Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 140

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Or, would you say that Ibrāhīm, Ismā‘īl, IsHāq, Ya‘qūb and their children were Jews or Christians?” Say: “Do you know better or does Allah?” Who can be more unjust than the one who conceals the testimony he has from Allah? Allah is not unaware of what you do.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do you claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants were all Jews or Christians?” Say, “Who is more knowledgeable: you or Allah?” Who does more wrong than those who hide the testimony they received from Allah? And Allah is never unaware of what you do.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants [of Jacob] were Jews or Christians?” Say, “Are you more knowledgeable or Allah?” Who does greater wrong than the one who hides a testimony he has from Allah? But Allah is not unaware of what you do.

A. J. Arberry

Or do you say, "Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and the Tribes -- they were Jews, or they were Christians"?' Say: 'Have you then greater knowledge, or God? And who does greater evil than he who conceals a testimony received from God? And God is not heedless of the things you do.'

Abdul Haleem

Or are you saying that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ [Prophet], ask them, ‘Who knows better: you or God? Who could be more wicked than those who hide a testimony [they received] from God? God is not unmindful of what you do.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Or say ye that Ibrahim and Ismai'l and Ishaq and Ya'qub, and the tribes were Jews or Nazarenes? Say thou: are ye the more knowing or is Allah? And who is more unjust than he who hideth a testimony that is with him from Allah? And Allah is not neglectful of that which ye Work.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Or do ye say that Abraham, Isma'il Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say; Do ye know better than Allah? Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? but Allah is not unmindful of what ye do!

Abul Ala Maududi

Or do you say that Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and his children were all Jews or Christians? Ask them, "Do you know more than Allah does? And who is more unjust than the one who hides the testimony which Allah has entrusted to him? Allah is not unaware of what you are doing.

Ahmed Ali

Or do you claim that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their offspring were Jews or Christians? Say: "Have you more knowledge than God?" Who is more wicked than he who conceals the testimony he received from God? God is not unaware of all you do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

“In fact you claim that Ibrahim, and Ismail, and Ishaq, and Yaqub, and their offspring were Jews or Christians”; say, “Do you know better, or does Allah?”; and who is more unjust than one who has the testimony from Allah and he hides it? And Allah is not unaware of your deeds.

Ali Quli Qarai

[Ask them,] ‘Do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ Say, ‘Is it you who know better, or Allah?’ And who is a greater wrongdoer than someone who conceals a testimony that is with him from Allah? And Allah is not oblivious of what you do.

Ali Ünal

Or do you claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Prophets who were raised in the tribes were "Jews" or "Christians?" Say (to them): "Do you know better, or does God?" (They know well that any of the Prophets were neither "Jews" nor "Christians," but they conceal the truth.) Who is greater in wrongdoing than he who conceals the testimony he has from God? God is never unaware and unmindful of what you do.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Do you (O Jews and the Christians!) say that Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and his children were Jews or Christians? Say, `Have you then greater knowledge or (is it) Allâh (Who knows better)? And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allâh. And Allâh is not at all unaware of what you do.´

English Literal

Or (do) you say that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Issac, and Jacob, and the grandchildren/branches/Jewish tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: "Are you more knowing or God? And who (is) more unjust/oppressive than who hid/concealed a testimony at (with) him (self) from God, and God is not ignoring about what you make/do ."

Faridul Haque

"In fact you claim that Ibrahim, and Ismail, and Ishaq, and Yaqub, and their offspring were Jews or Christians"; say, "Do you know better, or does Allah?"; and who is more unjust than one who has the testimony from Allah and he hides it? And Allah is not unaware of your deeds.

Hamid S. Aziz

Do you say that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say, "Do you know better than Allah? Ah! Who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what you do.

Hilali & Khan

Or say you that Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)] were Jews or Christians? Say, "Do you know better or does Allah (knows better that they all were Muslims)? And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony [i.e. to believe in Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him when he comes, written in their Books. (See Verse 7:157)] he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Or do you say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do you know better or Allah? And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not heedless of what you do.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Nay! do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Yaqoub and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Are you better knowing or Allah? And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Or say ye that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know best, or doth Allah? And who is more unjust than he who hideth a testimony which he hath received from Allah? Allah is not unaware of what ye do.

Muhammad Sarwar

Everyone will be responsible for his own deeds. Do you (People of the Book) claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and their descendants were Jews or Christians?" Ask them, "Who possesses greater knowledge, you or God? Who is more unjust than one who refuses to testify to the truth that God has given to him?" God is not unaware of what you do.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, were Jews or Nazarenes! Say: 'Who knows better, you or Allah? Who is more unjust than he who hides a testimony received from Allah? And Allah is not inattentive of what you do'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Or say you that Ibrahim, Isma`il, Ishaq, Ya`qub and Al-Asbat, were Jews or Christians Say, "Do you know better or does Allah And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah And Allah is not unaware of what you do."

Wahiduddin Khan

Do you claim that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants were all Jews or Christians?" Say, "Do you know better or does God? And who could be more unjust than one who conceals a testimony given to him by God? God is not unaware of what you do."

Talal Itani

Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs were Jews or Christians? Say, “Do you know better, or God?” And who does greater wrong than he who conceals a testimony he has from God? God is not unaware of what you do.

Tafsir jalalayn

Or, nay, do you say (taqlna, also read yaqlna, `do they say?'); `Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and the Tribes -- they were Jews, or they were Christians?' Say, to them; `Have you then greater knowledge, or has God?, that is, God has greater knowledge; He dissociated Abraham from both [groups], when He said, Abraham was not a Jew, nor a Christian [Q. 3;67]; and those mentioned with him [Abraham] are his followers [in not belonging to either group]. And who does greater injustice than he who conceals, hides from people, a testimony, he has, received from God?, that is, there is none more unjust than him; these are the Jews, for they concealed God's testimony about Abraham's pure faith in the Torah; And God is not heedless of what you do'; [this is] a threat for them.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah said,

أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالاسْبَاطَ كَانُواْ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى

Or say you that Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub and Al-Asbat, were Jews or Christians!

Allah criticized them in the claim that Ibrahim, the Prophets who came after him and the Asbat were following their religion, whether Judaism or Christianity.

Allah said,

...
قُلْ أَأَنتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ اللّهُ

Say, "Do you know better or does Allah!"

meaning, Allah has the best knowledge and He stated that they were neither Jews, nor Christians.

Similarly, Allah said in the Ayah,

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin. (3;67) and the following Ayat.

Allah also said,

...
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً عِندَهُ مِنَ اللّهِ

And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah,

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said,

They used to recite the Book of Allah He sent to them that stated that the true religion is Islam and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Their Book also stated that Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub and the tribes were neither Jews, nor Christians. They testified to these facts, yet hid them from the people.

Allah's statement,

...
وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

is a threat and a warning that His knowledge encompasses every one's deeds, and He shall award each accordingly.

Allah then said,