Transliteration:( Wa qaalatil Yahoodu laisatin Nasaaraa 'alaa shai'inw-wa qaalatin Nasaaraaa laisatil Yahoodu 'alaa shai'inw'wa hum yatloonal Kitaab; kazaalika qaalal lazeena la ya'lamoona misla qawlihim; fallaahu yahkumu bainahum Yawmal Qiyaamati feemaa kaanoo feehi yakhtalifoon )
"The Yahud said: 'The Nasara have nothing (true) to stand on.' And the Nasara said: 'The Yahud have nothing to stand on,' although they recite the Scripture [225]. Thus, the illiterate speak the same words as them. But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they are disputing [227]."
On one occasion, the Nasara of Najraan and the Yahud of Madinah engaged in a heated debate in the presence of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
Each group claimed their religion was superior, while denying the truth of the other.
📖 In response to this argument, Allah revealed this verse, exposing their mutual contradiction and baseless superiority claims.
Although the Yahud read the Taurat and the Nasara read the Injeel—books that affirm the truth of Musa (AS) and Isa (AS) respectively—they still reject one another’s Prophets.
This verse highlights the inconsistency in their beliefs.
Allah is refuting their contradiction, for if they truly believed in their own Scriptures, they would also recognize the truth of each other's Prophets.
It should be remembered that Allah sent down punishment upon the Nasara and then upon the Yahud, because they rejected one another's Prophets.
However, Muslims accept and honor all Prophets sent by Allah.
By virtue of this belief, Muslims refute the exclusivist claims of the Nasara and the Yahud without falling into contradiction.
🛡️ Hence, there is a vast difference between the position of Muslims and that of previous communities, and this verse makes that clear and unambiguous.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 113 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 111 which provides the complete commentary from verse 111 through 113.
(2:113) The Jews say: “The Christians have no basis for their beliefs,” and the Christians say: “The Jews have no basis for their beliefs.” They say so even though they read the Scripture. The claim of those who have no knowledge (of the Scripture) is similar.[113] Allah will judge between them concerning their differences on the Day of Resurrection.
113. The reference is to the polytheists of Arabia.
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