Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And verily, among them is a party who distort the Book with their tongues (as they read), so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book, and they say: "This is from Allâh," but it is not from Allâh; and they speak a lie against Allâh while they know it.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِنَّwa-innaAnd indeed
مِنْهُمْmin'humamong them
لَفَرِيقًۭاlafarīqansurely (is) a group
يَلْوُۥنَyalwūnathey distort
أَلْسِنَتَهُمalsinatahumtheir tongues
بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِbil-kitābiin (reciting) the Book
لِتَحْسَبُوهُlitaḥsabūhuso that you may think it
مِنَmina(is) from
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِl-kitābithe Book
وَمَاwamāand not
هُوَhuwait
مِنَmina(is) from
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِl-kitābithe Book
وَيَقُولُونَwayaqūlūnaAnd they say
هُوَhuwaIt
مِنْmin(is)
عِندِʿindifrom
ٱللَّهِl-lahiAllah
وَمَاwamāBut not
هُوَhuwait
مِنْmin(is)
عِندِʿindifrom
ٱللَّهِl-lahiAllah
وَيَقُولُونَwayaqūlūnaAnd they say
عَلَىʿalāabout
ٱللَّهِl-lahiAllah
ٱلْكَذِبَl-kadhibathe lie
وَهُمْwahumwhile they
يَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūnaknow
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 78){وَاِنَّمِنْهُمْلَفَرِيْقًايَّلْوٗنَاَلْسِنَتَهُمْبِالْكِتٰبِ … :} Its connection is with the previous verse, which proves that the above verse was also revealed about the Jews (although, due to the general wording, all such people are included in it). (Razi) The meaning of this verse is that they alter the Torah and the Gospel, and in them (especially in those verses in which the attribute of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is mentioned) they add some things from themselves and recite them in such a manner and tone that the listener assumes them to be revealed from Allah, whereas they have not been revealed by Allah. Not only this, but their fearlessness and audacity towards Allah reach such an extent that they even claim these things to be from Allah, although they are not from Allah, and they knowingly lie against Allah. Alas, many people in the Ummah of Muhammad, peace be upon him, are also following this path, and due to their worldly interests or religious sectarianism, they treat the Noble Qur’an in this way, sometimes with verbal and sometimes with interpretive alteration. The poor common people consider it to be the command of Allah, whereas it is the statement of the scholar or one of their leaders. The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, spoke the truth: “Certainly, you will follow the ways of those before you.” [بخاری، الاعتصام بالکتاب والسنۃ، باب قول النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : لتتبعن سنن … : ۷۳۲۰ ]
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.
78. 1. This refers to those among the Jews who not only acted dishonestly and altered the Divine Book (Torah), but also committed two crimes: first, they would twist their tongues while reading the words of the Book, thereby successfully giving the public a false impression; second, they would present their self-invented statements as if they were from Allah. Unfortunately, among the religious leaders of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ as well, in accordance with the prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ ("You will surely follow the ways of those before you, step by step"), there are many such people who, due to worldly motives, sectarian prejudice, or juristic rigidity, treat the Noble Qur’an in the same way. They recite verses of the Qur’an, but present their own self-invented rulings; the public thinks that the scholar has stated the ruling from the Qur’an, whereas that ruling has nothing to do with the Qur’an. Or, they manipulate and distort the meanings of the verses so that it is made to appear as if it is from 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.
78. And indeed, among the People of the Book are some who distort their tongues while reciting the Book, so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. They knowingly [68] attribute lies to Allah.
[68] Scholars Deceiving the Public Through Tone and the Tricks of Preachers:
In this verse, another trick of the Jews is mentioned. It is generally the habit of preachers and sermonizers that they recite the verses of the Book of Allah with melodious voice and tune, and explain their meanings and commentary in the tone of ordinary conversation. Now, if they deliver the words of meaning and commentary in the same tone as they do for the Book of Allah, the listeners think that the meanings of these words are also part of the Book of Allah. This is one of the worst forms of deceiving people and attributing one's own ideas to Allah, and in this way, they attribute all sorts of true and false things to Allah and derive various benefits from it. The bad habit of the Jews that Allah Almighty has mentioned in this verse is not limited to them; other People of the Book, even Muslims, are not safe from it. Among Muslims, there is also a sect that denies the humanity of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When they recite this verse ﴿ قُلْاِنَّمَآاَنَابَشَرٌمِّثْلُكُمْ ﴾ they make a slight alteration in the word ﴿انما﴾, splitting this one word into two words (an ma) and then translate it as: "O Prophet! Say: Indeed, I am not a human like you." In this way, the verse that declared their belief to be false is made to conform to their belief. Thus, they are not only guilty of verbal distortion, but also cause their followers to remain firm on this supposed belief and further widen the gulf of mutual division, and all this results from twisting the tone and manner of speech.
