سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 159
وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِۦ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا ﴿159﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) but must believe in him [‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allâh and a human being] before his [‘Îsâ (Jesus) عليه السلام) or a Jew’s or a Christian’s] death (at the time of the appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he [‘Îsâ (Jesus)] will be a witness against them.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And (there is) not
مِّنْ
min
from
أَهْلِ
ahli
(the) People
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
(of) the Book
إِلَّا
illā
but
لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ
layu'minanna
surely he believes
بِهِۦ
bihi
in him
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
مَوْتِهِۦ ۖ
mawtihi
his death
وَيَوْمَ
wayawma
And (on the) Day
ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ
l-qiyāmati
(of) the Resurrection
يَكُونُ
yakūnu
he will be
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
against them
شَهِيدًۭا
shahīdan
a witness
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 159) ➊ {وَ اِنْ مِّنْ اَهْلِ الْكِتٰبِ اِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهٖ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهٖ :} This verse has two meanings and both are correct. The first is that every Jew and Christian, before his death, will surely believe in the prophethood of ‘Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام and in his being raised alive, but this refers to the time when death becomes imminent, just as Pharaoh believed at the time of his death, but at that time, believing will be of no benefit. The second meaning is that when ‘Isa عليه السلام will descend near the Day of Judgment as a just ruler and will fight against Dajjal and all other disbelievers, then before his death, Islam will prevail throughout the world. The Jews and Christians will either be killed in confrontation or will accept Islam. ‘Isa عليه السلام will break the cross, abolish the jizyah, and kill the swine. Thus, when ‘Isa عليه السلام passes away, before his death, every Jew and Christian present will have believed in his prophethood, his being raised alive to the heavens, and his descent again. Thus, at the end of the hadith mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, after narrating this hadith, says: “If you wish, recite this verse: « وَ اِنْ مِّنْ اَهْلِ الْكِتٰبِ اِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهٖ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهٖ » ‘And there is none from the People of the Book but that he will surely believe in him before his death.’”
➋ {وَ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ يَكُوْنُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيْدًا:} For the explanation of this phrase, see Surah Al-Ma’idah (117).
➋ {وَ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ يَكُوْنُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيْدًا:} For the explanation of this phrase, see Surah Al-Ma’idah (117).
