سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 41
وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍۭ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱتَّقُونِ ﴿41﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And believe in what I have sent down (this Qur’ân), confirming that which is with you, [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], and be not the first to disbelieve therein, and buy [get (تاخذ اجرا)] not with My Verses [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] a small price (i.e. getting a small gain by selling My Verses), and fear Me and Me Alone. (Tafsîr At-Tabarî ).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَءَامِنُوا۟
waāminū
And believe
بِمَآ
bimā
in what
أَنزَلْتُ
anzaltu
I have sent down
مُصَدِّقًۭا
muṣaddiqan
confirming
لِّمَا
limā
that which
مَعَكُمْ
maʿakum
(is) with you
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَكُونُوٓا۟
takūnū
be
أَوَّلَ
awwala
(the) first
كَافِرٍۭ
kāfirin
disbeliever
بِهِۦ ۖ
bihi
of it
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَشْتَرُوا۟
tashtarū
exchange
بِـَٔايَـٰتِى
biāyātī
My Signs (for)
ثَمَنًۭا
thamanan
a price
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
small
وَإِيَّـٰىَ
wa-iyyāya
and Me Alone
فَٱتَّقُونِ
fa-ittaqūni
fear [Me]
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 42,41) ➊ The meaning of being the first to disbelieve is that you know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, so you should have been the first to believe. On the contrary, if you disbelieve in him, then you are the first disbelievers who are knowingly disbelieving, so do not wrong yourselves in this way. Previously, the disbelievers of Makkah disbelieved due to ignorance. Therefore, the objection does not arise that the disbelievers of Makkah disbelieved before them. (Baydawi)
➋ { وَ لَا تَشْتَرُوْا … :} By this is meant hiding the verses of Allah for worldly gain. It is a well-established principle that the verses of the Noble Qur’an explain each other. In other places where the exchange of Allah’s verses for a small price is mentioned, its explanation is also present as to what is meant by it. Thus, in Surah Al-Baqarah, it is said: «{ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَكْتُمُوْنَ مَاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الْكِتٰبِ وَ يَشْتَرُوْنَ بِهٖ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا اُولٰٓىِٕكَ مَا يَاْكُلُوْنَ فِيْ بُطُوْنِهِمْ اِلَّا النَّارَ وَ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّٰهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ وَ لَا يُزَكِّيْهِمْ وَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ (174) اُولٰٓىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلٰلَةَ بِالْهُدٰى وَ الْعَذَابَ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ فَمَاۤ اَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۷۴، ۱۷۵ ] “Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price, they are not consuming into their bellies except fire. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and for them is a painful punishment. Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for misguidance and forgiveness for punishment, so how patient they are over the Fire!” And in Surah Aal-e-Imran, it is said: «{ وَ اِذْ اَخَذَ اللّٰهُ مِيْثَاقَ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهٗ لِلنَّاسِ وَ لَا تَكْتُمُوْنَهٗ فَنَبَذُوْهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُوْرِهِمْ وَ اشْتَرَوْا بِهٖ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُوْنَ }» [ آل عمران : ۱۸۷ ] “And when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Book, ‘You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it,’ but they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price, so wretched is what they have purchased.” Changing the commands of Allah for the sake of the world is also included in this. Those people are also included who give false fatwas in exchange for bribes. This verse has nothing to do with taking a wage for teaching the Book, because this wage is not for any wrong act, but rather for a most pure effort. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ مَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا كِتَابُ اللّٰهِ ] “The most deserving thing for which you take a wage is the Book of Allah.” [ بخاری، کتاب الطب، باب الشروط فی الرقیۃ … : ۵۷۳۷ ] “Some people say that this refers only to the wage for Ruqyah, but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married a woman to a companion in exchange for teaching a few surahs.” [ بخاری، النکاح، باب التزویج علی القرآن … : ۵۱۴۹ عن سہل بن سعد رضی اللہ عنہ ] How can that be interpreted as Ruqyah? Those scholars who prohibited taking a wage for teaching Qur’an and Hadith, their followers have now started taking salaries by saying that nowadays it is permissible to take a wage for teaching Qur’an and Hadith, otherwise madrasas and mosques would become deserted. The reality is that not only nowadays, but always this wage was halal, rather it was the best effort and the best wage, and it is, and it has nothing to do with selling the Qur’an. The meaning of a small price is not that you should take a higher price, but rather it means that even if you get the whole world in exchange for the verses of Allah, it is a paltry possession. Allah said: «{ قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيْلٌ }» [ النساء : ۷۷ ] “Say, the enjoyment of this world is little.”
