Al-Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surely, those who reject the verses of Allah and slay the prophets unjustly, and slay those of the people who bid justice, give them ‘the good news’ of a painful punishment.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Indeed, those who deny Allah’s signs, kill the prophets unjustly, and kill people who stand up for justice—give them good news of a painful punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Those who reject the verses of Allah, kill the prophets unjustly, and kill those who enjoin justice among people; so give them tidings of a painful punishment.

A. J. Arberry

Those who disbelieve in the signs of God and slay the Prophets without right, and slay such men as bid to justice -- do thou give them the good tidings of a painful chastisement;

Abdul Haleem

Give news of agonizing torment to those who ignore God’s revelations, who unjustifiably kill prophets, who kill those who command that justice is done:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah and slay the prophets without justice and slay those among men who command equity thou unto them a torment afflictive.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As to those who deny the Signs of Allah and in defiance of right, slay the prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty.

Abul Ala Maududi

Give those who refuse to follow the directives of Allah, who slay the Prophets unjustly, and who slay those who enjoin justice, give them glad tidings of a grievous chastisement.

Ahmed Ali

To those who deny the signs of God, and slay the apostles unjustly, and slay the upholders of justice, give news of painful punishment.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah, and wrongfully martyr the Prophets, and slay people who enjoin justice – so give them the glad tidings of a painful punishment.

Ali Quli Qarai

Those who deny Allah’s signs and kill the prophets unjustly and kill those who call for justice from among the people, inform them of a painful punishment.

Ali Ünal

Those who disbelieve in the Revelations of God, and frequently kill the Prophets (sent to them) against all right, and who kill those who advocate and try to establish equity and justice – give them the glad tidings of a painful punishment.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Surely, those who deny the Messages of Allâh and seek to kill the Prophets without a just cause and slay those among the people who enjoin equity and justice, announce to them a grievous punishment.

English Literal

That those who disbelieve with God`s signs/verses , and kill the prophets, without right , and they kill those who order/command with the just/equitable from the people, so announce good news to them with a painful torture.

Faridul Haque

Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah, and wrongfully martyr the Prophets, and slay people who enjoin justice - so give them the glad tidings of a painful punishment.

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah´s revelations, and kill the prophets wrongfully, and kill those from among mankind who bid what is just, promise them a grievous woe!

Hilali & Khan

Verily! Those who disbelieve in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah and kill the Prophets without right, and kill those men who order just dealings,announce to them a painful torment.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

But if they dispute with thee say: I submit myself entirely to Allah and (so does) he who follows me. And say to those who have been given the Book and the Unlearned (people): Do you submit yourselves? If they submit, then indeed they following the right way; and if they turn back, thy duty is only to deliver the message. And Allah is Seer of the servants.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely (as for) those who disbelieve in the communications of Allah and slay the prophets unjustly and slay those among men who enjoin justice, announce to them a painful chastisement.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slay the prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin equity: promise them a painful doom.

Muhammad Sarwar

Warn those who deny the revelations of God and unjustly slay the Prophets and those who call people to be just, that they will suffer a painful torment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Those who disbelieve the verses of Allah and slay the Prophets unjustly, and slay those who bid to justice give them the glad tidings of a painful punishment!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Verily, those who disbelieve in the Ayat of Allah and kill the Prophets without right, and kill those men who order just dealings, then announce to them a painful torment.

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who deny God's signs and kill the prophets unjustly and kill those who enjoin justice, give them warning of a woeful punishment,

Talal Itani

As for those who defy God’s revelations, and kill the prophets unjustly, and kill those who advocate justice among the people—promise them a painful retribution.

Tafsir jalalayn

Those who disbelieve in the signs of God and slay (yaqtulna, is also read as yuqtilna, `they fight against') the prophets without right, and slay those who enjoin to equity, to justice, and these are the Jews, who are reported to have killed forty�three prophets and to have been forbidden this by a hundred and seventy devout worshippers among them, each of whom was killed immediately. So give them good tidings, let them know, of a painful chastisement. The use of `good tidings' here is meant as a sarcastic ridicule of them (the f' [of fa-bashshirhum, so give them good tidings] is considered part of the predicate of inna because its noun, that is, its relative clause, resembles a conditional [sc. in yakfurna, `if they disbelieve...', fa- bashshirhum, `then, give them good tidings...']).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Chastising the Jews for Their Disbelief and for Killing the Prophets and Righteous People

Allah says;

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِأيَاتِ اللّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ

Verily, those who disbelieve in the Ayat of Allah and kill the Prophets without right,

This Ayah chastises the People of the Book for the transgression and prohibitions they committed by their denials in the past and more recent times, of Allah's Ayat and the Messengers.

They did this due to their defiance and rejection of the Messengers, denial of the truth and refusal to follow it. They also killed many Prophets when they conveyed to them what Allah legislated for them, without cause or criminal behavior committed by these Prophets, for they only called them to the truth.

وَيَقْتُلُونَ الِّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ

And kill those men who order just dealings,

thus, demonstrating the worst type of arrogance.

Indeed, the Prophet said,

الْكِبْرُ بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاس
Kibr (arrogance) is refusing the truth and degrading people.

This is why when they rejected the truth and acted arrogantly towards the creation, Allah punished them with humiliation and disgrace in this life, and humiliating torment in the Hereafter.

Allah said,

فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ



then announce to them a painful torment.

meaning, painful and humiliating.

أُولَـيِكَ الَّذِينَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