Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ma'idah Verse 19

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O people of the Book, Our Messenger has come to you making things clear to you after a gap between Messengers, lest you were to say, “There has not come to us a bearer of good news, and a warner.” So, now there has come to you a bearer of good news, and a warner. Allah is powerful over everything.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O People of the Book! Our Messenger has indeed come to you, making things clear to you after an interval between the messengers so you do not say, “There has never come to us a deliverer of good news or a warner.” Now there has come to you a deliverer of good news and a warner. And Allah is Most Capable of everything.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O People of the Book, there has come to you Our Messenger, making things clear to you, after an interval between the messengers, so you do not say, “No bearer of glad tidings or a warner has ever come to us.” Now there has come to you a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And Allah is Most Capable of all things.

A. J. Arberry

People of the Book, now there has come to you Our Messenger, making things clear to you, upon an interval between the Messengers lest you should say, 'There has not come to us any bearer of good tidings, neither any warner. Indeed, there has come to you a bearer of good tidings and a warner; God is powerful over everything.

Abdul Haleem

People of the Book, Our Messenger comes to you now, after a break in the sequence of messengers, to make things clear for you in case you should say, ‘No one has come to give us good news or to warn us.’ So someone has come to you, to give you good news and warn you: God has the power to do all things.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O people of the Book! surely there hath come unto you Our apostle, after a cessation of the apostles, expounding unto you, lest ye may say: there came not unto us a bearer of glad tidings nor a warner. So now there surely hath come unto you a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and Allah is over everything Potent.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O People of the Book! Now hath come unto you, making (things) clear unto you, Our Messenger, after the break in (the series of) our messengers, lest ye should say; "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner (from evil)"; But now hath come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (from evil). And Allah hath power over all things.

Abul Ala Maududi

People of the Book! After a long interlude during which no Messengers have appeared there has come to you Our Messenger to elucidate the teaching of the true faith lest you say: 'No bearer of glad tidings and no warner has come to us.' For now there indeed has come to you a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, Allah is All-Power-ful.

Ahmed Ali

O you people of the Book, Our Apostle has come to you when apostles had ceased to come long ago, lest you said: "There did not come to us any messenger of good news or of warnings." So now there has reached you a bearer of good tidings and of warnings; for God has the power over all things.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O People given the Book(s)! Indeed this Noble Messenger (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) of Ours has come to you, revealing to you Our commands, after the Noble Messengers had stopped arriving for ages, for you might claim, “Never did any Harbinger of Glad Tidings or Herald of Warning come to us” – so this Harbinger of Glad Tidings and Herald of Warning has come to you; and Allah is Able to do all things.

Ali Quli Qarai

O People of the Book! Certainly Our Apostle has come to you, clarifying [the Divine teachings] for you after a gap in [the appearance of] the apostles, lest you should say, ‘There did not come to us any bearer of good news nor any warner.’ Certainly, there has come to you a bearer of good news and a warner. And Allah has power over all things.

Ali Ünal

O People of the Book! Now, after a long interlude during which no Messengers have appeared, there has indeed come to you Our Messenger, making the whole truth clear to you, lest you should say, "There has not come to us any bearer of good tidings, nor any warner." Indeed, there has come to you a bearer of good tidings and a warner. And God has full power over everything.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O people of the Scripture! there has already come to you Our Messenger who makes things clear to you after a break in the series of Messengers lest you should say, `There has not come to us any Bearer of good tidings, nor a Warner.´ Now there has, indeed, come to you a Bearer of good tidings and a Warner. And Allâh is the Possessor of full power to do all that He will.

English Literal

You The Book`s people, a messenger had come to you, he clarifies/shows to you, on an intermission from the messengers, that you say: "From (an) announcer of good news did not come to us, and nor a warner/giver of notice." So (an) announcer and a warner/giver of notice had come to you, and God was/is on every thing capable/able.

Faridul Haque

O People given the Book(s)! Indeed this Noble Messenger (Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) of Ours has come to you, revealing to you Our commands, after the Noble Messengers had stopped arriving for ages, for you might claim, “Never did any Harbinger of Glad Tidings or Herald of Warning come to us” - so this Harbinger of Glad Tidings and Herald of Warning has come to you; and Allah is Able to do all things.

Hamid S. Aziz

Remember when Moses said to his people, "O my people! Remember the favour of Allah towards you when He made amongst you prophets, and made for you kings, and brought you what was never given to anyone else in the world.

Hilali & Khan

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad SAW) making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers, lest you say: "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner." But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And Allah is Able to do all things.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And the Jews and the Christians say: We are the sons of Allah and His beloved ones. Say: Why does He then chastise you for your sins? Nay, you are mortals from among those whom He has created. He forgives whom He pleases and chastises whom He pleases. And Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and to Him is the eventual coming.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O followers of the Book! indeed Our Apostle has come to you explaining to you after a cessation of the (mission of the) apostles, lest you say: There came not to us a giver of good news or a warner, so indeed there has come to you a giver of good news and a warner; and Allah has power over all things.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you to make things plain unto you after an interval (of cessation) of the messengers, lest ye should say: There came not unto us a messenger of cheer nor any warner. Now hath a messenger of cheer and a warner come unto you. Allah is Able to do all things.

Muhammad Sarwar

People of the Book, Our Messenger has come to you to guide you at a time when none of Our other Messengers are living among you. (We sent him) so that you will not complain about having no one to tell you of what is good or warn you of what is bad. Now a bearer of good news has come to you. God has power over all things.

Qaribullah & Darwish

People of the Book! After an interval during which there were no Messengers, Our Messenger (Muhammad) has come to clarify (your religion) to you, lest you should say: 'No bearer of glad tidings or a warner has come to us' Indeed, there has come to you a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. Allah has power over all things.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers, lest you say: "There came to us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner." But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And Allah is able to do all things.

Wahiduddin Khan

People of the Book, Our Messenger has come to you to make things clear to you after an interval between the messengers, lest you say, "No bearer of glad tidings and no warner has come to us." So a bearer of glad tidings and a warner has indeed come to you. God has the power to do all things.

Talal Itani

O People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making things clear to you—after a cessation of messengers—so that you cannot say, “No preacher has come to us, and no warner.” In fact, a preacher has come to you, and a warner; and God is Capable of everything.

Tafsir jalalayn

O People of the Scripture, there has verily come to you Our Messenger, Muhammad (s), making clear to you, the laws of religion, after an interval between the messengers, for there was no messenger between him and Jesus, an interval of 569 years; lest you should say, if you are punished; `There has not come to us any bearer of good tidings (min bashr, the min is extra) nor any warner'. Indeed, there has come to you a bearer of good tidings and a warner, and so you shall have no excuse. God has power over all things, including punishing you for not following him [the Messenger].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ

O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers,

Allah is addressing the People of the Book -- the Jews and the Christians, saying that He has sent His Messenger Muhammad to them, the Final Prophet, after whom there will be no Prophet or Messenger. Rather, He is the Final Messenger who came after a long time passed between him and `Isa, son of Maryam peace be upon them.

There is a difference of opinion about the length of time between `Isa and Muhammad.

Abu Uthman An-Nahdi and Qatadah were reported to have said that;

this period was six hundred years.

Al-Bukhari also recorded this opinion from Salman Al-Farisi.

Qatadah said that;

this period was five hundred and sixty years,

Ma`mar said;

that it is five hundred and forty years.

Some said that this period is six hundred and twenty years.

There is no contradiction here if we consider the fact that those who said that this period was six hundred years were talking about solar years, while the second refers to lunar years, since there is a difference of about three years between every one hundred lunar and solar years. As in Allah's statement,
وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَثَ مِايَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا
(And they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, adding nine.) (18;25) meaning, nine more lunar years to substitute for the difference between lunar and solar years, thus agreeing with the three hundred years that the People of the Book knew about.

We should assert again that the time period we mentioned here was between `Isa, the last Prophet to the Children of Israel, and Muhammad, the Last Prophet and Messenger among the children of Adam.

In the Sahih collected by Al-Bukhari, Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِابْنِ مَرْيَمَ لَاَنَا لَيْسَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ نَبِي

I, among all people, have the most right to the son of Maryam, for there was no Prophet between Him and I.

This Hadith refutes the opinion of Al-Qudai and others, that there was a Prophet after `Isa called Khalid bin Sinan.

Allah sent Muhammad after a period of time during which there was no Prophet, clear path, or unchanged religions. Idol worshipping, fire worshipping and cross worshipping flourished during this time. Therefore, the bounty of sending Muhammad was the perfect bounty at a time when he was needed the most.

Evil had filled the earth by then, and tyranny and ignorance had touched all the servants, except a few of those who remained loyal to the true teachings of previous Prophets, such as some Jewish rabbis, Christian priests and Sabian monks.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Iyad bin Himar Al-Mujashi said that the Prophet gave a speech one day and said,

وَإِنَّ رَبِّي أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُعَلِّمَكُمْ مَا جَهِلْتُمْ مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي فِي يَوْمِي هَذَا

My Lord has commanded me to teach you what you have no knowledge of and of which He taught me this day,

كُلُّ مَالٍ نَحَلْتُهُ عِبَادِي حَلَلٌ

`All the wealth that I gave to My servants is permissible.

وَإِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ كُلَّهُمْ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ أَتَتْهُمْ فَأَضَلَّتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ وَحَرَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا أَحْلَلْتُ لَهُمْ وَأَمَرَتْهُمْ أَنْ يُشْرِكُوا بِي مَا لَمْ أُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا

I created all My servants Hunafa (monotheists). But, the devils came to them and deviated them from their religion, prohibited for them what I allowed and commanded them to associate others with Me (in worship), which I gave no permission for.'

ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَظَرَ إِلى أَهْلِ الاَْرْضِ فَمقَتَهُمْ عَرَبَهُمْ وعَجَمَهُمْ إِلاَّ بَقَايَا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ

Then Allah looked at the people of the earth and disliked them all, the Arabs and non-Arabs among them, except a few from among the Children of Israel.

وقَالَ إِنَّمَا بَعَثْتُكَ لاَِبْتَلِيَكَ وَأَبْتَلِيَ بِكَ

Allah said (to me), `I only sent you to test you and to test with you.

وَأَنْزَلْتُ عَلَيْكَ كِتَابًا لَاأ يَغْسِلُهُ الْمَاءُ تَقْرَأُهُ نَايِمًا وَيَقْظَانَ

I sent to you a Book that cannot be washed by water (it is eternal), and you will read it while asleep and while awake.'

ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُحَرِّقَ قُرَيْشًا فَقُلْتُ يَارَبِّ إِذَنْ يَثْلَغُوا رَأْسِي فَيَدَعُوهُ خُبْزَةً

Allah has also Commanded me to burn (destroy) Quraysh. So I said, `O Lord! They will smash my head and leave it like a piece of bread.'

فَقَالَ اسْتَخْرِجْهُمْ كَمَا اسْتَخْرَجُوكَ واغْزُهُمْ نُغْزِكَ

He said, `I will drive them out as they drove you out, and when you invade them We will help you.

وَأَنْفِقْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَسَنُنْفِقَ عَلَيْكَ وَابْعَثْ جَيْشًا نَبْعَثْ خَمْسًا أَمْثَالَهُ

Spend on them (your companions) and We will spend on you, send an army and We will send five armies like it (in its support).

وَقَاتِلْ بِمَنْ أَطَاعَكَ مَنْ عَصَاكَ

Fight with those who obey you, against those who disobey you.

وَأَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ ثَلَأثَةٌ

And the inhabitants of Paradise are three;

ذوُ سُلْطانٍ مُقْسِطٌ مُوَفَّقٌ مُتَصَدِّقٌ

وَرَجُلٌ رَحِيمٌ رَقِيقُ الْقَلْبِ بِكُلِّ ذِي قُرْبَى وَمُسْلِمٍ

وَرَجُلٌ عَفِيفٌ فَقِيرٌ ذُو عِيَالٍ مُتَصَدِّقٌ

a just, prosperous, and charitable ruler;

A merciful man who has a kind heart toward every relative and every Muslim;

a forgiving, poor man with dependants (who is charitable).

وَأَهْلُ النَّارِ خَمْسَةٌ

And the inhabitants of the Fire are five;

الضَّعِيفُ الَّذي لَا دِينَ لَهُ

وَالَّذِين هُمْ فِيكُمْ تَبَعٌ أَوْ تَبَعًا شَكَّ يَحْيى لَاا يَبْتَغُون أَهْلًا وَلَاا مَالاًا

وَالْخَايِنُ الَّذِي لَاا يَخْفَى لَهُ طَمَعٌ وَإِنْ دَقَّ إِلاَّ خَانَهُ

وَرَجُلٌ لَا يُصْبِحُ وَلَا يُمْسِي إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يُخَادِعُكَ عَنْ أَهْلِكَ وَمَالِكَ

وَذَكَرَ الْبَخِيلَ أَوِ الْكَذَّابَ وَالشِّنْظِيرَ الفَاحِش

the weak one with no religion;

those who follow after you not for family reasons nor wealth;

and the treacherous who does not hide his treachery, acting treacherous in even the most insignificant matters;

and a person who comes every morning and every evening, is cheating your family or your wealth.'

And he mentioned the stingy, or the liar, and the foulmouthed person."

Therefore, the Hadith states that Allah looked at the people of the earth and disliked them all, both the Arabs and non-Arabs among them, except a few among the Children of Israel, or a few among the People of the Book as Muslim recorded. The religion was distorted and changed for the people of the earth until Allah sent Muhammad , and Allah, thus, guided the creatures and took them away from the darkness to the light and placed them on a clear path and a glorious Law.

Allah said,

أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا جَاءنَا مِن بَشِيرٍ وَلَا نَذِيرٍ

lest you say, "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner."

meaning, so that you, who changed the true religion, do not make it an excuse and say, "No Messenger came to us bringing glad tidings and warning against evil."

فَقَدْ جَاءكُم بَشِيرٌ وَنَذِيرٌ

But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner.

There has come to you a bringer of good news and a warner, Muhammad.

وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ



And Allah is able to do all things.

Ibn Jarir said this part of the Ayah means,

"I am able to punish those who disobey Me and to reward those who obey Me.