البينة
Surah Al-Bayyinah
The Clear Proof · Surah 98 · Medinan · 8 verses
1لَمۡ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَةُ ١Those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters could not have left off (erring) till the clear proof came unto them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this verse says that the disbelievers among both the People of the Book and the idolaters would not leave their state until the clear proof came. That proof is the Prophet.2رَسُولࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتۡلُواْ صُحُفࣰا مُّطَهَّرَةࣰ ٢A messenger from Allah, reading purified pages.InsightElmalılı explains the “pure pages” as pages free from distortion, slander, error and doubt, which no impure hand can touch.3فِيهَا كُتُبࣱ قَيِّمَةࣱ ٣Containing correct scriptures.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are true, firm, uncorrupted and lasting writings of truth: the pages and surahs of the Qur’an, which are commanded to be recited.4وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَةُ ٤Nor were the People of the Scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the division appeared when the proof came: some believed in the messenger, others insisted on staying as they were. The real split began with their attitude towards the truth.5وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمَةِ ٥And they are ordered naught else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright, and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this command is the same in the earlier books and in the Qur’an: to worship Allah alone, sincerely, serving no other aim.6إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمۡ شَرُّ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ ٦Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this judgement is especially for those who knowingly deny after the clear proof has come.7إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمۡ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ ٧(And) lo! those who believe and do good works are the best of created beings.InsightElmalılı does not limit “good deeds” to prayer and zakat: every act in line with Allah’s pleasure, in worship and in daily dealings, obligatory or voluntary, is included.8جَزَآؤُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدۡنࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدࣰاۖ رَّضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنۡ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُۥ ٨Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they dwell for ever. Allah hath pleasure in them and they have pleasure in Him. This is (in store) for him who feareth his Lord.InsightElmalılı notes that the reward is called “jaza”, a recompense: it answers their faith and deeds. But the true honour is Allah being pleased with them.