سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 19
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 ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, then surely, Allâh is Swift in calling to account.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلدِّينَ
l-dīna
the religion
عِندَ
ʿinda
near
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ
l-is'lāmu
(is) Islam
وَمَا
wamā
And not
ٱخْتَلَفَ
ikh'talafa
differed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
أُوتُوا۟
ūtū
were given
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
إِلَّا
illā
except
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
mā
[what]
جَآءَهُمُ
jāahumu
came to them
ٱلْعِلْمُ
l-ʿil'mu
[the] knowledge
بَغْيًۢا
baghyan
out of envy
بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ
baynahum
among them
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَكْفُرْ
yakfur
disbelieves
بِـَٔايَـٰتِ
biāyāti
in (the) Verses
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
سَرِيعُ
sarīʿu
(is) swift
ٱلْحِسَابِ
l-ḥisābi
(in taking) account
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 19) ➊ The only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam, that is, to submit oneself to the commands of Allah, which His messengers have brought at different times, until Allah sent the Seal of the Prophets at the end of them all, and closed all paths to Himself except through the way of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Now, if anyone comes to Allah with any religion other than the Shariah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), it will never be accepted from him. It is said: «وَ مَنْ يَّبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْاِسْلَامِ دِيْنًا فَلَنْ يُّقْبَلَ مِنْهُ» [آل عمران : ۸۵ ] "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him."
Now, whoever does not acknowledge the messengership of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), nor corrects his actions and beliefs according to the way he has shown, his religion is not valid with Allah, even if he believes in Tawheed and affirms other articles of faith.
➋ { وَ مَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ …: } That is, the religion of all the prophets whom Allah sent was this very Islam. The People of the Book, after knowing this reality that the true religion is Islam and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the true Messenger of Allah and the last Prophet, have turned away from Islam merely out of mutual hatred and enmity. Even today, the correct course for them is to believe in the Prophet (peace be upon him) and adopt the religion of Islam.
➌ { سَرِيْعُ الْحِسَابِ:} That is, Allah is swift in reckoning, and the punishment for disbelief in the signs of Allah will certainly be given.
Now, whoever does not acknowledge the messengership of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), nor corrects his actions and beliefs according to the way he has shown, his religion is not valid with Allah, even if he believes in Tawheed and affirms other articles of faith.
➋ { وَ مَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ …: } That is, the religion of all the prophets whom Allah sent was this very Islam. The People of the Book, after knowing this reality that the true religion is Islam and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the true Messenger of Allah and the last Prophet, have turned away from Islam merely out of mutual hatred and enmity. Even today, the correct course for them is to believe in the Prophet (peace be upon him) and adopt the religion of Islam.
➌ { سَرِيْعُ الْحِسَابِ:} That is, Allah is swift in reckoning, and the punishment for disbelief in the signs of Allah will certainly be given.
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.
19. 1 Islam is the same religion whose call and teachings every prophet gave in their respective eras, and its most complete form is the one that the Last Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ, presented to the world, in which one must have faith and belief in Tawheed, Prophethood, and the Hereafter in the manner that the Noble Prophet ﷺ has explained. Merely holding the belief that Allah is One or performing some good deeds is not Islam, nor will it grant salvation in the Hereafter. Faith, Islam, and religion will not be accepted by Allah. (__QUR_25:1__) Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His servant so that he may be a warner to the worlds. And in the hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said: By Him in Whose hand is my soul, whoever from among the Jews or Christians dies without believing in me, he is of the people of Hell. (Sahih Muslim) For this reason, He ﷺ wrote letters to all the rulers and kings of your time, inviting them to accept Islam (see Ibn Kathir).
19. 2 By their mutual differences is meant the disagreements that those who believed in the same religion created among themselves, for example, the mutual differences and sectarianism among the Jews, likewise the mutual differences and sectarianism among the Christians. Then, it also refers to the differences that existed between the People of the Book, due to which the Jews would say to the Christians and the Christians to the Jews, "You are upon nothing." The disagreement regarding the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ and the Prophethood of Isa (عليه السلام) also falls under this. Moreover, all these differences were not based on evidence, but merely due to jealousy, malice, and stubbornness, meaning that these people, despite knowing and recognizing the truth, remained firm on falsehood just for their imagined worldly interests. Regrettably, today a large number of Muslim scholars are walking on the same wrong path for the same wrong objectives.
19. 3 Here, by verses are meant those verses which indicate that Islam is the religion of Allah.
19. 2 By their mutual differences is meant the disagreements that those who believed in the same religion created among themselves, for example, the mutual differences and sectarianism among the Jews, likewise the mutual differences and sectarianism among the Christians. Then, it also refers to the differences that existed between the People of the Book, due to which the Jews would say to the Christians and the Christians to the Jews, "You are upon nothing." The disagreement regarding the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ and the Prophethood of Isa (عليه السلام) also falls under this. Moreover, all these differences were not based on evidence, but merely due to jealousy, malice, and stubbornness, meaning that these people, despite knowing and recognizing the truth, remained firm on falsehood just for their imagined worldly interests. Regrettably, today a large number of Muslim scholars are walking on the same wrong path for the same wrong objectives.
