وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا 161
Translations
And [for] their taking of usury while they had been forbidden from it, and their consuming of the people's wealth unjustly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa-akhdhihimu-r-riba wa-qad nuhū 'anhu wa-aklihim amwāla-n-nāsi bi-l-bātil. Wa-a'tadnā li-l-kāfirīna minhum 'adhāban alīmā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the Jewish scholars and rabbis who engaged in usury (riba) and consumed people's wealth unlawfully despite explicit prohibition in their own scriptures. The verse emphasizes that their deliberate violation of divine commands after receiving knowledge of them constitutes disbelief (kufr), and warns of severe punishment in the Hereafter. Classical mufassirun like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this refers specifically to those among the People of the Book who knowingly transgressed divine prohibitions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa, revealed in Medina, and specifically addresses the violations of Jewish religious scholars during the Prophet's time in Medina. The broader context discusses the deviations of the People of the Book who distorted their scriptures and engaged in forbidden practices despite possessing divine knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The curse of Allah is upon those who consume riba, those who give it, the witnesses to it, and the scribe who records it.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 2277). Also, Surah 2:275 extensively forbids riba with similar severity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that possessing religious knowledge while violating divine commands is not merely a mistake but constitutes disbelief and invites severe consequences. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder that financial dealings must remain halal and that knowledge of prohibition brings greater responsibility, making intentional violations especially grave.
Related Ayahs
وَٱسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And seek forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْقَـٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُو۟لِى ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلْمُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujāhideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allāh with their wealth and their lives. Allāh has preferred the mujāhideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to all [i.e., both] Allāh has promised the best [reward]. But Allāh has preferred the mujāhideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly gone far astray.
وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَـٰلِدًا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger and transgresses His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.