Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 91

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When it is said to them, “Believe in what Allah has revealed,” they say, “We believe in what has been revealed to us” - and they deny what is beyond it, whereas that is the truth which confirms what is with them. Say, “Why then have you been slaying the prophets of Allah earlier, if you were believers?”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When it is said to them: “Believe in what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “We only believe in what was sent down to us,” and they deny what came afterwards, though it is the truth confirming their own Scriptures! Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Why then did you kill Allah’s prophets before, if you are ˹truly˺ believers?”

Ruwwad Translation Center

When it is said to them, “Believe in what Allah has sent down,” they say, “We only believe in what was sent down to us,” and they deny what came afterwards, although it is the truth confirming that which is with them. Say, “Then why did you kill the prophets of Allah before, if you were truly believers?”

A. J. Arberry

And when they were told, 'Believe in that God has sent down,' they said, 'We believe in what was sent down on us'; and they disbelieve in what is beyond that, yet it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say: 'Why then were you slaying the Prophets of God in former time, if you were believers?'

Abdul Haleem

When it is said to them, ‘Believe in God’s revelations,’ they reply, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us,’ but they do not believe in what came afterwards, though it is the truth confirming what they already have. Say [Muhammad], ‘Why did you kill God’s prophets in the past if you were true believers?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when it said unto them believe in that which Allah hath sent down now, they say: we believe in that which hath been sent down unto Us. And they disbelieve in that which is besides that while it is the truth, confirming that which is with them. Say thou: wherefore then slew ye Allah's prophets afore, a if ye have been believers?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, "they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us;" yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them. Say; "Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?"

Abul Ala Maududi

When it is said to them, "Believe in that which Allah has sent down," they say, "We believe only in that which has been sent to us", and reject everything else, though it is the Truth and confirms what is with them. Well, ask them, "If you sincerely believed in what was sent down to you, why did you kill the Messengers of Allah (who were sent to you from amongst yourselves)?

Ahmed Ali

And when it is said to them: "believe in what God has sent down," they say: "We believe what was sent to us, and do not believe what has come thereafter," although it affirms the truth they possess already. Say: "Why have you then been slaying God's apostles as of old, if you do believe?"

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when it is said to them, “Believe in what Allah has sent down", they say, “We believe in what was sent down to us, and disbelieve in the rest” – whereas it is the Truth confirming what they possess! Say (to them, O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “Why did you then martyr the earlier Prophets, if you believed in your Book?”

Ali Quli Qarai

And when they are told, ‘Believe in what Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘We believe in what was sent down to us,’ and they disbelieve what is besides it, though it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say, ‘Then why would you kill the prophets of Allah formerly, should you be faithful?’

Ali Ünal

And when they are told (since the sign of a believer is believing in whatever God has sent down): "Believe in that which He has sent down (on Muhammad, namely the Qur’an)," they retort: "We believe in only what was sent down on us," and they disbelieve in what is beyond that, though it is the truth, confirming what (of the truth) they already possess. Say (to them, O Messenger): "Why then did you kill the Prophets of God before, if indeed you are believers (loyal to what was sent down on you)?"

Amatul Rahman Omar

When it is said to them, `Believe in that (- the Qur´ân) which Allâh has sent down.´ They say, `We believe only in that (- the Torah) which has been sent down to us.´ And they deny every thing other than that (and which has since been revealed); though it (- the Qur´ân) is the lasting truth and corroborates that which is already with them (in their own Scriptures). Say, `Why, then, did you seek to kill the Prophets of Allâh in former times if you were (real) believers (in the former Scriptures)?´

English Literal

And if it was/is said to them: "Believe with what God descended." They said: "We believe with what is descended on us and they disbelieve with what is behind/beyond it, and it is the truth confirming to what (is) with them." Say: "So why do you kill God`s prophets from before, if you were believing?"

Faridul Haque

And when it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah has sent down", they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us, and disbelieve in the rest" - whereas it is the Truth confirming what they possess! Say (to them, O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), "Why did you then martyr the earlier Prophets, if you believed in your Book?"

Hamid S. Aziz

And when they are told to believe in what Allah has revealed, they say, "We believe in what has been revealed to us only;" but they disbelieve in all beside, although it is the truth confirming what they have. Say, "Why did you kill Allah´s prophets in past times if you were true believers?"

Hilali & Khan

And when it is said to them (the Jews), "Believe in what Allah has sent down," they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us." And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say (O Muhammad Peace be upon him to them): "Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?"

