Ali 'Imran · Ayah 63

فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ 63

Translations

But if they turn away, then indeed - Allāh is Knowing of the corrupters.

Transliteration

Fa-in tawallaw fa-inna Allaha alimun bil-mufsideen

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah concludes the call to the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) to accept the message of Islam and acknowledge the truth of the Quran. If they turn away from this invitation despite clear evidence, Allah is fully aware of those who cause corruption and spread discord. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this serves as both a warning and a reminder that rejection of truth does not escape Allah's knowledge, and that those who deliberately turn away from guidance are considered among the mufsidun (those who spread corruption).

Revelation Context

This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran's broader context addressing the People of the Book, particularly Christians. The immediate context (3:59-63) presents the story of Jesus ('Isa) and invites Christians to recognize the oneness of Allah and reject the concept of the Trinity. The ayah serves as a concluding warning to those who reject this clear call after understanding it.

Related Hadiths

The concept of turning away from truth and spreading corruption is reflected in the hadith: 'The best of you are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger' (Sahih Bukhari 3531). Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized in Muslim 196 that 'whoever hides knowledge, Allah will seal his heart,' relating to those who reject clear truth.

Themes

Divine Knowledge ('Ilm)Corruption (Ifsa'd)Rejection of TruthWarning and AdmonitionAccountability to Allah

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches that deliberate rejection of clear truth and causing discord in society does not escape Allah's omniscience—He is fully aware of intentions and actions. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in conveying the message clearly while trusting that Allah will ultimately deal justly with those who reject it, and to avoid being among those who corrupt the truth.

0:00
0:00

Related Ayahs

3:17Ali 'Imran

ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْمُنفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ

The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allāh], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn.

3:45Ali 'Imran

إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].

3:119Ali 'Imran

هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ أُو۟لَآءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِبُّونَكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ كُلِّهِۦ وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ عَضُّوا۟ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْأَنَامِلَ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۚ قُلْ مُوتُوا۟ بِغَيْظِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ

Here you are loving them but they are not loving you, while you believe in the Scripture - all of it. And when they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips at you in rage. Say, "Die in your rage. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts."

3:19Ali 'Imran

إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.