Al-Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran Verse 20

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Then, if they argue with you, say: “I have submitted myself to Allah, and (so did) those who have followed me.” And say to those who have been given the Book, and to the unlettered: “Do you submit?” If they submit, they will be on the right path. Yet, if they turn back, then you have only to convey the message. Allah is watchful over (all of) His servants.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

So if they argue with you ˹O Prophet˺, say, “I have submitted myself to Allah, and so have my followers.” And ask those who were given the Scripture and the illiterate ˹people˺,[[ This refers to the pagans of Arabia before Islam.        ]] “Have you submitted yourselves ˹to Allah˺?” If they submit, they will be ˹rightly˺ guided. But if they turn away, then your duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺. And Allah is All-Seeing of ˹His˺ servants.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Then if they argue with you, say, “I have submitted myself to Allah, and so have those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the illiterate, “Have you submitted yourselves?” If they do, then they are rightly guided, but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the message. And Allah is All-Seeing of His slaves.

A. J. Arberry

So if they dispute with thee, say: 'I have surrendered my will to God, and whosoever follows me. And say to those who have been given the Book and to the common folk: 'Have you surrendered?' If they have surrendered, they are right guided; but if they turn their backs, thine it is only to deliver the Message; and God sees His servants.

Abdul Haleem

if they argue with you [Prophet], say, ‘I have devoted myself to God alone and so have my followers.’ Ask those who were given the Scripture, as well as those without one, ‘Do you too devote yourselves to Him alone?’ If they do, they will be guided, but if they turn away, your only duty is to convey the message. God is aware of His servants.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Wherefore if they contend with thee, say thou: have surrendered myself unto Allah and he who followeth me. And say thou unto those who have been vouchsafed the Book and unto the illiterates; do you (also) accept Islam? Then if they accept Islam, they are of a surety guided; and if they turn away, then upon thee is only the preaching, and Allah is Beholder of His bondsmen.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So if they dispute with thee, say; "I have submitted My whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned; "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, Thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.

Abul Ala Maududi

And if they remonstrate with you, tell them: 'I have submitted my whole being to Allah, and so have those who follow me.' And ask the People of the Book as well as those who follow no heavenly Scripture: 'Have you also submitted (to Allah)?' If they have submitted to Him, they are indeed on the right way but if they deviate from submitting to Allah, then your duty is merely to deliver the message. Allah observes the affairs of His servants.

Ahmed Ali

Even then if they argue, tell them: "I have bowed in submission to God, and so have my followers." And tell the people of the Book and the Arabs: "Do you submit?" If they do, they will find the right path; if they turn away, your duty is to deliver the message. And God keeps an eye on His votaries.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Then if they argue with you, (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) say, “I have submitted my face (self) to Allah and likewise have my followers”; and say to the People given the Book(s) and the illiterate, “Have you submitted (accepted Islam)?” If they submit, they have attained the right path – and if they turn away (reject), then your duty is only to convey this command; and Allah is seeing the bondmen.

Ali Quli Qarai

If they argue with you, say, ‘I have submitted my will to Allah, and [so has] he who follows me.’ And say to those who were given the Book and the uninstructed ones, ‘Do you submit?’ If they submit, they will certainly be guided; but if they turn away, then your duty is only to communicate, and Allah watches His servants.

Ali Ünal

If they still remonstrate with you, say (to them, O Messenger): "I have submitted my whole being to God, and so have those who follow me." And ask those who were given the Book before, and the common folk who know nothing about the Book: "Have you also submitted (to God)?" If they have submitted, then they are indeed rightly guided; but if they turn away, then what rests with you is only to convey the Message fully. God sees the servants well.

Amatul Rahman Omar

But if they dispute with you say, `I have completely submitted myself to (the will and guidance of) Allâh and (so have) those who follow me.´ And say to those who had been given the Scripture and to the unlettered, `Have you also submitted yourselves?´ Indeed, they will be following true guidance if they submit themselves (to the will of God). But if they turn back then your responsibility is only to convey (the message). Allâh is Ever Watchful of His servants.

English Literal

So if they argued/quarreled with you so say: "I submitted/surrendered my face/front to God and who followed me." And say to those who were given The Book and the illiterates/belongers to a nation : "Did you submit/surrender?" So if they submitted/surrendered/became Moslem, so they had been guided, and if they turned, so but on you (is) the information/communication, and God (is) with the worshippers seeing/knowing .

Faridul Haque

Then if they argue with you, (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) say, “I have submitted my face (self) to Allah and likewise have my followers”; and say to the People given the Book(s) and the illiterate, “Have you submitted (accepted Islam)?” If they submit, they have attained the right path - and if they turn away (reject), then your duty is only to convey this command; and Allah is seeing the bondmen.

Hamid S. Aziz

And if they dispute with you, then say, "I have surrendered my whole self unto Allah, and so have those who follows me." And say to those who have been given the Book, and unto the unlearned (or unread or Gentiles), "Have ye, too, surrendered" and if they surrender, then are they truly guided. But if they turn their backs, then your duty is only to convey the message unto them. Allah is Seer of His servants.

