سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 183
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَهِدَ إِلَيْنَآ أَلَّا نُؤْمِنَ لِرَسُولٍ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَنَا بِقُرْبَانٍ تَأْكُلُهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۗ قُلْ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِى بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَبِٱلَّذِى قُلْتُمْ فَلِمَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿183﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those (Jews) who said: "Verily, Allâh has taken our promise not to believe in any Messenger unless he brings to us an offering which the fire (from heaven) shall devour." Say: "Verily, there came to you Messengers before me, with clear signs and even with what you speak of; why then did you kill them, if you are truthful?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
Those who
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
said
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
عَهِدَ
ʿahida
(has) taken promise
إِلَيْنَآ
ilaynā
from us
أَلَّا
allā
that not
نُؤْمِنَ
nu'mina
we (should) believe
لِرَسُولٍ
lirasūlin
in a Messenger
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يَأْتِيَنَا
yatiyanā
he brings to us
بِقُرْبَانٍۢ
biqur'bānin
a sacrifice
تَأْكُلُهُ
takuluhu
consumes it
ٱلنَّارُ ۗ
l-nāru
the fire
قُلْ
qul
Say
قَدْ
qad
Surely
جَآءَكُمْ
jāakum
came to you
رُسُلٌۭ
rusulun
Messengers
مِّن
min
from
قَبْلِى
qablī
before me
بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ
bil-bayināti
with the clear Signs
وَبِٱلَّذِى
wabi-alladhī
and with what
قُلْتُمْ
qul'tum
you speak
فَلِمَ
falima
So why
قَتَلْتُمُوهُمْ
qataltumūhum
you killed them
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
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 183) ➊ {اَلَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْۤا اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَهِدَ اِلَيْنَاۤ …:} This is their second objection, which they presented regarding not believing in the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): that Allah took a covenant from the Children of Israel that if any prophet did not present this miracle, they should not believe in him. (Razi) However, there is no such command in any of their books, and not all of their prophets were granted this miracle, as is indicated in this very verse: «قُلْ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنْ قَبْلِيْ» Here, {”رُسُلٌ“} is indefinite, from which it is understood that not all of their prophets, but rather some, were granted this miracle: when a burnt (to be burned) offering (vow) was presented, they would pray to Allah, and as a sign of the acceptance of that offering (vow), fire would descend from the sky and consume it, as is mentioned regarding Elijah and Solomon (peace be upon them). (Ibn Kathir)
➋ {قُلْ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنْ قَبْلِيْ …:} This is the answer to their objection mentioned above: if you are truly truthful in this claim, then why did your forefathers kill so many prophets who, along with other clear proofs of their prophethood, also brought this miracle which you are now demanding?
➋ {قُلْ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنْ قَبْلِيْ …:} This is the answer to their objection mentioned above: if you are truly truthful in this claim, then why did your forefathers kill so many prophets who, along with other clear proofs of their prophethood, also brought this miracle which you are now demanding?
