Muslim: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent,' emphasizing that sincere faith requires righteous conduct.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere belief coupled with God-consciousness is the universal pathway to salvation available to all people, regardless of their background, reminding us that Allah's mercy encompasses those who genuinely turn to Him with faith and piety. For modern readers, it emphasizes that sincere repentance and righteous living can transform one's spiritual state and secure divine forgiveness.
Related Ayahs
إِذْ قَالَ ٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ قَالَ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
[And remember] when the disciples said, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven?" [Jesus] said, "Fear Allāh, if you should be believers."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ
They said, "O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter."
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
[Be warned of] the Day when Allāh will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen" -
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."