Surah Al-Ma'idah — Verse 41
The Table Spread · 5:41 · 41/120
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ ۛ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَـٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُۥ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Ya ayyuha arrasoolu layahzunka allatheena yusariAAoona fee alkufrimina allatheena qaloo amanna bi-afwahihimwalam tu'min quloobuhum wamina allatheena hadoosammaAAoona lilkathibi sammaAAoona liqawmin akhareenalam ya'tooka yuharrifoona alkalima min baAAdi mawadiAAihiyaqooloona in ooteetum hatha fakhuthoohu wa-in lamtu'tawhu fahtharoo waman yuridi Allahufitnatahu falan tamlika lahu mina Allahi shay-an ola-ikaallatheena lam yuridi Allahu an yutahhiraquloobahum lahum fee addunya khizyun walahum feeal-akhirati AAathabun AAatheem
Translations of this verse 11
Saheeh International
O Messenger, let them not grieve you who hasten into disbelief of those who say, "We believe" with their mouths, but their hearts believe not, and from among the Jews. [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you. They distort words beyond their [proper] places [i.e., usages], saying, "If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." But he for whom Allāh intends fitnah - never will you possess [power to do] for him a thing against Allāh. Those are the ones for whom Allāh does not intend to purify their hearts. For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
Messenger, do not be grieved by those who race to surpass one another in disbelief- those who say with their mouths, ‘We believe,’ but have no faith in their hearts, and the Jews who listen eagerly to lies and to those who have not even met you, who distort the meanings of [revealed] words and say [to each other], ‘If you are given this ruling, accept it, but if you are not, then beware!’––if God intends some people to be so misguided, you will be powerless against God on their behalf. These are the ones whose hearts God does not intend to cleanse- a disgrace for them in this world, and then a heavy punishment in the Hereafter-
Marmaduke Pickthall
O Messenger! Let not them grieve thee who vie one with another in the race to disbelief, of such as say with their mouths: "We believe," but their hearts believe not, and of the Jews: listeners for the sake of falsehood, listeners on behalf of other folk who come not unto thee, changing words from their context and saying: If this be given unto you, receive it, but if this be not given unto you, then beware! He whom Allah doometh unto sin, thou (by thine efforts) wilt avail him naught against Allah. Those are they for whom the Will of Allah is that He cleanse not their hearts. Theirs in the world will be ignominy, and in the Hereafter an awful doom;
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
O Messenger! let not those grieve thee, who race each other into unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say "We believe" with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews,- men who will listen to any lie,- will listen even to others who have never so much as come to thee. They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say, "If ye are given this, take it, but if not, beware!" If any one's trial is intended by Allah, thou hast no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
O Messenger, those who race towards disbelief should not be a cause of grief for you, be they from those who say with their mouths, “We believe”, while their hearts do not believe, or from those who are (pronounced) Jews. They are listeners to the fallacy, listeners to other people who did not come to you. They distort the words after they had been properly placed. They say, “If you are given this, take it, and if you are not given this, then avoid it.” The one whom Allah wills to put to trial, you cannot do anything for him against Allah. They are the ones whose hearts Allah did not intend to purify. For them there is humiliation in this world, and for them there is a great punishment in the Hereafter.
Al-Hilali & Khan
O Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Let not those who hurry to fall into disbelief grieve you, of such who say: "We believe" with their mouths but their hearts have no faith. And of the Jews are men who listen much and eagerly to lies - listen to others who have not come to you. They change the words from their places; they say, "If you are given this, take it, but if you are not given this, then beware!" And whomsoever Allâh wants to put in Al-Fitnah [error, because of his rejecting of Faith], you can do nothing for him against Allâh. Those are the ones whose hearts Allâh does not want to purify (from disbelief and hypocrisy); for them there is a disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a great torment.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
O Messenger! Do not be grieved on account of those who vie with one another in disbelieving: even though they be those who say with their mouths: 'We believe' even though their hearts have no faith; or they be Jews who have their ears eagerly turned to falsehood and spy for other people who did not chance to come to you, who pervert the words of Allah, taking them out of their proper context in order to distort their meaning. They say to people: 'If such and such teaching is given to you, accept it; if you are not given that, then beware! You can be of no avail to him whom Allah wills to fall into error. Those are the ones whose hearts Allah does not want to purify. For them there is degradation in this world and a mighty chastisement in the Next.
Muhammad Asad — The Message of the Qur’an
O APOSTLE! Be not grieved by those who vie with one another in denying the truth: such as those who say with their mouths, "We believe," the while their hearts do not believe; and such of the Jewish faith as eagerly listen to any falsehood, eagerly listen to other people without having come to thee [for enlightenment]. They distort the meaning of the [revealed] words, taking them out of their context, saying [to themselves], "If such-and-such [teaching] is vouchsafed unto you, accept it; but if it is not vouchsafed unto you, be on your guard!" [Be not grieved by them-] for if God wills anyone to be tempted to evil, thou canst in no wise prevail with God in his behalf. It is they whose hearts God is not willing to cleanse. Theirs shall be ignominy in this world, and awesome suffering in the life to come-
Rowwad · source edition
O Messenger, do not grieve for those who rush to disbelief – those who say with their mouths, “We believe”, but their hearts have no faith, nor those Jews who eagerly listen to falsehood and to those who have not yet come to you[36]. They distort the words [of Allah] out of their context saying, “If you are given this [ruling] accept it[37], but if you are not given, then beware[38].” Whoever Allah wills to be misguided[39], there is nothing you can do to avail him against Allah. They are those whose hearts Allah did not will to purify. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter they will suffer a great punishment.
Notes
[36] They had not attended the Prophet's gatherings or heard his words. [37] The legal ruling desired by them. [38] They heed the words of warning of other conniving men who were so averse that they did not go to the Prophet (ﷺ) to hear what he had to say. [39] The meaning here is misbelief, misconception, or self-delusion as a result of one's own refusal of truth.
Noor International · source edition
(41) O Messenger, let them not grieve you who hasten into disbelief – of those who say, "We believe" with their mouths, but their hearts believe not, and from among the Jews. [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you.[264] They distort words beyond their [proper] places [i.e., usages], saying, "If you are given this,[265] take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." But he for whom Allāh intends fitnah[266] - never will you possess [power to do] for him a thing against Allāh. Those are the ones for whom Allāh does not intend to purify their hearts. For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
Notes
[264]- They had not attended the Prophet's gatherings or heard his words. [265]- The legal ruling desired by them. [266]- The meaning here is misbelief, misconception, or self-delusion as a result of one's own refusal of truth.
Hilali and Khan · source edition
41. O Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Let not those who hurry to fall into disbelief grieve you, of such who say: "We believe" with their mouths but their hearts have no faith. And of the Jews are men who listen much and eagerly to lies - listen to others who have not come to you. They change the words from their places; they say, "If you are given this, take it, but if you are not given this, then beware!" And whomsoever Allâh wants to put in Al-Fitnah [error, because of his rejecting of Faith], you can do nothing for him against Allâh. Those are the ones whose hearts Allâh does not want to purify (from disbelief and hypocrisy); for them there is a disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a great torment.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {يَاأَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُوا وَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَنْ تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ (41)} [المائدة: 41]
153 - عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ -رضي الله عنهما- قَالَ: مُرَّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بِيَهُودِيٍّ مُحَمَّمًا مَجْلُودًا، فَدَعَاهُمْ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فَقَالَ: "هَكَذَا تَجِدُونَ حَدَّ الزَّانِي فِي كتَابِكُمْ؟ " قَالُوا: نَعَمْ. فَدَعَا رَجُلًا مِنْ عُلَمَائِهِمْ، فَقَالَ: "أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ عَلَى مُوسَى، أَهَكَذَا تَجِدُونَ حَدَّ الزَّانِي فِي كِتَابِكُمْ؟ " قَالَ: لَا، وَلَوْلَا أَنَّكَ نَشَدْتَنِي بِهَذَا لَمْ أُخْبِرْكَ، نَجِدُهُ الرَّجْمَ، وَلَكِنَّهُ كَثُرَ فِي أَشْرَافِنَا، فَكُنَّا إِذَا أَخَذْنَا الشَّرِيفَ تَرَكْنَاهُ، وَإِذَا أَخَذْنَا الضَّعِيفَ أَقَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ، قُلْنَا: تَعَالَوْا فَلْنَجْتَمِعْ عَلَى شَيءٍ نُقِيمُهُ عَلَى الشَّرِيفِ وَالْوَضِيعِ، فَجَعَلْنَا التَّحْمِيمَ وَالْجَلْدَ مَكَانَ الرَّجْمِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -: "اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَحْيَا أَمرَكَ إِذْ أَمَاتُوهُ" فَأَمَرَ بهِ فَرُجِمَ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجلَّ: {يَاأَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَذَا فَخُذُوهُ ... }. واللفظ لأبي داود ¬أخرجه مسلم برقم: 1700، وأبو داود برقم: 4447، 4448، وابن ماجه برقم:2327، 2558، والنسائي في التفسير برقم: 164، والكبرى برقم: 7218، 11144، وأحمد: 4/ 286، والبيهقي: 8/ 246، وانظر تقريب الطبري برقم: 294.¥.
