Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 135

The Cow · 2:135 · 135/286

وَقَالُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Waqaloo koonoo hoodan aw nasaratahtadoo qul bal millata ibraheema haneefan wamakana mina almushrikeen

Verse recitation

Translations of this verse 7

Saheeh International

They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians, and you will be rightly guided.’ Say [Prophet], ‘No, [ours is] the religion of Abraham, the upright, who did not worship any god besides God.’

Marmaduke Pickthall

And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (To salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah."

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They said, “Become Jews or Christians, and you will find the right path.” Say: “Instead, (we follow) the faith of Ibrāhīm, the upright, - and he was not one of those who associate partners with Allah.”

Al-Hilali & Khan

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)."

Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)

They say: “Be Jews,” or “Be Christians.” “Then you will be rightly guided.” Say to them: “No, follow exclusively the way of Abraham who was not one of those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity.”

Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl

Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)

9 - عن ابن عباس -رضي الله عنهما- قال: "قال عبد الله بن صوريا الأعور لرسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم -: ما الهدى إلا ما نحن عليه، فاتبعنا يا محمد تهتد. وقالت النصارى مثل ذلك، فأنزل الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {وَقَالُوا كُونُوا هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى تَهْتَدُوا} ¬أخرجه ابن جرير الطبري في تفسيره برقم: 2090، وابن أبي حاتم: 1/ 1/ 396 برقم: 1300، وفيه محمد بن أبي محمد، والحديث سنده يحسن. وعزاه في فتح القدير: (1/ 282) لابن إسحاق وابن المنذر وابن أبي حاتم.¥.