سُوْرَةُ الْعَنْكَبُوْتِ
Surah Al-Ankaboot (29) — Ayah 46
۞ وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَـٰهُنَا وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ وَٰحِدٌ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿46﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islâmic Monotheism with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong; and say (to them): "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you; our Ilâh (God) and your Ilâh (God) is One (i.e. Allâh), and to Him we have submitted (as Muslims)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تُجَـٰدِلُوٓا۟
tujādilū
argue
أَهْلَ
ahla
(with the) People of the Book
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
(with the) People of the Book
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِٱلَّتِى
bi-allatī
by which
هِىَ
hiya
[it]
أَحْسَنُ
aḥsanu
(is) best
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ظَلَمُوا۟
ẓalamū
(do) wrong
مِنْهُمْ ۖ
min'hum
among them
وَقُولُوٓا۟
waqūlū
and say
ءَامَنَّا
āmannā
We believe
بِٱلَّذِىٓ
bi-alladhī
in that (which)
أُنزِلَ
unzila
has been revealed
إِلَيْنَا
ilaynā
to us
وَأُنزِلَ
wa-unzila
and was revealed
إِلَيْكُمْ
ilaykum
to you
وَإِلَـٰهُنَا
wa-ilāhunā
And our God
وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ
wa-ilāhukum
and your God
وَٰحِدٌۭ
wāḥidun
(is) One
وَنَحْنُ
wanaḥnu
and we
لَهُۥ
lahu
to Him
مُسْلِمُونَ
mus'limūna
submit
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.
46-1. Because they are people of knowledge and understanding, possessing the ability and capacity to comprehend matters. Therefore, harshness and severity are not appropriate in discussion and conversation with them.
46-2. That is, if they are excessive in argument and debate, then you are also permitted to adopt a stern tone. Some have taken the first group to mean those People of the Book who became Muslim, and the second group to mean those individuals who did not become Muslim but remained on Judaism and Christianity. And some have considered the referent of ظلموا منھم to be those People of the Book who harbored aggressive intentions against the Muslims and were also guilty of argument and fighting; with them, you should also fight until they become Muslim or pay the jizyah.
46-3. Upon the Torah and the Gospel. That is, these too are revealed by Allah and, until the establishment of Islamic law and the advent of Muhammad ﷺ, these were the divine law.
46-2. That is, if they are excessive in argument and debate, then you are also permitted to adopt a stern tone. Some have taken the first group to mean those People of the Book who became Muslim, and the second group to mean those individuals who did not become Muslim but remained on Judaism and Christianity. And some have considered the referent of ظلموا منھم to be those People of the Book who harbored aggressive intentions against the Muslims and were also guilty of argument and fighting; with them, you should also fight until they become Muslim or pay the jizyah.
46-3. Upon the Torah and the Gospel. That is, these too are revealed by Allah and, until the establishment of Islamic law and the advent of Muhammad ﷺ, these were the divine law.
