Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 160

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, because of the transgression of those who became Jews, We prohibited for them good things which were made lawful for them earlier and for their preventing (people), very often, from the way of Allah,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We forbade the Jews certain foods that had been lawful to them for their wrongdoing, and for hindering many from the Way of Allah,

Ruwwad Translation Center

For the wrongdoing of the Jews, We prohibited for them good things that were lawful for them; and for their frequent hindering many from the way of Allah,

A. J. Arberry

And for the evildoing of those of Jewry, We have forbidden them certain good things that were permitted to them, and for their barring from God's way many,

Abdul Haleem

For the wrongdoings done by the Jews, We forbade them certain good things that had been permitted to them before: for having frequently debarred others from God’s path;

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Wherefore because of the wrongdoing on the part of those who are Judaised We forbade unto them the clean things that had been allowed unto them, and also because of their keeping away many from Allah's way;

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them;- in that they hindered many from Allah's Way;-

Abul Ala Maududi

Thus, We forbade them many clean things which had earlier been made lawful for them, for the wrong-doing of those who became Jews, for their barring many from the way of Allah,

Ahmed Ali

Because of the wickedness of some among the Jews, and because they obstructed people from the way of God, We forbade them many things which were lawful for them;

Ahmed Raza Khan

So due to the great injustices committed by the Jews, We forbade them some of the good things which were earlier lawful for them, and because they prevented many people from Allah’s way.

Ali Quli Qarai

Due to the wrongdoing of the Jews, We prohibited them certain good things that were permitted to them [earlier], and for their barring many [people] from the way of Allah,

Ali Ünal

So, because of the wrong committed by the Jews We made unlawful for them many pure, wholesome things which had (hitherto) been lawful for them, and because of their barring many from God’s way;

Amatul Rahman Omar

Then (by way of punishing them) on account of the transgression of those who judaised, We made unlawful to them certain of the good and pure things which had been allowed to them before, and that too on account of their causing hindrances to many (people, and their own staying away) from Allâh´s way;

English Literal

So with injustice from those who (were) guided/Jews, We forbade/prohibited on them goodnesses (that) were (previously) permitted for them, and with their much prevention/obstruction from God`s way/path.

Faridul Haque

So due to the great injustices committed by the Jews, We forbade them some of the good things which were earlier lawful for them, and because they prevented many people from Allah’s way.

Hamid S. Aziz

But those amongst them who are firm in knowledge, and the faithful who believe in what is revealed to you , and what was revealed before you, and especially the steadfast in prayer, the givers of alms, the believers in Allah and the Last Day, unto these We will give a mighty reward.

Hilali & Khan

For the wrong-doing of the Jews, We made unlawful to them certain good foods which has been lawful to them, and for their hindering many from Allah's Way;

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And there is none of the People of the Book but will believe in this before his death; and on the day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Wherefore for the iniquity of those who are Jews did We disallow to them the good things which had been made lawful for them and for their hindering many (people) from Allah's way.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them good things which were (before) made lawful unto them, and because of their much hindering from Allah's way,

Muhammad Sarwar

We made unlawful for the Jews certain pure things which had been lawful for them before, because of the injustice which they had committed, their obstructing many people from the way of God,

Qaribullah & Darwish

And for the harmdoing of those of Jewry, We have forbidden them the good things that were permitted to them, and also for their barring many from the way of Allah.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

For the wrongdoing of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good foods which had been lawful for themـand for their hindering many from Allah's way;

Wahiduddin Khan

Because of the wrongdoings of the Jews, We forbade them certain good things that had been allowed to them before; for having frequently debarred others from God's path;

Talal Itani

Due to wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We forbade them good things that used to be lawful for them; and for deterring many from God’s path.

Tafsir jalalayn

And because of the evildoing (fa-bi-zulmin is [to be understood as] fa-bi-sababi zulmin, `and for the reason of the evildoing') of some of those of Jewry, the Jews, We have forbidden them certain good things that were lawful for them, those things [mentioned] where God says [And to those of Jewry] We have forbidden every beast with claws [Q. 6;146]; and because of their barring, of people, from God's way, [from] His religion, many, a time.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Some Foods Were Made Unlawful for the Jews Because of their Injustice and Wrongdoing

Allah says;

فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَاتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ

وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ كَثِيرًا



For the wrongdoing of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good foods which had been lawful for them ـ and for their hindering many from Allah's way;

Allah states that because of the injustice and transgression of the Jews, demonstrated by committing major sins, He prohibited some of the lawful, pure things which were previously allowed for them.

This prohibition could be only that of decree, meaning that Allah allowed the Jews to falsely interpret their Book and change and alter the information about what was allowed for them. They thus, out of exaggeration and extremism in the religion, prohibited some things for themselves.

It could also mean that in the Tawrah, Allah prohibited things that were allowed for them before.

Allah said,

كُلُّ الطَّعَامِ كَانَ حِـلًّ لِّبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ إِلاَّ مَا حَرَّمَ إِسْرَءِيلُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوْرَاةُ

All food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israil made unlawful for himself before the Tawrah was revealed. (3;93)

We mentioned this Ayah before, which means that all types of food were allowed for the Children of Israel before the Tawrah was revealed, except the camel's meat and milk that Israil prohibited for himself. Later, Allah prohibited many things in the Tawrah. Allah said in Surah Al-An`am (chapter 6),

وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ حَرَّمْنَا كُلَّ ذِى ظُفُرٍ وَمِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَالْغَنَمِ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ شُحُومَهُمَأ إِلاَّ مَا حَمَلَتْ ظُهُورُهُمَأ أَوِ الْحَوَايَأ أَوْ مَا اخْتَلَطَ بِعَظْمٍ ذَلِكَ جَزَيْنَـهُم بِبَغْيِهِمْ وِإِنَّا لَصَـدِقُونَ

And unto those who are Jews, We forbade every (animal) with undivided hoof, and We forbade them the fat of the ox and the sheep except what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone. Thus We recompensed them for their rebellion. And verily, We are Truthful. (6;146)

This means, We prohibited these things for them because they deserved it due to their transgression, injustice, defying their Messenger and disputing with him.

So Allah said;

فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَاتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ

وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ كَثِيرًا


For the wrongdoing of the Jews, We made unlawful to them certain good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their hindering many from Allah's way.

This Ayah states that they hindered themselves and others from following the truth, and this is the behavior that they brought from the past to the present.

This is why they were and still are the enemies of the Messengers, killing many of the Prophets. They also denied Muhammad and `Isa, peace be upon them.

Allah said