سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 82
۞ لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ ٱلنَّاسِ عَدَٰوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿82﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are Al-Mushrikûn and you will find the nearest in love to the believers (Muslims) those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ لَتَجِدَنَّ
latajidanna
Surely you will find
أَشَدَّ
ashadda
strongest
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
(of) the people
عَدَٰوَةًۭ
ʿadāwatan
(in) enmity
لِّلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
to those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
ٱلْيَهُودَ
l-yahūda
the Jews
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۖ
ashrakū
(are) polytheists
وَلَتَجِدَنَّ
walatajidanna
and surely you will find
أَقْرَبَهُم
aqrabahum
nearest of them
مَّوَدَّةًۭ
mawaddatan
(in) affection
لِّلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
to those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
say
إِنَّا
innā
We
نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۚ
naṣārā
(are) Christians
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That (is)
بِأَنَّ
bi-anna
because
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
among them
قِسِّيسِينَ
qissīsīna
(are) priests
وَرُهْبَانًۭا
waruh'bānan
and monks
وَأَنَّهُمْ
wa-annahum
and that they
لَا
lā
(are) not
يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
yastakbirūna
arrogant
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.
82. 1. This is because among the Jews, there is a great tendency towards enmity and obstinacy, turning away from the truth and arrogance, and a spirit of belittling the people of knowledge and faith. This is why killing prophets and denying them has been their hallmark. They even plotted several times to kill the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, performed magic on him, and made every reprehensible effort to harm him in every possible way. And in this matter, the condition of the polytheists is the same.
82. 2. By رُھْبَانُ is meant pious, devout, and secluded people; by قَسِّیْسِیْنَ is meant scholars and preachers, meaning that among these Christians there is knowledge and humility, so they do not have the obstinacy and arrogance like the Jews. Moreover, the religion of the Messiah is distinguished by the teaching of gentleness and forgiveness, to the extent that it is written in their books that if someone strikes you on the right cheek, present the left cheek to them as well, meaning do not fight. For these reasons, they are closer to the Muslims than the Jews. The description of the Christians is in comparison to the Jews; however, as far as enmity towards Islam is concerned, with some difference in degree, this enmity against Islam is also present among the Christians, as is evident from the centuries-long conflict between the Cross and the Crescent, which continues to this day. And now, both Jews and Christians are actively working together against Islam. This is why the Quran has forbidden making friends with both of them.
82. 2. By رُھْبَانُ is meant pious, devout, and secluded people; by قَسِّیْسِیْنَ is meant scholars and preachers, meaning that among these Christians there is knowledge and humility, so they do not have the obstinacy and arrogance like the Jews. Moreover, the religion of the Messiah is distinguished by the teaching of gentleness and forgiveness, to the extent that it is written in their books that if someone strikes you on the right cheek, present the left cheek to them as well, meaning do not fight. For these reasons, they are closer to the Muslims than the Jews. The description of the Christians is in comparison to the Jews; however, as far as enmity towards Islam is concerned, with some difference in degree, this enmity against Islam is also present among the Christians, as is evident from the centuries-long conflict between the Cross and the Crescent, which continues to this day. And now, both Jews and Christians are actively working together against Islam. This is why the Quran has forbidden making friends with both of them.
