سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ

Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 18

The Table · Medinan · Juz 6 · Page 111

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وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ نَحْنُ أَبْنَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّـٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم ۖ بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿18﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And (both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are the children of Allâh and His loved ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?" Nay, you are but human beings of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allâh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; and to Him is the return (of all).

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَقَالَتِ waqālati And said
ٱلْيَهُودُ l-yahūdu the Jews
وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ wal-naṣārā and the Christians
نَحْنُ naḥnu We (are)
أَبْنَـٰٓؤُا۟ abnāu (the) children
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (of) Allah
وَأَحِبَّـٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ wa-aḥibbāuhu and His beloved
قُلْ qul Say
فَلِمَ falima Then why
يُعَذِّبُكُم yuʿadhibukum (does He) punish you
بِذُنُوبِكُم ۖ bidhunūbikum for your sins
بَلْ bal Nay
أَنتُم antum you (are)
بَشَرٌۭ basharun human beings
مِّمَّنْ mimman from among (those)
خَلَقَ ۚ khalaqa He created
يَغْفِرُ yaghfiru He forgives
لِمَن liman [for] whom
يَشَآءُ yashāu He wills
وَيُعَذِّبُ wayuʿadhibu and punishes
مَن man whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ yashāu He wills
وَلِلَّهِ walillahi And for Allah
مُلْكُ mul'ku (is the) dominion
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ l-samāwāti (of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ wal-arḍi and the earth
وَمَا wamā and whatever
بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ baynahumā (is) between them
وَإِلَيْهِ wa-ilayhi and to Him
ٱلْمَصِيرُ l-maṣīru (is) the final return

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 18) {وَ قَالَتِ الْيَهُوْدُ وَ النَّصٰرٰى نَحْنُ اَبْنٰٓؤُا اللّٰهِ …… :} In this noble verse, another misguidance of the Jews and Christians is mentioned: that “We are Allah’s sons and beloved people.” Indeed, such references are still present in the Bible: “The Lord said, ‘Israel is my son, even my firstborn.’” (Exodus 4:22) “You are the children of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 14:22) And in the Gospel, it is mentioned that the Messiah (peace be upon him) said to the Christians: “I am going to my Father and your Father.”

Although some Jews and Christians say that “son” means beloved and dear, still their pride and expression of superiority over others—that we are a specially close to God, and elevated class of people, as the Brahmins and others claim—is completely wrong. Allah Almighty refuted this and said: If this were the case, then why would Allah punish you for your sins? Does any lover ever punish his beloved? Whereas you yourselves admit with your own tongues that you will only be put in the Fire for a limited number of days. The reality is that this assumption, upon which you are living, is utterly false. You are only human; Allah’s relationship with you is only that of Creator to creation and Master to slave. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. No matter how close someone is, whether a Sayyid, Brahmin, or spiritual guide, if Allah does not will, neither can he save himself from punishment nor can he save anyone else. All of them will be presented before Him, trembling, awaiting His decision. Why are you destroying yourselves with your false hopes?

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.

18. 1 The Jews called Uzair and the Christians called Isa (Jesus) the son of Allah, and they also declared themselves to be the sons of Allah (Abna’ Allah) and His beloved ones. Some say that here a word is omitted, meaning the followers of the sons of Allah, i.e., we are the followers of Allah’s sons (Uzair and Masih). (Whichever of the two meanings is intended, it expresses their arrogance and undue confidence regarding Allah, which has no standing with Allah.)

18. 2 In this, the baselessness of their aforementioned arrogance has been made clear: if you were truly the beloved and favored ones of Allah, or if being beloved means that you can do whatever you wish and Allah will not call you to account, then why has Allah continued to punish you for your sins? The clear meaning is that in the court of Allah, matters are not decided on the basis of claims, nor will they be on the Day of Judgment. Rather, He looks at faith, piety, and deeds, and even in this world, He decides in light of these, and on the Day of Judgment, the decision will also be made on this principle.

18. 3 However, this decision of punishment or forgiveness will be according to the Sunnah of Allah, which He has clarified: forgiveness for the people of faith, and punishment for the people of disbelief and sin. The decision for all mankind will be according to this. O People of the Book! You too are a created being of Allah, that is, a human. Why should the decision regarding you be different from that of other human beings?

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.

18. The Jews and the Christians both say, "We are the children of Allah and His beloved ones." Say, "Then why does He punish you for your sins? Rather, you are human beings like [49] those He has created." He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the final return.

[49] That is, you are not a superior creation but are just like ordinary human beings. You too will be questioned before Allah just as other people will be, then Allah will forgive whom He wills and will seize whom He wills in recompense for his sins, and whatever He does, He is the Absolute Authority. Because He is the Owner of everything in the universe, nothing can raise its head before Him, and everyone will have to be presented before Him, and this is a reality from which there is no escape.
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