The Tafsīr of Sūrat Lam Yakun (Al-Bayyinah)[1] (Chapter - 98)

Which was revealed in Al-Madīnah

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ recited this Sūrah to Ubayy

Imām Aḥmad recorded from Anas bin Mālik that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said to Ubayy bin Ka'b,

«إِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقْرَأَ عَلَيْكَ

Qur’an 98:1لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ

»

«Verily, Allāh has commanded me to recite to you «Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Scripture.»»

Ubayy said, "He (Allāh) mentioned me by name to you?" The Prophet ﷺ replied,

«نَعَمْ»

«Yes.» So he (Ubayy) cried.^{1Aḥmad 3:130.} Al-Bukhāri, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasā'ī all recorded this Ḥadīth from Shu'bah.^{2Fatḥ Al-Bāri 8:597, Muslim 1:550, Tuḥfat Al-Aḥwadhi 10:294, and An-Nasā'ī in Al-Kubrā 6:520.}

Qur’anبِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Qur’an 98:1–5لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ رَسُولٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًا مُّطَهَّرَةً فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ

«1. Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Scripture and the idolators, were not going to leave until there came to them the Bayyinah.» «2. A Messenger from Allāh, reciting purified pages.» «3. Wherein are upright Books.» «4. And the People of the Scripture differed not until after there came to them the Bayyinah.» «5. And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allāh, making religion purely for Him alone, Ḥunafā', and that they perform Ṣalāh and give Zakāh, and that is the right religion.»

Mentioning the Situation of the Disbelievers among the People of the Scripture and the Idolators

As for the People of the Scripture, they are the Jews and the Christians, and the idolators are the worshippers of idols and fire among the Arabs and the non-Arabs. Mujāhid said, they are not going

Qur’an 98:1مُنفَكِّينَ

«to leave» "Meaning, they will not be finished until the truth becomes clear to them."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:539.} Qatādah also said the same thing.^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:539.}

Qur’an 98:1حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ

«until there came to them the Bayyinah.» meaning, this Qur'ān. This is why Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:1لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ

«Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Scripture and idolators, were not going to leave until there came to them the Bayyinah.»

Then He explains what the Bayyinah is by His saying,

Qur’an 98:2رَسُولٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًا مُّطَهَّرَةً

«A Messenger from Allāh, reciting purified pages.»

meaning, Muḥammad ﷺ and the Magnificent Qur'ān he recites, which is written down among the most high gathering in purified pages. This is similar to Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 80:13–16فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍ

«In Records held in honor. Exalted, purified, in the hands of scribes (angels). Honorable and obedient.» (80:13-16)

Then Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:3فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ

«Wherein are upright Books.» Ibn Jarīr said, "Meaning in the purified pages are Books from Allāh that are upright, just and straight. They have no mistakes in them because they are from Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic."^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 24 :540.}

The Differing only occurred after the Knowledge came

Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:4وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ

«And the People of the Scripture differed not until after there came to them the Bayyinah.»

This is similar to Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 3:105وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

«And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the Bayyināt came to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment.» (3:105)

This refers to the people of those divinely revealed Scriptures that were sent down to the nations that were before us. After Allāh established the proofs and evidences against them, they divided and differed concerning that which Allāh had intended in their Scriptures, and they had many differences. This is like what has been reported in a Ḥadīth that has many routes of transmission,

Ḥadīthإِنَّ الْيَهُودَ اخْتَلَفُوا عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، وَإِنَّ النَّصَارَى اخْتَلَفُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، وَسَتَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً

«Verily, the Jews differed until they became seventy-one sects. And verily, the Christians differed until they became seventy- two sects. And this Ummah will divide into seventy-three sects, and all of them will be in the Fire except one.»

