VisualDhikr|

Alteration of Scripture

View in graph
theme

Alteration of Scripture

تَحْرِيف

In Islamic tradition, the concept of *tahrif* (تَحْرِيف) refers to the alteration or distortion of divine scriptures, a significant theme explored in the Quran. It speaks of a party among the People of the Scripture who [used to hear the words of Allah and then distort the Torah] after understanding it. This distortion, as described, wasn't merely misinterpretation but involved actively [altering the Scripture with their tongues] to mislead others, or even [writing the "scripture" with their own hands] and falsely attributing it to God for worldly gain. The Quran also indicates they would [distort words from their [proper] usages] and forget portions of their divine reminder. For Muslims, this understanding of *tahrif* is profoundly significant. It highlights the belief that while earlier revelations were divinely inspired, human intervention could lead to their modification over time. This context underscores the unique status of the Quran, which is believed to be meticulously preserved by Allah, serving as the final, unadulterated, and complete guide for humanity, eternally protected from any form of *tahrif*.

Quran 6 verses

أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Afatatma'oona ai yu'minoo lakum wa qad kaana fareequm minhum yasma'oona Kalaamal laahi summa yuharri foonahoo mim ba'di maa'aqaloohu wa hum ya'lamoon

Do you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allah and then distort the Torah after they had understood it while they were knowing?

(مومنو) کیا تم امید رکھتے ہو کہ یہ لوگ تمہارے (دین کے) قائل ہو جائیں گے، (حالانکہ) ان میں سے کچھ لوگ کلامِ خدا (یعنی تورات) کو سنتے، پھر اس کے سمجھ لینے کے بعد اس کو جان بوجھ کر بدل دیتے رہے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Muslims used to take great pains in trying to make the Jews accept Islam. Having recounted so many stories of the perversity of the Jews, the Holy Qur'an points out to the Muslims that they cannot expect such a people to be sensible, and asks them not to worry much about them. For, some of the J...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Are you then so eager O believers that they the Jews should believe you seeing there is a party of them a group of their rabbis that heard God’s word in the Torah and then tampered with it changing it and that after they had comprehended it after they had understood it knowingly? knowing full well t...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): There was little Hope that the Jews Who lived during the Time of the Prophet could have believed Allah said, أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ (Do you covet) O believers, أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ لَكُمْ (That they will believe in your religion) meaning, that these people would obey you They are the deviant sect of Jews whose ...

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ

Fawailul lillazeena yaktuboonal kitaaba bi aydddhim summa yaqooloona haazaa min 'indil laahi liyashtaroo bihee samanan qaleelan fawilul lahum mimaa katabat aydeehim wa wailul lahum mimmaa yaksiboon

So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

تو ان لوگوں پر افسوس ہے جو اپنے ہاتھ سے تو کتاب لکھتے ہیں اور کہتے یہ ہیں کہ یہ خدا کے پاس سے (آئی) ہے، تاکہ اس کے عوض تھوڑی سے قیمت (یعنی دنیوی منفعت) حاصل کریں۔ ان پر افسوس ہے، اس لیے کہ (بےاصل باتیں) اپنے ہاتھ سے لکھتے ہیں اور (پھر) ان پر افسوس ہے، اس لیے کہ ایسے کام کرتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Allah reminds the Jews that He is omniscient, and knows what they try to keep concealed as well as what they say or do openly. So, it would make no difference at all, if the hypocrites tried to conceal their infidelity from the Muslims, or the other group, not to disclose the verses of the Torah whi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So woe a severe chastisement to those who write the Scripture with their hands that is fabricating it themselves then say ‘This is from God’ that they may sell it for a small price of this world these are the Jews the ones that altered the description of the Prophet in the Torah as well as the ‘ston...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Meaning of `Ummi Allah said, وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ (And there are among them Ummyyun people) meaning, among the People of the Book, as Mujahid stated. Ummyyun, is plural for Ummi, that is, a person who does not write, as Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi`, Qatadah, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and others said. Thi...

وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُۥنَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلْكِتَٰبِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa inna minhum lafaree qany yalwoona alsinatahum bil Kitaabi litahsaboohu minal Kitaab, wa maa huwa minal Kitaabi wa yaqooloon huwa min 'indillaahi wa maa huwa min 'indillaahi wa yaqooloona 'alal laahil kaziba wa hum ya'lamoon

And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know.

