سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 135
وَقَالُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿135﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Hanîfa [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh (Alone)], and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (those who worshipped others along with Allâh - see V.2:105)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
And they said
كُونُوا۟
kūnū
Be
هُودًا
hūdan
Jews
أَوْ
aw
or
نَصَـٰرَىٰ
naṣārā
Christians
تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ
tahtadū
(then) you will be guided
قُلْ
qul
Say
بَلْ
bal
Nay
مِلَّةَ
millata
(the) religion
إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ
ib'rāhīma
(of) Ibrahim
حَنِيفًۭا ۖ
ḥanīfan
(the) upright
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
he was
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
those who associated partners (with Allah)
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
135. The Jews say, "Become Jews and you will be guided," and the Christians say, "Become Christians and you will be guided." Say to them: (It is not so), rather, whoever is on the religion of Abraham will be guided, and he was a monotheist and was not among those who associated partners with Allah [167].
[167]
The Meaning of Millat and the Millat of Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
Millat is the name of that system of life which is based on certain specific beliefs, and among the beliefs of the Millat of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the most important belief that Allah Almighty has mentioned is this: Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was a monotheist. He did not commit shirk. The Jews say to the Muslims, "If you become Jews, you will attain salvation," even though they themselves were polytheists and used to call Prophet Uzair (peace be upon him) the son of Allah. Similarly, the Christians used to say the same thing to the Muslims, even though they also believed in three gods and were polytheists, and there is no doubt about the polytheism of the disbelievers of Makkah and others. Even though they too claimed to follow the Millat of Ibrahim. Allah Almighty said that none of them is on guidance nor do they have any connection with the Millat of Ibrahim, because all of them are polytheists. Only the one who is not a polytheist can be upon the Millat of Ibrahim, and he alone will be rightly guided.
[167]
The Meaning of Millat and the Millat of Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
Millat is the name of that system of life which is based on certain specific beliefs, and among the beliefs of the Millat of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the most important belief that Allah Almighty has mentioned is this: Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was a monotheist. He did not commit shirk. The Jews say to the Muslims, "If you become Jews, you will attain salvation," even though they themselves were polytheists and used to call Prophet Uzair (peace be upon him) the son of Allah. Similarly, the Christians used to say the same thing to the Muslims, even though they also believed in three gods and were polytheists, and there is no doubt about the polytheism of the disbelievers of Makkah and others. Even though they too claimed to follow the Millat of Ibrahim. Allah Almighty said that none of them is on guidance nor do they have any connection with the Millat of Ibrahim, because all of them are polytheists. Only the one who is not a polytheist can be upon the Millat of Ibrahim, and he alone will be rightly guided.