➋ { وَ لَا تَشْتَرُوْا … :} By this is meant hiding the verses of Allah for worldly gain. It is a well-established principle that the verses of the Noble Qur’an explain each other. In other places where the exchange of Allah’s verses for a small price is mentioned, its explanation is also present as to what is meant by it. Thus, in Surah Al-Baqarah, it is said: «{ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَكْتُمُوْنَ مَاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الْكِتٰبِ وَ يَشْتَرُوْنَ بِهٖ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا اُولٰٓىِٕكَ مَا يَاْكُلُوْنَ فِيْ بُطُوْنِهِمْ اِلَّا النَّارَ وَ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّٰهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ وَ لَا يُزَكِّيْهِمْ وَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ (174) اُولٰٓىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلٰلَةَ بِالْهُدٰى وَ الْعَذَابَ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ فَمَاۤ اَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۷۴، ۱۷۵ ] “Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price, they are not consuming into their bellies except fire. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and for them is a painful punishment. Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for misguidance and forgiveness for punishment, so how patient they are over the Fire!” And in Surah Aal-e-Imran, it is said: «{ وَ اِذْ اَخَذَ اللّٰهُ مِيْثَاقَ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهٗ لِلنَّاسِ وَ لَا تَكْتُمُوْنَهٗ فَنَبَذُوْهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُوْرِهِمْ وَ اشْتَرَوْا بِهٖ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُوْنَ }» [ آل عمران : ۱۸۷ ] “And when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Book, ‘You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it,’ but they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price, so wretched is what they have purchased.” Changing the commands of Allah for the sake of the world is also included in this. Those people are also included who give false fatwas in exchange for bribes. This verse has nothing to do with taking a wage for teaching the Book, because this wage is not for any wrong act, but rather for a most pure effort. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ مَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا كِتَابُ اللّٰهِ ] “The most deserving thing for which you take a wage is the Book of Allah.” [ بخاری، کتاب الطب، باب الشروط فی الرقیۃ … : ۵۷۳۷ ] “Some people say that this refers only to the wage for Ruqyah, but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married a woman to a companion in exchange for teaching a few surahs.” [ بخاری، النکاح، باب التزویج علی القرآن … : ۵۱۴۹ عن سہل بن سعد رضی اللہ عنہ ] How can that be interpreted as Ruqyah? Those scholars who prohibited taking a wage for teaching Qur’an and Hadith, their followers have now started taking salaries by saying that nowadays it is permissible to take a wage for teaching Qur’an and Hadith, otherwise madrasas and mosques would become deserted. The reality is that not only nowadays, but always this wage was halal, rather it was the best effort and the best wage, and it is, and it has nothing to do with selling the Qur’an. The meaning of a small price is not that you should take a higher price, but rather it means that even if you get the whole world in exchange for the verses of Allah, it is a paltry possession. Allah said: «{ قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيْلٌ }» [ النساء : ۷۷ ] “Say, the enjoyment of this world is little.”
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
41. 1 The pronoun "بِہِ" refers either to the Quran or to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Both opinions are Sahih because both are inherently connected and inseparable: whoever disbelieves in the Quran has disbelieved in Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and whoever disbelieves in the Quran has disbelieved in Muhammad ﷺ (Ibn Kathir). The meaning of "do not be the first to disbelieve" is, firstly, that you possess knowledge while others are deprived of it, therefore your responsibility is the greatest. Secondly, in Madinah, the Jews were the first to be invited to faith, otherwise, before the migration, many people had already accepted Islam, so they are being warned that among the Jews, do not be the first disbelievers. If you do so, the burden of the disbelief of all the Jews will fall upon you.
41. 2 "Do not sell for a small price": This does not mean that if you get a higher compensation, you may trade away the commands of Allah. Rather, it means that do not give preference to worldly interests over the commands of Allah. The commands of Allah are so valuable that all the wealth and possessions of the world are insignificant and meager in comparison to them. Although the primary addressees in the verse are the Children of Israel, this command is for all those to come until the Day of Judgment; whoever turns away merely for the sake of worldly gain will be included in this warning. (Fath al-Qadeer)
41. 2 "Do not sell for a small price": This does not mean that if you get a higher compensation, you may trade away the commands of Allah. Rather, it means that do not give preference to worldly interests over the commands of Allah. The commands of Allah are so valuable that all the wealth and possessions of the world are insignificant and meager in comparison to them. Although the primary addressees in the verse are the Children of Israel, this command is for all those to come until the Day of Judgment; whoever turns away merely for the sake of worldly gain will be included in this warning. (Fath al-Qadeer)
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And believe in what I have sent down (the Qur’an), confirming what is with you. And do not be the first [61] to deny it. Do not sell My verses for a small price. And fear only Me.
[61] The beliefs, the accounts of the Prophets, and the conditions of the Hereafter are almost the same in all revealed books. The difference lies only in certain rulings, which are according to the demands of circumstances and conditions. Therefore, when the Quran is confirming the Torah, do not become its first rejecters. The unlettered Arabs and your descendants will follow your way. In this manner, a share of everyone’s sin will also be upon you. And it is mentioned in the hadith that:
Double Reward for the People of the Book Who Believe:
Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash‘ari ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Three types of people will have a double reward: First, the person from the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet, then believed in Muhammad ﷺ; second, the slave who fulfills the rights of Allah and also the rights of his masters; third, the person who has a slave-girl whom he loves, teaches her good manners, then frees her and marries her—he will have a double reward.” ‘Amir Sha‘bi said to Salih: “We have told you this hadith for free, whereas people used to travel to Madinah for a hadith of lesser rank than this.” [بخاري، كتاب العلم، باب تعليم الرجل امته واهله]
[61] The beliefs, the accounts of the Prophets, and the conditions of the Hereafter are almost the same in all revealed books. The difference lies only in certain rulings, which are according to the demands of circumstances and conditions. Therefore, when the Quran is confirming the Torah, do not become its first rejecters. The unlettered Arabs and your descendants will follow your way. In this manner, a share of everyone’s sin will also be upon you. And it is mentioned in the hadith that:
Double Reward for the People of the Book Who Believe:
Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash‘ari ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Three types of people will have a double reward: First, the person from the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet, then believed in Muhammad ﷺ; second, the slave who fulfills the rights of Allah and also the rights of his masters; third, the person who has a slave-girl whom he loves, teaches her good manners, then frees her and marries her—he will have a double reward.” ‘Amir Sha‘bi said to Salih: “We have told you this hadith for free, whereas people used to travel to Madinah for a hadith of lesser rank than this.” [بخاري، كتاب العلم، باب تعليم الرجل امته واهله]