اور ان (اہلِ کتاب) میں بعضے ایسے ہیں کہ کتاب (تورات) کو زبان مروڑ مروڑ کر پڑھتے ہیں تاکہ تم سمجھو کہ جو کچھ وہ پڑھتے ہیں کتاب میں سے ہے حالانکہ وہ کتاب میں سے نہیں ہے اور کہتے ہیں کہ وہ خدا کی طرف سے (نازل ہوا) ہے حالانکہ وہ خدا کی طرف سے نہیں ہوتا اور خدا پر جھوٹ بولتے ہیں اور (یہ بات) جانتے بھی ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary It was during the presence of the deputation from Najran that some Jews and Christians had said: '0 Muhammad, do you want us to worship you the way Christians worship Jesus, son of Mary?' He said: 'I seek refuge with Allah that we worship someone other than Allah or call on others to do s...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And there is a group a party of them the People of the Scripture like Ka‘b b. al-Ashraf who twist their tongues with the Book altering it by reciting it not according to the way in which it was revealed but according to the way in which they have distorted it as in the case of the descriptions of th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Jews Alter Allah's Words Allah states that some Jews, may Allah's curses descend on them, distort Allah's Words with their tongues, change them from their appropriate places, and alter their intended meanings. They do this to deceive the ignorant people by making it appear that their words are i...

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَٰقَهُمْ لَعَنَّٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَٰسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱصْفَحْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Fabimaa naqdihim meesaa qahum la'annaahum wa ja'alnaa quloobahum qaasiyatany yuharrifoonal kalima 'ammawaadi'ihee wa nasoo hazzam mimmaa zukkiroo bih; khaaa'inatim minhum illaa qaleelam minhum fa'fu 'anhum wasfah; innal laaha yuhibbul muhsineen

So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

تو ان لوگوں کے عہد توڑ دینے کے سبب ہم نے ان پر لعنت کی اور ان کے دلوں کو سخت کر دیا یہ لوگ کلمات (کتاب) کو اپنے مقامات سے بدل دیتے ہیں اور جن باتوں کی ان کو نصیحت کی گئی تھی ان کا بھی ایک حصہ فراموش کر بیٹھے اور تھوڑے آدمیوں کے سوا ہمیشہ تم ان کی (ایک نہ ایک) خیانت کی خبر پاتے رہتے ہو تو ان کی خطائیں معاف کردو اور (ان سے) درگزر کرو کہ خدا احسان کرنے والوں کو دوست رکھتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The first verse is telling us that Bani Isra'il were heedless to clear instructions given to them. Then, they broke the pledge for which they were punished. There were two kinds of punishment which visited Bani Isra'il because of their misdeeds and contumacy: 1. Manifest and perceptible, ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: God says So because bi-mā the mā is extra of their breaking their covenant We cursed them We removed them from Our mercy and made their hearts hard unyielding to the acceptance of faith; they pervert words pertaining to the descriptions of Muhammad (s) in the Torah and other things from their contex...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Cursing the People of the Book for Breaking the Covenant Allah commanded His believing servants to fullfil the promises and pledges that He took from them and which they gave His servant and Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ. Allah also commanded them to stand for the truth and give correct testimony. He also r...

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّٰعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَٱحْذَرُوا۟ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُۥ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

Yaaa ayyuhar Rasoolu laa yahzukal lazeena yusaa ri'oona fil kufri minal lazeena qaaloo aamannaa bi afwaahihim wa lam tu'min quloobuhum; wa minal lazeena haadoo sammaa'oona lilkazibi sammaa'oona liqawmin aakhareena lam yaatooka yuharifoonal kalima mim ba'di mawaadi'ihee yaqooloona in ooteetum haazaa fakhuzoohu wa il lam tu'tawhu fahzaroo; wa many-yuridil laahu fitnatahoo falan tamlika lahoo minal laahi shai'aa; ulaaa 'ikal lazeena lam yuridil laahu any-yutahhira quloobahum; lahum fid dunyaa khizyunw wa lahum fil Aakhirati'azaabun 'azeem

O Messenger, let them not grieve you who hasten into disbelief of those who say, "We believe" with their mouths, but their hearts believe not, and from among the Jews. [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you. They distort words beyond their [proper] usages, saying "If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." But he for whom Allah intends fitnah - never will you possess [power to do] for him a thing against Allah. Those are the ones for whom Allah does not intend to purify their hearts. For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.

