۞ لَيْسُوا۟ سَوَآءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ 113
Translations
They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allāh during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].
Transliteration
Laysu sawaa'an min ahli al-kitabi ummah qa'imah yatloona ayati Allahi anaa'a al-layli wa hum yasjudun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the notion that all People of the Book are alike, highlighting that among them exists a righteous community (ummah) who stand in prayer during the night, reciting the signs of Allah and prostrating in worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this ayah acknowledges the existence of believing Christians and Jews who remained steadfast in worship and obedience to Allah, contrasting them with those who rejected the truth.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period of engagement with the People of the Book. This ayah comes within the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the relationship between Muslims and followers of previous scriptures, acknowledging both sincere believers and disbelievers among them, and promoting just treatment based on individual merit rather than blanket judgments.
Related Hadiths
Thematically related: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Also relevant: 'Whoever spends the night in prayer, he will find it easy' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to recognize and acknowledge sincere devotion wherever it exists and to avoid sweeping generalizations about groups of people, judging individuals by their actions and faith rather than their affiliation. It also emphasizes the virtues of night prayers and intensive Quranic recitation as marks of true devotion to Allah.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
وَيُعَلِّمُهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ
And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel
وَلَئِن قُتِلْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
And if you are killed in the cause of Allāh or die - then forgiveness from Allāh and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate [in this world].
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allāh is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.