They said, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allāh?" He ﷺ replied,

Ḥadīthمَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي

«(Those who are upon) what I and my Companions are upon.»^{4Al-Qurṭubi 4:159, 160. Similar with At-Tirmidhi.}

The Command of Allāh was merely that They make their Religion solely for Him

Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:5وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ

«And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allāh, making religion purely for Him alone,»

This is similar to Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 21:25وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ

«And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him: Lā ilāha illā Anā.» (21:25)

Thus, Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:5حُنَفَآءَ

«Ḥunafā'»

meaning, avoiding Shirk and being truly devout to Tawḥīd. This is like Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 16:36وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ

«And Verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allāh, and avoid the Ṭāghūt (false deities)."» (16:36)

A discussion of the word Ḥanīf has already been mentioned previously and in Sūrat Al-An'ām, so there is no need to repeat it here.^{5See volume three, the Tafsīr of Sūrat Al-An'ām (6:79), and volume four, the Tafsīr of Sūrat Al-A'rāf (7:30).}

Arabic quotation as printed; not matched to Tanzil, so not shown as the Qur’anإِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ رَسُولٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًا مُّطَهَّرَةً فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ

Qur’an 98:5وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ

«and perform Ṣalāh» And this is the best of the physical forms of worship.

Qur’an 98:5وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ

«and give Zakāh,» This is doing good to the poor and the needy.

Qur’an 98:5وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ

«and that is the right religion.» meaning, the upright and just religion, or the nation that is straight and balanced.

Qur’an 98:6–8إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ

«6. Verily, those who disbelieve from among the People of the Scripture and idolators, will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.»

«7. Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures.»

«8. Their reward with their Lord is Eternal Gardens, underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allāh will be pleased with them, and they well-pleased with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord.»

Mentioning the Worse and Best of Creation and Their Recompense

Allāh informs of what will happen to the wicked disbelievers among the People of the Scripture and the idolators who oppose the Allāh's divinely revealed Books and the Prophets whom He sent. He says that they will be in the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgement and they will abide therein forever. This means that they will remain in it and they will have no way out of it and they will not cease being in it.

Qur’an 98:6أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ

«They are the worst of creatures.» meaning, they are the worst creation that Allāh has fashioned and created.

Then Allāh informs about the situation of the righteous people who believed in their hearts and performed righteous deeds with their bodies. He says that they are the best of creation. Abu Hurayrah and a group of the scholars have used this Āyah as a proof that the believers have a status among the creatures that is better than the angels. This is because Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:7أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ

«They are the best of creatures.»

Then Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:8جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ

«Their reward with their Lord» meaning, on the Day of Judgement.

Qur’an 98:8جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا

«is Eternal Gardens underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever,»

meaning, having no end, no break and no conclusion.

Qur’an 98:8رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ

«Allāh will be pleased with them, and they well-pleased with Him.»

The condition of Him being pleased with them is more illustrious than all of the everlasting delights that they will be given.

Qur’an 98:8وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ

«and they well-pleased with Him.» Due to the comprehensive favors He has given them.

Then Allāh says,

Qur’an 98:8ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ

«That is for him who fears his Lord.» meaning, this is the reward that will be attained by those who revere Allāh and fear Him as He deserves to be feared. This is the person who worships Allāh as if he sees Him, and he knows that even though he does not see Him, indeed Allāh sees him.

Imām Aḥmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthأَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الْبَرِيَّةِ؟

«Shall I not inform you of the best of creation?»

They said, "Of course, O Messenger of Allāh!" He said,

Ḥadīthرَجُلٌ آخِذٌ بِعِنَانِ فَرَسِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، كُلَّمَا كَانَتْ هَيْعَةٌ اسْتَوَى عَلَيْهِ. أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الْبَرِيَّةِ

«A man who takes the reins of his horse in the way of Allāh, and whenever there is a fearful cry from the enemy, he climbs upon it. Shall I not inform you of the best of creation?»

They said, "Of course, O Messenger of Allāh!" He said,

Ḥadīthرَجُلٌ فِي ثُلَّةٍ مِنْ غَنَمِهِ، يُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ. أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِشَرِّ الْبَرِيَّةِ؟

«A man who has a flock of sheep and he establishes the prayer and gives the obligatory charity. Shall I not inform you of the worst of creation?»

They said, "Of course." He said,

Ḥadīthالَّذِي يُسْأَلُ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا يُعْطِي بِهِ

«The person who is asked by Allāh and he does not give by Him.»^{1Aḥmad 2:396.}

This is the end of the Tafsīr of Sūrat Lam Yakun (Al-Bayyinah), and all praise and thanks are due to Allāh.