اے پیغمبر! جو لوگ کفر میں جلدی کرتے ہیں (کچھ تو) ان میں سے (ہیں) جو منہ سے کہتے ہیں کہ ہم مومن ہیں لیکن ان کے دل مومن نہیں ہیں اور (کچھ) ان میں سے جو یہودی ہیں ان کی وجہ سے غمناک نہ ہونا یہ غلط باتیں بنانے کے لیے جاسوسی کرتے پھرتے ہیں اور ایسے لوگوں (کے بہکانے) کے لیے جاسوس بنے ہیں جو ابھی تمہارے پاس نہیں آئے (صحیح) باتوں کو ان کے مقامات (میں ثابت ہونے) کے بعد بدل دیتے ہیں (اور لوگوں سے) کہتے ہیں کہ اگر تم کو یہی (حکم) ملے تو اسے قبول کر لینا اور اگر یہ نہ ملے تو اس سے احتراز کرنا اور اگر کسی کو خدا گمراہ کرنا چاہے تو اس کے لیے تم کچھ بھی خدا سے (ہدایت کا) اختیار نہیں رکھتے یہ وہ لوگ ہیں جن کے دلوں کو خدا نے پاک کرنا نہیں چاہا ان کے لیے دنیا میں بھی ذلت ہے اور آخرت میں بھی بڑا عذاب ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sequence of the Verses Continued from the third Section of Surah al-Ma'idah was the subject around the People of the Book. In between, some other subjects, though very few, appeared where particularly appropriate. Now, the text resumes that subject again which goes on further ahead. The People of th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O Messenger let them not grieve you the actions of those who vie with one another in disbelief falling headlong into it in other words they who manifest it at every opportunity of min here is explicative such as say with their mouths with their tongues bi-alsinatihim is semantically connected to qāl...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Do Not Feel Sad Because of the Behavior of the Jews and Hypocrites These honorable Ayat were revealed about those who rush into disbelief, deviating from the obedience of Allah, His Messenger, prefering their opinions and lusts to what Allah has legislated, مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفْوَ...

وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍ مِّن شَىْءٍ قُلْ مَنْ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ٱلَّذِى جَآءَ بِهِۦ مُوسَىٰ نُورًا وَهُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ تَجْعَلُونَهُۥ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا وَعُلِّمْتُم مَّا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِى خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

Wa maa qadarul laaha haqqa qadriheee iz qaaloo maaa anzalal laahu 'alaa basharim min shai'; qul man anzalal Kitaabal lazee jaaa'a bihee Moosaa nooranw wa hudal linnaasi taj'aloonahoo qaraateesa tubdoonahaa wa tukhfoona kaseeranw wa 'ullimtum maa lam ta'lamooo antum wa laaa aabaaa'ukum qulil laahu summa zarhum fee khawdihim yal'aboon

And they did not appraise Allah with true appraisal when they said, "Allah did not reveal to a human being anything." Say, "Who revealed the Scripture that Moses brought as light and guidance to the people? You [Jews] make it into pages, disclosing [some of] it and concealing much. And you were taught that which you knew not - neither you nor your fathers." Say, "Allah [revealed it]." Then leave them in their [empty] discourse, amusing themselves.

اور ان لوگوں نے خدا کی قدر جیسی جاننی چاہیئے تھی نہ جانی۔ جب انہوں نے کہا کہ خدا نے انسان پر (وحی اور کتاب وغیرہ) کچھ بھی نازل نہیں کیا۔ کہو جو کتاب موسیٰ لے کر آئے تھے اسے کس نے نازل کیا تھا جو لوگوں کے لئے نور اور ہدایت تھی اور جسے تم نے علیحدہ علیحدہ اوراق (پر نقل) کر رکھا ہے ان (کے کچھ حصے) کو تو ظاہر کرتے ہو اور اکثر کو چھپاتے ہو۔ اور تم کو وہ باتیں سکھائی گئیں جن کو نہ تم جانتے تھے اور نہ تمہارے باپ دادا۔ کہہ دو (اس کتاب کو) خدا ہی نے (نازل کیا تھا) پھر ان کو چھوڑ دیا کہ اپنی بیہودہ بکواس میں کھیلتے رہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The second verse (91) has been revealed in answer to those who had the audacity to say that Allah Ta` ala has just not revealed any book to any human being. According to them, this whole proposition of books and messengers was all wrong. If, those who said that are the idolaters of Makkah, as mentio...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They that is the Jews measured not God with His true measure that is they have not extended Him the grandeur that truly befits Him or it means they have not attained the true knowledge of Him when they said to the Prophet s disputing with him about the Qur’ān ‘God has not revealed anything to any mo...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Messenger is but a Human to Whom the Book was Revealed by Inspiration Allah says that those who rejected His Messengers did not give Allah due consideration. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and `Abdullah bin Kathir said that this Ayah was revealed about the Quraysh. It was also said that it was revealed abo...

A detailed scholarly analysis for this topic is not yet available. Get in touch to request one.

Related Topics