Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL BAQARAH [139]

139. Say (O Muhammad to the Jews and Christians), ”Dispute you with us about Allah while He is our Lord and your Lord And we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds. And we are sincere to Him (i.e. we worship Him alone and none else, and we obey His orders).'' 140. Or say you that Ibrahim, Isma`il, Ishaq, Ya`qub and Al-Asbat, were Jews or Christians Say, ”Do you know better or does Allah And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah And Allah is not unaware of what you do.'' 141. That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do. Allah directed His Prophet to pre-empt the arguments with the idolators:

(Say (O Muhammad to the Jews and Christians), ”Dispute you with us about Allah) meaning, ”Do you dispute with us regarding the Oneness of Allah, obedience and submission to Him and in avoiding His prohibitions,

(while He is our Lord and your Lord) meaning, He has full control over us and you, and deserves the worship alone without partners.

(And we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds.) meaning, we disown you and what you worship, just as you disown us. Allah said in another Ayah,

(And if they belie you, say: ”For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!'') (10:41), and,

(So if they dispute with you (Muhammad ) say: ”I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me'') (3:20). Allah said about Ibrahim,

(His people disputed with him. He said: ”Do you dispute with me concerning Allah'') (6:80), and,

(Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord (Allah)) (2:258). He said in this honorable Ayah,

(And we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds. And we are sincere to Him.) meaning, ”We disown you just as you disown us,''

(And we are sincere to Him), in worship and submission. Allah then criticized them in the claim that Ibrahim, the Prophets who came after him and the Asbat were following their religion, whether Judaism or Christianity. Allah said,

(Say, ”Do you know better or does Allah'') meaning, Allah has the best knowledge and He stated that they were neither Jews, nor Christians. Similarly, Allah said in the Ayah,

(Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin) (3:67) and the following Ayat. Allah also said,

And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Alla0hØŸ )2:140(. Al-HÙ„asan Al-BasÙ„ri said, They used to recite the Book of Alla0h He sent to them that stated that the true religion is Isla0m and that MuhÙ„ammad is the Messenger of Alla0h. Their Book also stated that Ibra0h0m, Isma0 0l, IshÙ„a0q, Ya qu0b and the tribes were neither Jews, nor Christians. They testified to these facts, yet hid them from the people. Alla0h s statement,

(And Allah is not unaware of what you do), is a threat and a warning that His knowledge encompasses every one's deeds, and He shall award each accordingly. Allah then said,

(That was a nation who has passed away.) meaning, existed before you,

(They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you of what you earn.) meaning, they bear their deeds while you bear yours,

(And you will not be asked of what they used to do) meaning, the fact that you are their relatives will not suffice, unless you imitate their good deeds. Further, do not be deceived by the fact that you are their descendants, unless you imitate them in obeying Allah's orders and following His Messengers who were sent as warners and bearers of good news. Indeed, whoever disbelieves in even one Prophet, will have disbelieved in all the Messengers, especially if one disbelieves in the master and Final Messenger from Allah, the Lord of the worlds, to all mankind and the Jinns. May Allah's peace and blessings be on Muhammad and the rest of Allah's Prophets.