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 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 79) ➊ { مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ … : } After mentioning the distortion by the People of the Book in the Torah and the Gospel, it is indicated that distortion was also made in the Gospel for the sake of claiming divinity for Jesus (peace be upon him). Otherwise, prophets are human beings, and after being honored with such attributes as revelation and prophethood, it is impossible for them to claim to be God. (Razi)
➋ Then, when even a prophet does not have the right for people to worship him, how can other elders and imams attain this status, and how did they acquire the right to command their disciples to keep their image before their eyes and minds twenty-four hours a day, and to take a pledge from them that they must obey every word of theirs, whether it seems right or wrong, and when a calamity befalls, they should remember them? Tell me, what else is divinity? As prophets, it is obligatory to follow them and obey every command of theirs, but elders and imams are not even obligatory to follow.
➌ {كُوْنُوْا عِبَادًا لِّيْ: } From this, it is understood that it is not permissible to name someone Abdul-Masih, Abdul-Rasool, or Abdul-Mustafa.
➍ { ”اَلرَّبَّانِيُّ“ } The word "Rabb" has been augmented with "alif noon" and the "ya" of attribution has been added, and its meaning is a pious scholar. Mubarrad says that this is {’’رَبَّهُ يَرُبُّهُ فَهُوَ رَبَّانُ ‘‘}, i.e., a descriptive form. The "ya" has been joined with {’’رَبَّانُ ‘‘ }. (Fath al-Bayan) In Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, the meaning of the verse: «كُوْنُوْا رَبّٰنِيّٖنَ » is "become wise men, jurists," and he said: "It is said that 'Rabbani' is the one who nurtures people with the minor aspects of knowledge before its major aspects." [بخاری، العلم، باب العلم قبل القول والعمل …، بعد ح : ۶۷ ]
➎ { بِمَا كُنْتُمْ:} In this, the "ba" is for causation; since you are engaged in teaching and studying, you should become pious scholars and devoted servants of Allah. (Baydawi)
➏ { كُوْنُوْا رَبّٰنِيّٖنَ:} Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "Yes, you (O People of the Book!) should say that the piety that was previously among you, i.e., reading and teaching the Book, is no longer there; now, in my company, attain that same excellence again." (Muwaddih) And this can now only be achieved through reading, teaching, learning, and teaching the Noble Qur'an.
➐ If a person does not develop the quality of servitude to Allah through knowledge and reading and teaching the divine books, then this occupation is a waste of time, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sought refuge from such knowledge. He used to pray: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَّا يَنْفَعُ ] [مسلم، الذکر والدعاء، باب فی الأدعیۃ : ۲۷۲۲ ] "O Allah! I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit." (Fath al-Bayan)
➋ Then, when even a prophet does not have the right for people to worship him, how can other elders and imams attain this status, and how did they acquire the right to command their disciples to keep their image before their eyes and minds twenty-four hours a day, and to take a pledge from them that they must obey every word of theirs, whether it seems right or wrong, and when a calamity befalls, they should remember them? Tell me, what else is divinity? As prophets, it is obligatory to follow them and obey every command of theirs, but elders and imams are not even obligatory to follow.
➌ {كُوْنُوْا عِبَادًا لِّيْ: } From this, it is understood that it is not permissible to name someone Abdul-Masih, Abdul-Rasool, or Abdul-Mustafa.
➍ { ”اَلرَّبَّانِيُّ“ } The word "Rabb" has been augmented with "alif noon" and the "ya" of attribution has been added, and its meaning is a pious scholar. Mubarrad says that this is {’’رَبَّهُ يَرُبُّهُ فَهُوَ رَبَّانُ ‘‘}, i.e., a descriptive form. The "ya" has been joined with {’’رَبَّانُ ‘‘ }. (Fath al-Bayan) In Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said, the meaning of the verse: «كُوْنُوْا رَبّٰنِيّٖنَ » is "become wise men, jurists," and he said: "It is said that 'Rabbani' is the one who nurtures people with the minor aspects of knowledge before its major aspects." [بخاری، العلم، باب العلم قبل القول والعمل …، بعد ح : ۶۷ ]
➎ { بِمَا كُنْتُمْ:} In this, the "ba" is for causation; since you are engaged in teaching and studying, you should become pious scholars and devoted servants of Allah. (Baydawi)
➏ { كُوْنُوْا رَبّٰنِيّٖنَ:} Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "Yes, you (O People of the Book!) should say that the piety that was previously among you, i.e., reading and teaching the Book, is no longer there; now, in my company, attain that same excellence again." (Muwaddih) And this can now only be achieved through reading, teaching, learning, and teaching the Noble Qur'an.
➐ If a person does not develop the quality of servitude to Allah through knowledge and reading and teaching the divine books, then this occupation is a waste of time, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sought refuge from such knowledge. He used to pray: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَّا يَنْفَعُ ] [مسلم، الذکر والدعاء، باب فی الأدعیۃ : ۲۷۲۲ ] "O Allah! I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit." (Fath al-Bayan)