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when it is said to them, Believe in that which Allah has revealed, they say: We believe in that which was revealed to us. And they deny what is besides that, while it is the Truth verifying that which they have. Say: Why then did you kill Allah´s prophets before (this) if you were believers?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when it is said to them, Believe in what Allah has revealed, they say: We believe in that which was revealed to us; and they deny what is besides that, while it is the truth verifying that which they have. Say: Why then did you kill Allah's Prophets before if you were indeed believers?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when it is said unto them: Believe in that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We believe in that which was revealed unto us. And they disbelieve in that which cometh after it, though it is the truth confirming that which they possess. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Why then slew ye the prophets of Allah aforetime, if ye are (indeed) believers?

Muhammad Sarwar

When they are told to believe n God's revelations, they reply, "We believe only in what God has revealed to us," but they disbelieve His other true revelations, even though these revelations confirms their own (original) Scripture. (Muhammad) ask them, "Why did you murder God's Prophets if you were true believers?"

Qaribullah & Darwish

When it is said to them: 'Believe in what Allah has sent down' they reply: 'We believe in what was sent down to us' But they disbelieve in what is sent after it, although it is the truth, confirming their own Book. Say: 'Why, before did you kill the Prophets of Allah, if you are believers'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when it is said to them (the Jews), "Believe in what Allah has sent down," they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us." And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say (O Muhammad to them): "Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers"

Wahiduddin Khan

When they are told, "Believe in what God has revealed," they say, "We believe in what was revealed to us," while they deny the truth in what has been sent down after that, even though it is the Truth, confirming that which they already have. Say, "Why did you kill God's prophets in the past, if you were true believers?

Talal Itani

And when it is said to them, “Believe in what God has revealed,” they say, “We believe in what was revealed to us,” and they reject anything beyond that, although it is the truth which confirms what they have. Say, “Why did you kill God’s prophets before, if you were believers?”

Tafsir jalalayn

And when it was said to them, `Believe in what God has revealed, that is, the Qur'n and other [Books], they said, `We believe in what was revealed to us', that is, the Torah; and (w, here indicates a circumstantial qualifier) they disbelieve in what is beyond that, what is other than that or what came afterwards, such as the Qur'n; yet it is the truth (wa-huwa'l-haqqu is a circumstantial qualifier) confirming (musaddiqan, a second circumstantial qualifier for emphasis) what is with them. Say, to them; `Why then were you slaying the prophets of God formerly, if you were believers?' in the Torah and in it you were forbidden to kill them; this address, concerning what their forefathers did, is directed towards those present at the time of our Prophet, on account of their approval of it [that is, of what the forefathers had done].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Although The Jews denied the Truth, They claimed to be Believers!

Allah said,

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ

And when it is said to them,

meaning, the Jews and the People of the Book,

امِنُواْ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ

Believe in what Allah has sent down,

to Muhammad , believe in and follow him.

قَالُواْ نُوْمِنُ بِمَأ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا

They say, "We believe in what was sent down to us."

meaning, it is enough for us to believe in what was revealed to us in the Tawrah and the Injil, and this is the path that we choose.

وَيَكْفُرونَ بِمَا وَرَاءهُ

And they disbelieve in that which came after it.

وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ

while it is the truth confirming what is with them.

meaning, while knowing that what was revealed to Muhammad.

الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ
(it is the truth confirming what is with them),

This means that since what was sent to Muhammad conforms to what was revealed to the People of the Book, then this fact constitutes a proof against them.

Similarly, Allah said,

الَّذِينَ اتَيْنَـهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَأءَهُمْ

Those to whom We gave the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognize him (Muhammad) as they recognize their sons. (2;146)

Allah said next,

قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنبِيَاء اللّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّوْمِنِينَ



"Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers!"

This means, "If your claim that you believe in what was revealed to you is true, then why did you kill the Prophets who came to you affirming the Tawrah's Law, although you knew they were true Prophets! You killed them simply out of transgression, stubbornness and injustice with Allah's Messengers. Therefore, you only follow your lusts, opinions and desires."

Similarly, Allah said,

أَفَكُلَّمَا جَأءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَى أَنفُسُكُم اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ

Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant! Some you disbelieved and some you killed. (2;87)

Also, As-Suddi said,

"In this Ayah, Allah chastised the People of the Book,
قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنبِيَاء اللّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّوْمِنِينَ
(Say (O Muhammad to them);"Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers."