70 People of the Book, why do you deny God’s revelations when you can see they are true? 71 People of the Book, why do you mix truth with falsehood? Why do you hide the truth when you recognize it? 72 Some of the People of the Book say, ‘At the beginning of the day, believe in what has been revealed to these believers [the Muslims], then at the end of the day reject it, so that they too may turn back, 73 but do not sincerely believe in anyone unless he follows your own religion’– [Prophet], tell them, ‘True guidance is the guidance of God’– [they say], ‘Do not believe that anyone else could be given a revelation similar to what you were given, or that they could use it to argue against you in your Lord’s presence.’ [Prophet], tell them, ‘All grace is in God’s hands: He grants it to whoever He will– He is all embracing, all knowing– 74 and He singles out for His mercy whoever He will. His grace is infinite.’
75 There are People of the Book who, if you [Prophet] entrust them with a heap of gold, will return it to you intact, but there are others of them who, if you entrust them with a single dinar, will not return it to you unless you keep standing over them, because they say, ‘We are under no obligation towards the gentiles.’ They tell a lie against God and they know it. 76 No indeed! God loves those who keep their pledges and are mindful of Him, 77 but those who sell out God’s covenant and their own oaths for a small price will have no share in the life to come. God will neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection– He will not cleanse them [of their sins]– agonizing torment awaits them. 78 There are some who twist the Scripture with their tongues to make you [people] think that what they say is part of the Scripture when it is not; they say it is from God when it is not; they attribute lies to God and they know it.
79 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.’ 80 He would never command you to take angels and prophets as lords. How could he command you to be disbelievers after you had devoted yourselves to God?
A Reminder
81 God took a pledge from the prophets, saying, ‘If, after I have bestowed Scripture and wisdom upon you, a messenger comes confirming what you have been given, you must believe in him and support him. Do you affirm this and accept My pledge as binding on you?’ They said, ‘We do.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness and I too will bear witness.’ 82 Those who turn away after this are the ones who break pledges. 83 Do they seek anything other than submission to God? Everyone in the heavens and earth submits to Him, willingly or unwillingly; they will all be returned to Him.
84 Say [Muhammad], ‘We [Muslims] believe in God and in what has been sent down to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes. We believe in what has been given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make a distinction between any of the [prophets]. It is to Him that we devote ourselves.’ 85 If anyone seeks a religion other than complete devotion to God, it will not be accepted from him: he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter. 86 Why would God guide people who deny the truth, after they have believed and acknowledged that the Messenger is true, and after they have been shown clear proof? God does not guide evildoers: 87 such people will be rewarded with rejection by God, by the angels, by all people, 88 and so they will remain, with no relief or respite for their suffering. 89 Not so those who afterwards repent and mend their ways– God is most forgiving and merciful– 90 [although] the repentance of those who, having believed, then increase in their disbelief, will not be accepted. They are the ones who have gone [far] astray: 91 those who disbelieve and die disbelievers will not be saved even if they offer enough gold to fill the entire earth. Agonizing torment is in store for them, and there will be no one to help them. 92 None of you [believers] will attain true piety unless you give out of what you cherish: whatever you give, God knows about it very well.
God Knows Everything
93 Except for what Israel made unlawful for himself, all food was lawful to the Children of Israel before the Torah was revealed. [a] Say, ‘Bring the Torah and read out [the relevant passage] if you are telling the truth. 94 Those who persist in making up lies and attributing them to God after this are the wrongdoers.’ 95 [Prophet], say, ‘God speaks the truth, so follow Abraham’s religion: he had true faith and he was never an idolater.’ 96 The first House [of worship] to be established for people was the one at Mecca. [b] It is a blessed place; a source of guidance for all people; 97 there are clear signs in it; it is the place where Abraham stood to pray; whoever enters it is safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it. Those who reject this [should know that] God has no need of anyone. 98 Say, ‘People of the Book, why do you reject God’s revelations? God witnesses everything you do.’ 99 Say, ‘People of the Book, why do you turn the believers away from God’s path and try to make it crooked, when you yourselves [should be] witnesses to the [truth]? God is not heedless of anything you do.’
100 You who believe, some of those who were given the Scripture would turn you into disbelievers if you were to yield to them. 101 How can you disbelieve when God’s revelations are being recited to you and His Messenger is living among you? Whoever holds fast to God will be guided to the straight path.
Footnotes
a. The commentators explain that Israel/Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) vowed to give up camel flesh and camel milk if he were relieved of his sciatica, and the Jews in Medina argued with Muhammad: ‘You claim to be following the religion of Abraham. If this were so you would not be eating camel meat and drinking its milk, as these are forbidden in Abraham’s religion.’ This verse answers this argument (Razi).
b. The original reads Bakka, which was an old name for Mecca.
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an / a new translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, copyright © 2004 Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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