سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 135
وَقَالُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿135﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Hanîfa [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh (Alone)], and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (those who worshipped others along with Allâh - see V.2:105)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
And they said
كُونُوا۟
kūnū
Be
هُودًا
hūdan
Jews
أَوْ
aw
or
نَصَـٰرَىٰ
naṣārā
Christians
تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ
tahtadū
(then) you will be guided
قُلْ
qul
Say
بَلْ
bal
Nay
مِلَّةَ
millata
(the) religion
إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ
ib'rāhīma
(of) Ibrahim
حَنِيفًۭا ۖ
ḥanīfan
(the) upright
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
he was
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
those who associated partners (with Allah)
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.
135. 1. The Jews invite Muslims to Judaism and the Christians to Christianity, and say that guidance lies only in that. Allah the Exalted said, tell them that guidance is in following the religion of Ibrahim, who was Hanif (a worshipper of the One Allah, turning away from all else and worshipping Him alone); he was not a polytheist. Whereas both Judaism and Christianity contain elements of shirk. And now, unfortunately, manifestations of shirk are also common among Muslims. Although the teachings of Islam, by the grace of Allah, are preserved in the Quran and Hadith, in which the concept of Tawheed is absolutely clear and very explicit, distinguishing Islam from Judaism and dualism (religions that believe in two gods). But the polytheistic values and concepts that have entered into the beliefs and actions of a large number of Muslims have obscured the distinction of Islam from the eyes of the world. Because followers of other religions do not have direct access to the Quran and Hadith; they will only judge by observing the actions of Muslims, and thus it appears to them that there is no distinction between Islam and other religions tainted with polytheistic concepts. In the next verse, the standard of faith is being explained.