Hilali & Khan

So if they dispute with you (Muhammad SAW) say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allah in Islam)?" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allah is All-Seer of (His) slaves.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Book differed only after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the messages of Allah -- Allah indeed is Quick at reckoning.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

But if they dispute with you, say: I have submitted myself entirely to Allah and (so) every one who follows me; and say to those who have been given the Book and the unlearned people: Do you submit yourselves? So if they submit then indeed they follow the right way; and if they turn back, then upon you is only the delivery of the message and Allah sees the servants.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), if the People of the Book argue against you, say, "I and those who follow me have submitted ourselves to God." Ask the People of the Book and the illiterate ones, "Have you embraced Islam?" If they embrace Islam, they will find guidance but if they turn away, your task is just to preach. God knows all about His servants.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If they argue with you, say: 'I have submitted my face to Allah and so have those who follow me' To those who have received the Book (Jews and Nazarenes) and to the ignorant, ask: 'Have you submitted yourselves to Allah' If they became Muslims they were guided, if they turn away, then your only duty is to warn them. Allah is watching over all His worshipers.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So if they dispute with you say: "I have submitted myself to Allah, and (so have) those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterate (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allah sees the servants.

Wahiduddin Khan

If they dispute with you, say, "I have submitted my whole being to God and so have those who follow me." And ask those who have been given the Book, as well as the unlettered, "Do you submit yourselves to God in the same way?" If they submit themselves to Him, they are on the right path; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the message. God is observant of all His servants.

Talal Itani

If they argue with you, say, “I have surrendered myself to God, and those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture, and to the unlearned, “Have you surrendered?” If they have surrendered, then they are guided; but if they turn away, then your duty is to convey. God is Seeing of the servants.

Tafsir jalalayn

So if they, the disbelievers, dispute with you, O Muhammad (s), concerning religion, say, to them; `I have surrendered my countenance to God, [that is to say] I have submitted to Him, I, and whoever follows me' (wajh, `countenance', is chosen here because of its noble character, for the other [parts of the body] will just as soon [surrender once the countenance has]); and say to those who have been given the Scripture, the Jews and the Christians, and to the uninstructed, the Arab idolaters; `Have you submitted?', that is to say, `Submit!' And so if they have submitted, they have been guided, from error, but if they turn their backs, to Islam, your duty is only to deliver, the Message; and God sees His servants, and so requites them for their deeds -- this [statement] was [revealed] before the command to fight [them] had been revealed.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَإنْ حَأجُّوكَ

So if they dispute with you (Muhammad),

so if they argue with you about Tawhid.

فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ

Say;"I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me."

meaning, Say, `I have made my worship sincere for Allah Alone without partners, rivals, offspring or companion,
وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ
(and those who follow me) who followed my religion and embraced my creed.'

In another Ayah, Allah said,

قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِى أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِى

Say (O Muhammad);"This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me..." (12;108)
Islam is the Religion of Mankind and the Prophet Was Sent to all Mankind

Allah commanded His servant and Messenger, Muhammad, to call the People of the Two Scriptures and the unlettered idolators to his religion, way, Law and all that Allah sent him with.

Allah said,

وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ وَالاُمِّيِّينَ أَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَغُ

And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans);"Do you (also) submit yourselves!" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message.

meaning, their reckoning is with Allah and their return and final destination is to Him. It is He Who guides whom He wills and allows whom He wills to stray, and He has the perfect wisdom and the unequivocal proof for all of this.

This is why Allah said,

وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ



And Allah sees the servants.

for He has perfect knowledge of who deserves to be guided and who does not deserve to be guided. Verily,
لَاا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ
(He cannot be questioned for what He does, while they will be questioned) (21;23) because of His perfect wisdom and mercy.

This and similar Ayat are clear proofs that the Message of Muhammad is universal to all creation, as it is well established in the religion, according to the various texts of the Book and Sunnah. For instance, Allah said,

قُلْ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا

Say (O Muhammad);"O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah." (7;158)

and,

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَـلَمِينَ نَذِيراً

Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion to His servant that he may be a warner to the Alamin (mankind and Jinn). (25;1)

The Two Sahihs and other collections of Hadith recorded that;

the Prophet sent letters to the kings of the earth during his time and to different peoples, Arabs and non-Arabs, People of the Book and the unlettered, just as Allah had commanded him.

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ma`mar said, that Hammam said that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَاا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الاْاُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَاا نَصْرَانِيٌّ وَمَاتَ وَلَمْ يُوْمِنْ بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ إِلاَّ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّار

By He in Whose Hand is my soul! No member of this Ummah, no Jew or Christian, hears of me but dies without believing in what I was sent with, but will be among the people of the Fire.

Muslim recorded this Hadith.

The Prophet said,

بُعِثْتُ إِلَى الاَْحْمَرِ وَالاَْسْوَد

I was sent to the red and black.

and,

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّة

A Prophet used to be sent to his people, but I was sent to all mankind.