Transliteration:( Innad deena 'indal laahil Islaam; wa makhtalafal lazeena ootul Kitaaba illaa mim ba'di maa jaaa'ahumul 'ilmu baghyam bainahum; wa mai yakfur bi Aayaatil laahi fa innal laaha saree'ul hisaab )
"Surely, the true Religion by Allah is Islam [37]. And those who were given the Scripture did not dissent [38] except after the knowledge had come to them [39] because of their hearts burning [40]. And whoever denies the verses of Allah, then surely Allah is swift [41] in (taking) account."
In Qur’anic terminology, Islam refers specifically to the religion brought by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This meaning applies in every context unless otherwise specified. As Allah says:
"He has named you Muslims..." (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:78)
In some verses, Islam may linguistically mean obedience, such as:
“Then when they had submitted to My command” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:103)
“Make me die as a Muslim” (Surah Yusuf, 12:101)
However, in the theological and final sense, Islam is the only divinely approved religion. All others—whether always false like idolatry, or once true but now abrogated like Judaism and Christianity—are no longer accepted by Allah.
Just as in the presence of sunlight no lamp is needed, in the presence of Islam, no other religion has value. Without belief in Islam and in the Final Prophet ﷺ, nothing will be accepted by Allah.
Here, “dissent” refers to the act of deviating from the Straight Path and choosing falsehood after the truth has become clear.
Those who truly follow the Religion of Truth remain firm and do not fall into division. The example given is powerful:
If police and dacoits are fighting, though both are in conflict, only the dacoits are wrongdoers, while the police uphold justice.
Likewise, those who oppose the truth are the deviators, regardless of outward appearances of scholarship or debate.
The "Scripture" here refers to the divine books given to the People of the Book (Ahle Kitaab), especially the scholars among them.
The phrase "knowledge had come to them" implies that they fully recognized the signs of the Final Prophet ﷺ in the Tawrah (Torah) and Injeel (Gospel).
They were aware that:
His name, qualities, and mission were foretold in their scriptures.
All identifying signs matched the Prophet ﷺ exactly.
Their denial was therefore not out of ignorance, but out of arrogance and spite.
These people were plagued by two kinds of envy:
Why wasn’t the Final Prophet from the descendants of Yaqub (Bani Isra’il)?
They envied the fact that the Final Messenger came from the lineage of Ismail (Bani Ismail).
Why didn’t they or their children receive Prophethood?
Despite their wealth and influence, they couldn't accept someone outside their tribe being honored.
This jealousy echoes the story of Shaitaan (the devil)—who was led astray by envy.
Just as Shaitaan’s arrogance and envy caused his fall, their envy caused them to reject the truth they recognized.
This part of the verse is a final warning to those who deny Allah’s verses:
Allah is swift in taking account.
The one filled with envy and stubbornness should remember that they will soon stand before Allah.
Reflecting on Divine accountability can act as a cure for envy and arrogance.
This concluding line reaffirms Allah's justice and reminds deniers that their rejection will not go unpunished.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 19 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 18 which provides the complete commentary from verse 18 through 20.
(3:19) The true religion with Allah is Islam.[16] The People of the Book adopted many different ways rather than follow the true way of Islam even after the knowledge of truth had reached them, and this merely to commit excesses against one another.[17] Let him who refuses to follow the ordinances and directives of Allah know that Allah is swift in His reckoning.
16. In the sight of God there is only one system of life and way of conduct which is both in accord with reality and morally right. This consists of man’s acknowledging God as his Lord and the sole object of his worship and devotion; of surrendering himself unreservedly to God in obedience and service. In doing so he should follow in toto the guidance communicated by God through His Messengers rather than try to devise ways of serving God according to his own lights. This mode of thought and action is known as Islam, and it is only reasonable that the Lord and Creator of the universe should accept nothing less from His creatures and servants. In his folly man thinks that he has the right to believe in and follow every doctrine that comes his way whether it be atheism or idolatry. In the sight of the Sovereign of the universe, however, all such attitudes amount to nothing short of rebellion against God.
17. This shows that the religion of every Messenger of God, in every age and clime, was none other than Islam (submission to God). Likewise, every Divine book, in whichever language it was revealed, and to whichever people it was addressed, contained the teachings of Islam. The various religions which have spread among mankind are distortions of this true, original religion, and are the result of tampering. Coveting privileges over and above those to which they were entitled, people altered the beliefs, principles and injunctions of the true religion in a manner conducive to their own interests.
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