Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 135

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.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The Jews and Christians each say, “Follow our faith to be ˹rightly˺ guided.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “No! We follow the faith of Abraham, the upright—who was not a polytheist.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

They say, “Be Jews or Christians to be guided.” Say, “Rather the religion of Abraham, the monotheist, and he was not one of the polytheists.”

A. J. Arberry

And they say, 'Be Jews or Christians and you shall be guided.' Say thou: 'Nay, rather the creed of Abraham, a man of pure faith; he was no idolater.'

Abdul 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.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they say: become Jews or Nazarenes, and ye shall be guided. Say thou: Aye! we follow the faith of Ibrahim, the upright, and he was not of the associators.

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."

Abul Ala Maududi

The Jews say, "Become Jews and you will be rightly guided"; the Christians say, "Become Christians and you will have the true guidance." Say to them, "Nay, we turn away from every other way and accept the way of Abraham, and Abraham did not associate other gods with Allah."

Ahmed Ali

They say: "Become Jews or become Christians, and find the right way." Say: "No. We follow the way of Abraham the upright, who was not an idolater."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And the People given the Book(s) said, “Become Jews or Christians – you will attain the right path”; say (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “No – rather we take the religion of Ibrahim, who was far removed from all falsehood; and was not of the polytheists.”

Ali Quli Qarai

They say, ‘Be either Jews or Christians, that you may be [rightly] guided.’ Say, ‘No, rather, [we will follow] the creed of Abraham, a Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists.’

Ali Ünal

And they (the Jews) say, "Be Jews" or (the Christians say,) "Be Christians (hudan aw nasara), that you may be rightly guided." Say (to them, O Messenger): "Rather, the Way of Abraham of pure faith (is what we choose, the Way free from unbelief, associating partners with God and hypocrisy, that we may be rightly guided.)" Abraham was never of those who associate partners with God.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And they (the Jews and the Christians respectively) said, `Be Jews or be Christians, then you shall be on the right course.´ Say, `Nay, but (ours is) the faith of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the polytheist.´

English Literal

And they said: "Be Jews or Christians, you will be guided." Say: "But Abraham`s religion/faith submitter/unifier of God , and he was not from the sharers (with God) ."

Faridul Haque

And the People given the Book(s) said, "Become Jews or Christians - you will attain the right path"; say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), "No - rather we take the religion of Ibrahim, who was far removed from all falsehood; and was not of the polytheists."

Hamid S. Aziz

They say, "Become you Jews or Christians then shall you be guided by Abraham." Say, "Not so! But we follow the religion of Abraham, the upright; he was not of the idolaters."

Hilali & Khan

And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them, O Muhammad Peace be upon him), "Nay, (We follow) only the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), Hanifa [Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah (Alone)], and he was not of Al-Mushrikun (those who worshipped others along with Allah - see V. 2:105)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they say: Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say: Nay, (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright one, and he was not one of the polytheists.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they say: Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say: Nay! (we follow) the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists.

Mohammed Marmaduke William 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.

Muhammad Sarwar

The Jews and the Christians have asked the Muslims to accept their faith to have the right guidance. (Muhammad) tell them, "We would rather follow the upright religion of Abraham who was not a pagan".

Qaribullah & Darwish

They say: 'Be Jews or Nazarenes and you shall be guided' Say: 'No, rather the Creed of Abraham, the upright one. He was not among the idolaters'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrahim, Hanif (Islamic Monotheism), and he was not of Al-Mushrikin (those who worshipped others along with Allah).

Wahiduddin Khan

They say, "Be Jews or Christians, and you shall be rightly guided." Say, "By no means! We believe in the faith of Abraham, who was ever inclined [to God]; he was not one of those who set up partners with God."

Talal Itani

And they say, “Be Jews or Christians, and you will be guided.” Say, “Rather, the religion of Abraham, the Monotheist; he was not an idolater.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And they say, `Be Jews or Christians (the particle aw is for detail; the first of these is the saying of the Medinan Jews, while the second is that of the Christians of Najrn), and you shall be guided'. Say, to them; `Nay, we follow, rather the creed of Abraham, a hanf (hanfan is a circumstantial qualifier referring to Ibrhma, that is to say, one that inclines away from all other religions to the upright religion); and he was not of the idolaters'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

وَقَالُواْ كُونُواْ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى تَهْتَدُواْ

قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ



And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrahim, Hanif (Islamic Monotheism), and he was not of Al-Mushrikin (those who worshipped others along with Allah.

Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas said that Abdullah bin Suriya Al-Awar said to the Messenger of Allah,

"The guidance is only what we (Jews) follow. Therefore, follow us, O Muhammad, and you will be rightly guided."

Also, the Christians said similarly, so Allah revealed,
وَقَالُواْ كُونُواْ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى تَهْتَدُواْ
(And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided").

Allah's statement,

قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا

Say (to them O Muhammad), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrahim, Hanif.

means, "We do not need the Judaism or Christianity that you call us to, rather,
مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا
((we follow) only the religion of Ibrahim, Hanif) meaning, on the straight path, as Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi and Isa bin Jariyah stated.

Also, Abu Qilabah said,

"The Hanif is what the Messengers, from beginning to end, believed in.