Al-Qur'an Surah Ali 'Imran Verse 79

Mufti Taqi Usmani

It is not (possible) for a man that Allah gives him the Book, the wisdom and the prophethood, then he starts saying to the people “Become my worshippers, aside from Allah” rather, (he would say), “Be men of the Lord; as you have been teaching the Book, and as you have been learning it.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

It is not appropriate for someone who Allah has blessed with the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to say to people, “Worship me instead of Allah.” Rather, he would say, “Be devoted to the worship of your Lord ˹alone˺”—in accordance with what these prophets read in the Scripture and what they taught.

Ruwwad Translation Center

It is not for a human being whom Allah has given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to say to the people, “Be my worshipers instead of Allah.” Rather, he would say, “Be devoted servants of your Lord because of your teaching of the Scripture and because of your study thereof.”

A. J. Arberry

It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book, the Judgment, the Prophethood, then he should say to men, 'Be you servants to me apart from God.' Rather, 'Be you masters in that you know the Book, and in that you study.'

Abdul Haleem

No person to whom God had given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to people, ‘Be my servants, not God’s.’ [He would say], ‘You should be devoted to God because you have taught the Scripture and studied it closely.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

It is not Possible for a human being unto whom Allah hath vouchsafed the Book and Wisdom and prophethood that he should thereafter say unto men: be ye worshippers of me, beside Allah; but be ye faithful servants of the Lord, seeing that ye are wont to teach the Books and seeing that ye are wont to exercise yourselves therein.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the prophetic office, should say to people; "Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah's"; on the contrary (He would say) "Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all; For ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly."

Abul Ala Maududi

It does not befit a man that Allah should grant him His Book and sound judgement and prophet-hood, and thereafter he should say to men: 'Become servants to me apart from Allah.' He would rather say: 'Become dedicated men of Allah, in accord with the dictates of the Book you have been teaching and studying.'

Ahmed Ali

It is not for a mortal to whom God reveals the Book and the judgement and the prophethood to say to the people: "Be my votaries instead of God's," but (to say): "Become learned in divine law, by virtue of teaching and studying the Book."

Ahmed Raza Khan

It is not for any human to whom Allah has given the Book and wisdom and Prophethood, that he should afterwards say to the people, “Leave (the worship of) Allah and be my worshippers” – but he will surely say, “Be sincere worshippers of Allah, because you teach the Book and you preach from it.”

Ali Quli Qarai

It does not behoove any human that Allah should give him the Book, judgement and prophethood, and then he should say to the people, ‘Be my servants instead of Allah.’ Rather [he would say], ‘Be a godly people, because of your teaching the Book and because of your studying it.’

Ali Ünal

It is not (conceivable) that God should give a human being the Book, authority with sound, wise judgment, and Prophethood, and then he should say to people: "Be servants to me, apart from God." Rather (he would say): "Be pure, dedicated servants of the Lord in that you teach the Book and in that you study it."

Amatul Rahman Omar

It is not given to a human being that Allâh should give him the Book, the sovereignty and the prophethood and then he should say to the people, `Be servants to me beside Allâh.´ He would rather say, `Be you the sole devotees of (Allâh) the Lord, for you teach the Book and because you study (it).´

English Literal

It was not to a human that God gives him The Book and the judgment/rule and the prophethood then he says to the people: "Be/become worshippers/slaves to me, from other than God". And but: "Be knowledgeable Lord worshippers with what you were teaching The Book and with what you were studying ".

Faridul Haque

It is not for any human to whom Allah has given the Book and wisdom and Prophethood, that he should afterwards say to the people, “Leave (the worship of) Allah and be my worshippers” - but he will surely say, “Be sincere worshippers of Allah, because you teach the Book and you preach from it.”

Hamid S. Aziz

He does not command you to take the angels and the prophets for your Lords; would He bid you faithlessness after you have surrendered?

Hilali & Khan

It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukma (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion, etc.) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah's." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyun (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And there is certainly a party of them who lie about the Book that you may consider it to be (a part) of the Book while it is not (a part) of the Book; and they say, It is from Allah, while it is not from Allah; and they forge a lie against Allah whilst they know.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

It is not meet for a mortal that Allah should give him the Book and the wisdom and prophethood, then he should say to men: Be my servants rather than Allah's; but rather (he would say): Be worshippers of the Lord because of your teaching the Book and your reading (it yourselves).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom and the prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah; but (what he said was): Be ye faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant study thereof.

Muhammad Sarwar

God would never give the Book, authority, or prophesy to any person who would tell others to be his servants instead of being the servants of God. He would rather tell them to worship God for they had been teaching and studying the Book.

Qaribullah & Darwish

No human to whom Allah has given the (Holy) Book, Judgement and Prophethood would say to the people: 'Be worshipers of me, other than Allah' But rather, 'Be of the Lord, for that you teach the Book, and in that you have studied'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukm and prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah's." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyyun, because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."

Wahiduddin Khan

No one to whom God has given the Scriptures and on whom He has bestowed wisdom and prophethood would say to men, "Worship me instead of God." [He would say rather], "Be devoted servants of God, for you have taught and studied the Scriptures."

Talal Itani

No person to whom God has given the Scripture, and wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to the people, “Be my worshipers rather than God’s.” Rather, “Be people of the Lord, according to the Scripture you teach, and the teachings you learn.”

Tafsir jalalayn

When the Christians of Najrn claimed that Jesus had commanded them to take him as a Divinity, and some Muslims asked that they should be permitted to prostrate themselves before him, the Prophet (s), the following was revealed; It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book, the Judgement, the understanding of the Divine Law, prophethood, then that he should say to men, `Be servants to me instead of God.' Rather, he should say, `Be masters, scholars, labouring (rabbniyyn, `those of the Lord', is derived from rabb, `lord', with the extra alif and nn, as a superlative [of rabbiyyn]), by virtue of what you know (ta`lamn, also read as tu`allimn, `you teach') of the Book and in what you study', that is, on account of the fact that you used to do this, for its benefit is that you engage in action.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

No Prophet Ever Called People to Worship him or to Worship Other Than Allah

Allah says;

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُوْتِيَهُ اللّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُواْ عِبَادًا لِّي مِن دُونِ اللّهِ

It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukm and Prophethood to say to the people;"Be my worshippers rather than Allah's."

This Ayah means, it is not for a person whom Allah has given the Book, knowledge in the Law and Prophethood to proclaim to the people, "Worship me instead of Allah," meaning, along with Allah. If this is not the right of a Prophet or a Messenger, then indeed, it is not the right of anyone else to issue such a claim.

This criticism refers to the ignorant rabbis, priests and teachers of misguidance, unlike the Messengers and their sincere knowledgeable followers who implement their knowledge; for they only command what Allah commands them, as their honorable Messengers conveyed to them. They also forbid what Allah forbade for them, by the words of His honorable Messengers. The Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on all of them, are the emissaries between Allah and His creation, conveying Allah's Message and Trust. The messengers indeed fulfilled their mission, gave sincere advice to creation and conveyed the truth to them.

Allah's statement,

وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ



On the contrary (he would say), "Be you Rabbaniyyun, because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."

means, the Messenger recommends the people to be Rabbaniyyun.

Ibn Abbas, Abu Razin and several others said that;
Rabbaniyyun means, "Wise, learned, and forbearing."

Ad-Dahhak commented concerning Allah's statement,
بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
(because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it).

"Whoever learns the Qur'an deserves to become a Faqih (learned)."

وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
(and you are studying it),

preserving its words.

Allah then said