Verses 187–193
3. Aal-i-Imraan · The Family of Imraan
Madinan200 verses
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
3:187When Allah made a covenant with those who were given the Book: ‘You shall explain it for the people, and you shall not conceal it,’ they cast it behind their backs and sold it for a paltry gain. How evil is what they buy!1
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ
3:188Do not suppose those who brag about what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done—do not suppose them saved from punishment and there is a painful punishment for them.2
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ
3:189To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and Allah has power over all things.
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ
3:190Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intellect.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلًۭا سُبْحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
3:191Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [and say], ‘Our Lord, You have not created this in vain! Immaculate are You! Save us from the punishment of the Fire.3
رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ ٱلنَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُۥ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍۢ
3:192Our Lord, whoever that You make enter the Fire will surely have been disgraced by You, and the wrongdoers will have no helpers.
رَّبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًۭا يُنَادِى لِلْإِيمَٰنِ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَـَٔامَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ
3:193Our Lord, we have indeed heard a summoner calling to faith, declaring, ‘‘Have faith in your Lord!’’ So we believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins and absolve us of our misdeeds, and make us die with the pious.4
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 187
1.Amirul Momineen (a.s.) says: Allah has made a covenant to instruct people first, from learned and wise people and then made a covenant to learn, from the illiterate people. It means the main responsibility is of learned people and after that starts the responsibility of others. If the learned people do not complete their responsibility and hide the commands of god or make some changes in it or do not preach people for worldly interests or think they should be praised among infidels. Then such people can never be safe from chastisement in any circumstances.
Verse 190
2.After mention about the mischief of Jews and Christians The Holy Quran has slated about the attributes and perfection of the learned men, that they are people of fame. Those who remember Allah at all times and increase their knowledge by deliberation of the world and do not reject any deed and whenever they hear the call of Apostle of Allah, they tum towards him and make themselves busy in seeking the pardon of Allah. They are worrying about themselves, and the day of resurrection.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 1
Apparently it means all Jews and Christians but this applies to all those who follow a heavenly book.
Benefit: The 187th ayat is a general law that it is obligatory for people of knowledge (intellectuals) to mention the realities. As mentioned by Amirul Momineen (a.s.). The Almighty Allah did not take the oath from the followers of lnjee1 that they would study it till the time He had not taken the oath from scholars that they would teach Injeel to the people.
- 2
Repetition of a word in a verse indicates its importance. Because one cannot even imagine that such a person will be able to escape the punishment, and it is indeed not possible.
Benefit: The 188th ayat is a common moral lesson for those who are usually happy at their good actions and desire that people may praise them.
- 3
The verse has indicated towards all three qualities, remembrance, thoughtfulness and action. They are the three pillars of I Eimaan (faith). Remembrance is by tongue, thoughtfulness is heart and actions are performed by other physical organs.
- 4
Both Ana and Innana are used in the Quran the different connotation and usage and this brings out the elegant quality of the Quran.
Benefit
The 199th ayat mentions the signs of intelligent people: Remembrance, contemplation and reliance on divine creation. The feeling of aim, thought and no laziness in deeds.