Transliteration:( Summa antum haaa'ulaaa'i taqtuloona anfusakum wa tukhrijoona fareeqam minkum min diyaarihim tazaaharoona 'alaihim bil ismi wal'udwaani wa iny yaatookum usaaraa tufaadoohum wahuwa muharramun 'alaikum ikhraajuhum; afatu' mi-noona biba'dil Kitaabi wa takfuroona biba'd; famaa jazaaa'u mai yaf'alu zaalika minkum illaa khizyun fil hayaatid-dunyaa wa yawmal qiyaamati yuraddoona ilaaa ashaddil 'azaab; wa mal laahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon )
"Then, you are those who kill one another and expel a group of your people from their homes, assisting each other in sin and transgression [156]. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although it is forbidden for you to expel them. So do you believe in part of the Scripture [157] and disbelieve in part of it? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you, except disgrace [158] in the worldly life, and on the Day of Resurrection, they will be returned to the severest punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. [159]"
The Tauraat had clearly forbidden banishment, and at the same time, made freeing captives obligatory.
Yet the Israelites did both—they banished their own tribes and later tried to ransom the captives.
This double standard is rebuked here: if you believe in your scripture, then why not follow it in its entirety?
It is incumbent upon every believer to follow all laws of Shariah.
No one is exempt, unless explicitly excused by the Shariah—such as a poor person from Zakaat, or a menstruating woman from Salah.
To believe in part of the scripture while rejecting the rest is considered hypocrisy and disbelief, and leads to severe consequences.
This verse confirms multiple critical realities:
Everything prophesied in the Qur’an is absolutely true. For instance, the Banu Quraiza were executed, and the Banu Nadeer were banished, fulfilling Qur’anic prophecy and bringing disgrace to the Yahud.
Sins can bring worldly calamities—poverty, humiliation, conflict, etc.
For non-believers, such calamities do not absolve sins; they will face greater punishment in the Hereafter.
But for believers, worldly misfortunes may be a mercy and a means of cleansing sins.
Though both commit sins, the treatment by Allah differs based on faith.
This part addresses both believers and disbelievers, reminding that Allah knows all actions—the good deeds of the pious, and the sins of the wicked.
Hence, this verse implies that no deed will go unrewarded or unpunished—everyone will be held accountable.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 85 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 84 which provides the complete commentary from verse 84 through 86.
(2:85) And here you are, killing one another, turning out a party of your own from their homelands, aiding one another against them in sin and enmity, and if they come to you as captives you ransom them although the very act of expelling them was unlawful to you. Do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest?[92] What else, then, could be the retribution of those among you who do this than that they should live in degradation in the present life, and that on the Day of Resurrection they should be sent to the severest chastisement? Allah is not heedless of what you do.
92. Before the advent of the Prophet (peace be on him) the Jewish tribes who lived on the outskirts of Madina had concluded an alliance with the Arab tribes of Aws and Khazraj. When the Arab tribes fought against one another each Jewish tribe fought on the side of its allies, which led to fratricide and so to a flagrant violation of the Book of God. Moreover, when the war ended the captives were ransomed. This ransom was justified on the basis of scriptural arguments; they extolled the Word of God when it permitted the ransom of prisoners of war, but attached no significance at all to the same Word of God when it prohibited mutual feuding.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics