قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ 99
Translations
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allāh those who believe, seeking to make it [seem] deviant, while you are witnesses [to the truth]? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do."
Transliteration
Qul ya ahlal-kitabi lima tasudduna an sabili-llahi man amana tabghawniha iwaja wa antum shuhada wa ma-llahu bi-ghafil in amma ta'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) why they turn believers away from Allah's path and seek to make it crooked, despite being witnesses to the truth themselves. Ibn Kathir notes this refers to their deliberate distortion of religious guidance despite possessing scriptural knowledge, and the ayah emphasizes that Allah is fully aware of their actions and will hold them accountable. Al-Qurtubi highlights that 'twisting' the path (iwaja) refers to their attempts to discourage converts and spread confusion about Islam's straightness and clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Medinan context addressing interactions between the Muslim community and the People of the Book in Medina. It follows verses discussing disputes with Christians and Jews about theological matters, and reflects the historical reality of certain scholars among Ahl al-Kitab actively opposing the Prophet's message despite their knowledge of the Torah and Gospel.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that some People of the Book know the truth about him 'as they know their own sons' relates to the theme of their culpable knowledge. Additionally, hadiths about the distortion (tahrif) of scriptures by previous communities (Sahih Muslim) contextualize why they might twist the path.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that knowledge without sincere intention becomes a source of accountability rather than salvation, and that attempting to mislead others from truth does not escape Allah's awareness or justice. Believers should remain steadfast in the clear guidance they have been given and not be swayed by those who twist religion for worldly motives.
Related Ayahs
سَنُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ بِمَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allāh of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.
أَوَلَمَّآ أَصَـٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّىٰ هَـٰذَا ۖ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uḥud], although you had struck [the enemy in the battle of Badr] with one twice as great, you said, "From where is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves [i.e., due to your sin]." Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
قُلْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, "We have believed in Allāh and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ], and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him."
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ تَعَالَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍۭ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُولُوا۟ ٱشْهَدُوا۟ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allāh and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allāh." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]."