19. 3 Here, by verses are meant those verses which indicate that Islam is the religion of Allah.
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.
19. Indeed, the only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam [22]. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge (revelation) had come to them, out of mutual animosity [23] and rebellion [24]. Whoever denies the signs of Allah, then surely Allah is swift in taking account.
[22]
What is Deen (Religion)?
Deen refers to such a system of life or code of conduct that a person adopts, considering it better for this world or for both this world and the Hereafter. In this sense, Judaism, Christianity, atheism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, communism, socialism, democracy, etc., all are considered religions. However, in the sight of Allah, the only acceptable religion among these is Islam alone. The meaning of Islam is to submit oneself before the commands and instructions of Allah and to willingly and gladly become obedient and subservient to Allah, and only Islam is such a religion that guarantees worldly success and salvation in the Hereafter. All the prophets and messengers who were sent to the world, all of them called towards the religion of Islam; they kept saying: become obedient and submissive servants of Allah. In this sense, all the followers of these prophets were Muslim or Muslims. Later, they adopted separate names for themselves, just as nowadays many sects among Muslims have also adopted separate names for themselves, or due to certain specific beliefs and ideologies, others have given them names.
[23] By disagreement is meant the mutual disagreement among the People of the Book, and also with others. For example, the mutual disagreements among the sects of the Jews, the mutual disagreements among the sects of the Christians, and the mutual disagreements among the sects of the Muslims, and secondly, the disagreements of the Jews with the Christians and Muslims, and the disagreements of the Christians with the Jews and Muslims.
[24]
Causes of Sectarianism:
In this sentence, Allah Almighty has stated the real reason for disagreement, and this same reason has been mentioned at three other places in the Noble Quran, and that is that the reason for disagreement is not that the truth is not visible to them, but its real reason is the desire to establish their own leadership and chieftaincy, and the concern to keep their own flag raised high, and the pursuit of wealth and status. And in this matter, the more you reflect, you will find that at the root of sectarianism are personal motives and interests.
Love of Status and Wealth and Personal Interests:
For example, in both the Torah and the Gospel, the advent of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is mentioned, and his signs have also been described, and the People of the Book had become fully convinced that according to the signs mentioned in the Book, he is indeed the Prophet of the end times and true Prophet. Now, the reason for denying this Prophet was merely the loss of their own leadership or the loss of some other worldly interests. There was no other reason for denial besides these things. Therefore, Allah quickly settles the account of such people, and the application of this verse is exactly the same for Muslims as it was for the People of the Book.
[22]
What is Deen (Religion)?
Deen refers to such a system of life or code of conduct that a person adopts, considering it better for this world or for both this world and the Hereafter. In this sense, Judaism, Christianity, atheism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, communism, socialism, democracy, etc., all are considered religions. However, in the sight of Allah, the only acceptable religion among these is Islam alone. The meaning of Islam is to submit oneself before the commands and instructions of Allah and to willingly and gladly become obedient and subservient to Allah, and only Islam is such a religion that guarantees worldly success and salvation in the Hereafter. All the prophets and messengers who were sent to the world, all of them called towards the religion of Islam; they kept saying: become obedient and submissive servants of Allah. In this sense, all the followers of these prophets were Muslim or Muslims. Later, they adopted separate names for themselves, just as nowadays many sects among Muslims have also adopted separate names for themselves, or due to certain specific beliefs and ideologies, others have given them names.
[23] By disagreement is meant the mutual disagreement among the People of the Book, and also with others. For example, the mutual disagreements among the sects of the Jews, the mutual disagreements among the sects of the Christians, and the mutual disagreements among the sects of the Muslims, and secondly, the disagreements of the Jews with the Christians and Muslims, and the disagreements of the Christians with the Jews and Muslims.
[24]
Causes of Sectarianism:
In this sentence, Allah Almighty has stated the real reason for disagreement, and this same reason has been mentioned at three other places in the Noble Quran, and that is that the reason for disagreement is not that the truth is not visible to them, but its real reason is the desire to establish their own leadership and chieftaincy, and the concern to keep their own flag raised high, and the pursuit of wealth and status. And in this matter, the more you reflect, you will find that at the root of sectarianism are personal motives and interests.
Love of Status and Wealth and Personal Interests:
For example, in both the Torah and the Gospel, the advent of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is mentioned, and his signs have also been described, and the People of the Book had become fully convinced that according to the signs mentioned in the Book, he is indeed the Prophet of the end times and true Prophet. Now, the reason for denying this Prophet was merely the loss of their own leadership or the loss of some other worldly interests. There was no other reason for denial besides these things. Therefore, Allah quickly settles the account of such people, and the application of this verse is exactly the same for Muslims as it was for the People of the Book.
