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Surah An-Nisa, Verse 157

سورة النساء، الآية ١٥٧

4:157 Juz 6 Hizb 11 Page 103 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 4:157

وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ٱلْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًۢا ۝١٥٧

Transliteration

waqawlihim innā qatalnā l-masīḥa ʿīsā ib'na maryama rasūla l-lahi wamā qatalūhu wamā ṣalabūhu walākin shubbiha lahum wa-inna alladhīna ikh'talafū fīhi lafī shakkin min'hu mā lahum bihi min ʿil'min illā ittibāʿa l-ẓani wamā qatalūhu yaqīnan

Translation

And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.233

Notes

[233] Another meaning is "And they did not kill him, being certain [of his identity]," i.e., they killed another assuming it was Jesus (upon whom be peace).

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 157 of Surah An-Nisa (4:157), a Medinan surah, is in juz 6, on page 103 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.

Listen to verse 157 of Surah An-Nisa

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Tafsir of verse 157

Al-Mukhtasar

I cursed them because they proudly, but falsely, said, ‘We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah’. They did not kill him as they claimed, nor did they crucify him; but they killed and crucified a man whom Allah made to resemble Jesus, so they thought the person who was killed was Jesus. Those Jews who claimed to have killed him and those Christians who surrendered him over to them are in doubt and confusion regarding the matter. They have no knowledge, but make guesses that are of no worth against the truth. Truly, they did not kill Jesus nor crucify him.

Tafsir of the whole Surah An-Nisa

Other translations of verse 157

and for their saying, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear to them so. Even those who dispute it are in doubt about it; they have no certain knowledge other than conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him.

And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allâh," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared so to them [the resemblance of ‘Îsâ (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man)], and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) عليهما السلام]:

And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.

That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-

And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.

And for their saying, "Surely we killed the Masih, Isa son of Maryam, (The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary) the Messenger of Allah." And in no way did they kill him, and in no way did they crucify him, but a resemblance of him was presented to them (i.e. the matter was made obscure for them through mutual resemblance). And surely the ones who differed about him are indeed in doubt about him. (Or: it, "that") In no way do they have any knowledge about him except the close following of surmise, and in no way did they kill him of a certainty.

Verse 157 word by word

  1. وَقَوْلِهِمْ waqawlihim And for their saying ق و ل
  2. إِنَّا innā Indeed, we
  3. قَتَلْنَا qatalnā killed ق ت ل
  4. ٱلْمَسِيحَ l-masīḥa the Messiah م س ح
  5. عِيسَى ʿīsā Isa
  6. ٱبْنَ ib'na son ب ن ي
  7. مَرْيَمَ maryama (of) Maryam
  8. رَسُولَ rasūla (the) Messenger ر س ل
  9. ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (of) Allah
  10. وَمَا wamā And not
  11. قَتَلُوهُ qatalūhu they killed him ق ت ل
  12. وَمَا wamā and not
  13. صَلَبُوهُ ṣalabūhu they crucified him ص ل ب
  14. وَلَٰكِن walākin but
  15. شُبِّهَ shubbiha it was made to appear (so) ش ب ه
  16. لَهُمْ lahum to them
  17. وَإِنَّ wa-inna And indeed
  18. ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
  19. ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ ikh'talafū differ خ ل ف
  20. فِيهِ fīhi in it
  21. لَفِى lafī (are) surely in
  22. شَكٍّ shakkin doubt ش ك ك
  23. مِّنْهُ min'hu about it
  24. مَا mā Not
  25. لَهُم lahum for them
  26. بِهِۦ bihi about it
  27. مِنْ min [of]
  28. عِلْمٍ ʿil'min (any) knowledge ع ل م
  29. إِلَّا illā except
  30. ٱتِّبَاعَ ittibāʿa (the) following ت ب ع
  31. ٱلظَّنِّ l-ẓani (of) assumption ظ ن ن
  32. وَمَا wamā And not
  33. قَتَلُوهُ qatalūhu they killed him ق ت ل
  34. يَقِينًۢا yaqīnan certainly ي ق ن

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2222

By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish Jizyah (protection tax imposed on non-Muslims living under Muslim rule), and the wealth will be abundant to such an extent that no one will accept it

"By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish Jizyah (protection tax imposed on non-Muslims living under Muslim rule), and the wealth will be abundant to such an extent that no one will accept…

لَيُوشِكَنَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا مُقْسِطًا فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلَ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعَ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَيَفِيضَ الْمَالُ حَتَّى لاَ يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 10 other versions Explained

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2476

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).

لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا مُقْسِطًا، فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلَ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعَ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَيَفِيضَ الْمَالُ حَتَّى لاَ يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 10 other versions

Verses related to verse 157

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Al-Hijr 15:6

    وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِى نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلذِّكْرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ

    And they say, "O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:55

    إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

    [Mention] when Allāh said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allāh alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Kahf 18:5

    مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا

    They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie.

  • An-Nisa 4:171

    يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَٰثَةٌ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

    O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allāh except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allāh and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allāh and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allāh is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.

  • An-Najm 53:28

    وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ شَيْـًٔا

    And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:45

    إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

    [And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].

All similar verses of Surah An-Nisa

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