154 - عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضي الله عنه - قَالَ: زَنَى رَجُلٌ مِنْ الْيَهُودِ وَامْرَأَةٌ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: اذْهَبُوا بِنَا إِلَى هَذَا النَّبِيِّ، فَإِنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ بُعِثَ بِالتَّخْفِيفِ، فَإِنْ أَفْتَانَا بِفُتْيَا دُونَ الرَّجْمِ قَبِلْنَاهَا وَاحْتَجَجْنَا بِهَا عِنْدَ اللهِ، قُلْنَا: فُتْيَا نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِكَ، قَالَ: فَأَتَوْا النَّبِيَّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ، فَقَالُوا: يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ، مَا تَرَى فِي رَجُلٍ وَامْرَأَةٍ زَنَيَا؟ فَلَمْ يُكَلَّمْهُمْ كَلِمَةً حَتَّى أَتَى بَيْتَ مِدْرَاسِهِمْ، فَقَامَ عَلَى الْبَابِ فَقَالَ: "أَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّه الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ عَلَى مُوسَى، مَا تَجِدُونَ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ عَلَى مَنْ زَنَى إِذَا أَحْصَنَ؟ " قَالُوا: يُحَمَّمُ وَيُجَبَّهُ وَيُجْلَدُ، وَالتَّجْبِيهُ أَنْ يُحْمَلَ الزَّانِيَانِ عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَتُقَابَلُ أَقْفِيَتُهُمَا وَيُطَافُ بِهِمَا، قَالَ: وَسَكَتَ شَابٌّ مِنْهُمْ فَلَمَّا، رَآهُ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - سَكَتَ أَلَظَّ به النِّشْدَةَ، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِذْ نَشَدْتَنَا فَإِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ الرَّجْمَ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -: "فَمَا أَوَّلُ مَا ارْتَخَصْتُمْ أَمْرَ اللهِ"، قَالَ: زَنَى ذُو قَرَابَةٍ مِنْ مَلِكٍ مِنْ مُلُوكِنَا فَأَخَّرَ عَنْهُ الرَّجْمَ، ثُمَّ زَنَى رَجُلٌ فِي أُسْرَةٍ مِنْ النَّاسِ فَأَرَادَ رَجْمَهُ فَحَالَ قَوْمُهُ دُونَهُ، وَقَالُوا: لَا يُرْجَمُ صَاحِبُنَا حَتَّى تَجِيءَ بِصَاحِبِكَ فَتَرْجُمَهُ، فَاصْطَلَحُوا عَلَى هَذِهِ الْعُقُوبَةِ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -: "فَإِنِّي أَحْكُمُ بِمَا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ"، فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا فَرُجِمَا. قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: فَبَلَغَنَا أَنَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِيهِمْ {إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا} كَانَ النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - مِنْهُمْ. واللفظ لأبي داود ¬أخرجه أبو داود برقم: 4450، 4451، وابن جرير: 6/ 249 برقم: 12008، وأحمد مختصراً: 7747، والحديث حسن لشواهده.¥.