Al-Bayyinah

Verse 1

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنْفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ

Those who disbelieved from among the Jews, Christians, and mushriks [those who worship or treat others like Allāh] were not going to abandon their disbelief until the sign that was promised to them in earlier books [of revelation] came to them–

Verse 2

رَسُولٌ مِنَ اللهِ يَتْلُو صُحُفًا مُطَهَّرَةً

the Messenger of Allāh, Muḥammad ﷺ, reciting Qurʾān in scriptures that are completely free of [falsehood and] impurities.

Verse 3

فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ

In those scriptures are truthful narrations and just commandments, directing [people] to the truth and to the Straight Path.

Verse 4

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ

Those who were given books [of revelation] from among the Jews and Christians would never differ regarding Muḥammad’s ﷺ being a true messenger–due to what they [used to] find of his description in their books–until after it became clear to them that he was the prophet they had been promised in the Torah and Injīl.

So they used to be unanimous about the validity of his [coming] prophethood; then, when he was [actually] sent, they split into factions: among them were those who believed in him, and among them were those who denied his prophethood out of willful wrongdoing, envy and malice.

Verse 5

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ

And they had not been commanded, in [any] of the other [past] laws [sent down by Allāh], except to worship Allāh alone–seeking by their worship the pleasure of Allāh, leaving aside shirk [worshipping or treating others like Allāh] for īmān [Islāmic deeds, speech, and beliefs]; to establish their prayers [perfectly]; and to fulfill the zakah [charity obligations].

That is the religion [upon] rectitude: Islām.

Verse 6

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ

Indeed, those who disbelieved from among the Jews, Christians, and mushriks, their punishment is the Blazing Fire of Hell, to remain there; they are the most evil of all created beings.

Verse 7

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ

Indeed, those who believed in Allāh, followed tightly [in the footsteps of] His messenger, and performed righteous deeds are the [very] best of creation.

Verse 8

جَزَاؤُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۖ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُ

Their reward is with their Lord on the Day of Resurrection, gardens to settle down and remain in, of extreme beauty, under whose palaces run rivers–staying in [those gardens] forever.

Allāh will be pleased with them; He will have accepted their righteous deeds. And they will be pleased concerning Him, due to what He has prepared for them of different kinds of honors [and good things].

That is the good reward for those who would fear Allāh and keep a distance between themselves and disobedience to Him.

Source: Al-Tafsīr Al-Muyassar. King Fahd Qurʾān Printing Complex. Madīnah: 1434 H.