They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh,467 and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary.468 And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
Notes
[467] By their obedience to them rather than to what Allāh ordained.
[468] By their worship of him in conjunction with Allāh.
Verse 31 of Surah At-Tawbah (9:31), a Medinan surah, is in juz 10, on page 191 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 31 of Surah At-Tawbah
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Tafsir of verse 31
Al-Mukhtasar
The Jews made their rabbis lords instead of Allah, as did the Christians with their monks, by allowing them to permit what Allah had forbidden them and forbidding what Allah had allowed for them; and the Christians made the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, a god next to Allah. as well as ‘Uzayr and Jesus the son of Mary, to worship Him alone, and not to associate anything with Him. He, glory be to Him, is the only God, and there is nothing worthy of worship except Him. He is, glory be to Him, sacred, far above having any partner that these idolaters and others claim.
They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords29 besides Allah, as well as the Messiah, son of Mary, even though they were commanded to worship only One God; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, glorified is He far above what they associate with Him30.
Notes
[29] By obeying them rather than obeying Allah’s commandments.
[30] ‘Adiyy ibn Hātim al-Tā’iyy (رضي الله عنه), who was Christian before embracing Islam, narrated that he came to the Messenger (ﷺ) while he was reciting this verse, and he said to the Messenger: “We do not worship them!” He asked: “Do they not deem unlawful what Allah allowed and you follow them making it unlawful, and declare lawful what Allah forbade and you follow them making it lawful?” ‘Adiyy said: “Indeed!” then he (ﷺ) said: “That is their worship!” [At-Tirmidhī: 3095; also see: Matthew 15:1-9, Isaiah 29:13, Jeremiah 8:8]
They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allâh (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allâh), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilâh (God - Allâh) Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)8. Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)."
Notes
[8] (V.9:31) Once while Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was reciting this Verse, ‘Adi bin Hâtim said, "O Allâh’s Messenger! They do not worship them (i.e. the rabbis and monks)." Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "They certainly do. [They (i.e. the rabbis and monks) made lawful things as unlawful and unlawful things as lawful, and they (i.e. Jews and Christians) followed them; and by doing so, they really worshipped them]." (Narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Jarîr).
They have taken as lords beside Allah their rabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of Mary, when they were bidden to worship only One Allah. There is no Allah save Him. Be He Glorified from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!
They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One Allah: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: (Far is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him).
They have taken their doctors of law and their monks for lords besides Allah, and (also) the Messiah son of Marium and they were enjoined that they should serve one Allah only, there is no god but He; far from His glory be what they set up (with Him).
They have taken to themselves as lords, apart from Allah, their doctors and their monks and Al-Masih, (The Messiah) the son of Maryam; (Mary) and in no way were they commanded to worship (anyone) except One God; there is no god except He; All extolment be to Him, (He is) above whatever they associate (with Him)..
