سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 79
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ ﴿79﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allâh has given the Book and Al-Hukm (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allâh’s." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbâniyyûn (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَا
mā
Not
كَانَ
kāna
is
لِبَشَرٍ
libasharin
for a human
أَن
an
that
يُؤْتِيَهُ
yu'tiyahu
gives him
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
وَٱلْحُكْمَ
wal-ḥuk'ma
and the wisdom
وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ
wal-nubuwata
and the Prophethood
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَقُولَ
yaqūla
he says
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
to the people
كُونُوا۟
kūnū
Be
عِبَادًۭا
ʿibādan
worshippers
لِّى
lī
of me
مِن
min
from
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but (would say)
كُونُوا۟
kūnū
Be
رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ
rabbāniyyīna
worshippers of the Lord
بِمَا
bimā
because
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you have been
تُعَلِّمُونَ
tuʿallimūna
teaching
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
وَبِمَا
wabimā
and because
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you have been
تَدْرُسُونَ
tadrusūna
studying (it)
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.
79. 1 This is being said regarding the Christians, that they have made ‘Isa (Jesus) ؑ into God, whereas he was a human who was honored with the Book, wisdom, and prophethood. No such person can claim that, leaving Allah aside, become my worshippers and servants; rather, he would say: become those devoted to the Lord. رَبَّانِیُّ is attributed to the Lord; the addition of alif and nun is for emphasis. (Fath al-Qadeer)
79. 2 That is, as a result of teaching and instructing the Book of Allah, there should be recognition of the Lord and a special connection and relationship with the Lord should be established. Similarly, it is necessary for the one who possesses knowledge of the Book of Allah to also teach the Qur’an to others. It is clear from this verse that when even the prophets of Allah do not have the right to command people to worship them, then how can anyone else have this right? (Ibn Kathir)
79. 2 That is, as a result of teaching and instructing the Book of Allah, there should be recognition of the Lord and a special connection and relationship with the Lord should be established. Similarly, it is necessary for the one who possesses knowledge of the Book of Allah to also teach the Qur’an to others. It is clear from this verse that when even the prophets of Allah do not have the right to command people to worship them, then how can anyone else have this right? (Ibn Kathir)
