وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ 187
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Allāh took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.
Transliteration
Wa-idh akhadha Allahu mithaaqa alladhina ootoo al-kitaba latabayyinunnahu li-al-nasi wa-la taktumoonahu fanabadhu wa-raa dhuhurihin washtaraw bihi thamenan qalilan fabi'sa ma yashtaroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the covenant Allah took with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to clarify the Torah and Gospel to people and not conceal its truths, yet they discarded this covenant and sold their knowledge for worldly gain. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this refers specifically to those who concealed or distorted the signs of the Messiah (Jesus) in their scriptures, prioritizing material benefits over spiritual responsibility. The ayah condemns their betrayal of sacred trust and the contemptible trade they made.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan section addressing the People of the Book and their relationship with revelation. It comes in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussions about the nature of Jesus, divine guidance, and the failures of previous communities to uphold their covenants. The specific context relates to accusations that Jewish and Christian scholars concealed prophecies about Muhammad from their communities.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reflected in the hadith from Sahih Muslim (2159) where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever conceals knowledge which Allah has given him, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Judgment.' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah (220) relates to the obligation of scholars to teach and not hide knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah emphasizes the grave spiritual responsibility of those entrusted with knowledge—whether religious scholars or community leaders—to share truth transparently rather than suppress it for personal advantage. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that knowledge is a sacred trust from Allah, and withholding beneficial truth for material or political gain is a serious transgression that invites divine punishment.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَتِ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ وَٱلْإِنجِيلُ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then will you not reason?
وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَـٰشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allāh and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to Allāh. They do not exchange the verses of Allāh for a small price. Those will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.
۞ قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُم بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَأَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
Say, "Shall I inform you of [something] better than that? For those who fear Allāh will be gardens in the presence of their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and approval from Allāh. And Allāh is Seeing [i.e., aware] of [His] servants -
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِهِمْ ثُمَّ ٱزْدَادُوا۟ كُفْرًا لَّن تُقْبَلَ تَوْبَتُهُمْ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلضَّآلُّونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve [i.e., reject the message] after their belief and then increase in disbelief - never will their [claimed] repentance be accepted, and they are the ones astray.