يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تُطِيعُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ 100
Translations
O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu in tutee'u fareequan mina alladhina ututu al-kitaba yaruddukkum ba'da imanikum kafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the Muslim community against following the guidance of certain People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who would attempt to lead them astray from their faith. The Qur'an emphasizes that despite the Muslims' conviction and faith, they remain susceptible to the influence of those with ulterior motives and deviant intentions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a general admonition about the danger of blindly following scholars or leaders from other faith communities, particularly those whose teachings contradict Islamic principles.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period when the Muslim community was in close contact with Jewish and Christian tribes in Medina. The broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran (revealed after the Battle of Uhud) addresses lessons from early Muslim-Jewish interactions and the attempts by some People of the Book to undermine Islamic faith. This verse specifically addresses the vulnerability of new Muslims to manipulation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Do not believe the People of the Book and do not disbelieve them, but say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us' (related to the principle in this ayah). Additionally, the hadith warning against following the ways of previous nations emphasizes selective adoption of non-Islamic practices.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must exercise critical discernment when engaging with teachings from other faith traditions, prioritizing Islamic principles as their primary guide. This ayah teaches that sincere faith requires vigilance against subtle influences that seek to compromise one's religious convictions, whether through charismatic leaders or seemingly reasonable arguments that contradict Quranic guidance.