Verse 2:80 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

Woe, therefore, to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: ‘This is from Allah,’ that they may take for it a paltry price. Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

English - Five Volume Translation

Woe, therefore, to those who write the book with their own hands, and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ that they may take for it [a]a paltry price. Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.[86]

2:175; 3:200; 13:27.

Important Words:

ویل (woe) means: (1) the coming or befalling of some calamity, misfortune or sorrow; (2) punishment; (3) perdition. The expression ویل له or ویله or ویل لك or ویلك etc. is used as a warning for some coming sorrow or misfortune (Aqrab & Lane).

Commentary:

There were Jews who composed books or parts thereof and then gave them out as the word of God. This malpractice was common among the Jews and other peoples. Therefore, in addition to the canonical Books of the Bible, there are a number of books which are supposed to be revealed, so that it has now become impossible to distinguish the revealed Books from those not revealed. Another mal-practice of the Jews was that they distorted the meaning of the Divine Word. They themselves wrote a whole book or part thereof and declared it to be based on Biblical evidence; while, as a matter of fact, it was opposed to this evidence. Those responsible for this were responsible not only for their own misdeeds, namely, fabricating and distorting the Word of God, but also for the misdeeds of their followers who were led by their example to commit one or all of the following acts (1) tampering with the Word of God (2:76); (2) preferring worldliness to religion (2:77); and (3) following their own vain desires and false notions (2:79). Hence, while speaking of them, the Quran uses the word ویل (woe) in order to warn them and remind them of the seriousness of their offence.

Some Christian writers have argued that the verse under comment proves that the Jewish and Christian scriptures were intact at the time of the Holy Prophet. This inference is absolutely unjustified. For tampering with the text does not necessarily mean tampering with a genuine text. One who tampers with a version of a false book which he believes to be true is as liable to blame as the one who tampers with a genuine scripture. Hence, the warning to the People of the Book against tampering with the Bible cannot be cited as proof of the existence of the true Bible at the time of the Holy Prophet.

The words, paltry price, do not mean that the taking of a good price would be lawful. The words have been used to point out that whatever price they may take would be paltry in view of the great loss they would be suffering thereby. Elsewhere, the Quran says: the benefit of this world is little (4:78).

In the last clause the Quran repeats the words, Woe to them, twice, saying: Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn. This is to point out that by so doing the Israelites are committing two offences: (1) writing down a thing falsely and (2) doing it with the intention of earning some worldly benefit. As the offence is double, the punishment also will be double.

English - Short Commentary Translation

Woe, therefore, to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ that they may take for it [a]a paltry price. Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.[114]

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

پس ہلاکت ہے ان کے لئے جو اپنے ہاتھوں سے کتاب لکھتے ہیں پھر کہتے ہیں کہ یہ اللہ کی طرف سے ہے تاکہ وہ اس کے بدلے کچھ معمولی قیمت وصول کر لیں۔ پس ہلاکت ہے ان کے لئے اُس کے نتیجہ میں جو ان کے ہاتھوں نے لکھا اور ہلاکت ہے اُن کے لئے اس کی وجہ سے جو وہ کماتے ہیں۔

French

Malheur donc à ceux qui écrivent le Livre de leurs propres mains et disent ensuite : « Ceci émane d’Allāh, » afin d’en recevoir un prix dérisoire ! Malheur donc à eux pour ce que leurs mains ont écrit et malheur à eux pour ce qu’ils gagnent !

German

Wehe darum denen, die das Buch schreiben mit ihren eigenen Händen und dann sprechen: "Dies ist von Allah", dass sie dafür einen armseligen Preis nehmen möchten! Wehe ihnen also um dessentwillen, was ihre Hände geschrieben, und wehe ihnen um dessentwillen, was sie verdienen!

Chinese

凡为了赚取[d]微小的代价。自造经典而妄说: “这是降自安拉的,” 对于这些人严厉的惩罚是预定了的。(我再一次地说:) 因为他们亲手捏造经文, 所以对于他们严厉的惩罚是预定了的, 也是因为他们所做的一切, 他们将受(预定的)惩罚。

Italian

Guai dunque a coloro che scrivono il libro con le loro stesse mani e poi dicono: «Questo proviene da Allah», affinché possano ricavarne un piccolo guadagno. Guai dunque a loro, per quello che hanno scritto con le loro mani e guai a loro per quanto guadagnano.

Spanish

¡Ay, pues, de aquellos que escriben el Libro con sus propias manos y después dicen: “Esto viene de Al-lah”, para poder pedir por él un precio ridículo! ¡Ay, pues, de ellos por lo que han escrito sus manos, y ¡Ay! de ellos por lo que ganaron!

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

پس جو لوگ اپنے ہاتھوں سے کتاب لکھتے ہیں (اور) پھر اس کے ذریعہ سے (کچھ) تھوڑی سی قیمت حاصل کرنے کے لئے کہہ دیتے ہیں کہ یہ (کتاب) اللہ کی طرف سے ہے ان کے لئے (ایک سخت) عذاب (مقدر) ہے۔ پھر (ہم کہتے ہیں کہ) ان کے لئے ان کے ہاتھوں کے لکھے کے سبب سے (ایک سخت) عذاب (مقدر) ہے اور اس کے سبب سے (بھی) عذاب (مقدر) ہے جو وہ کماتے ہیں۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

پس ہلاکت اور تباہی ہے اُن لوگوں کے لیے جو اپنے ہاتھوں سے شرع کا نوشتہ لکھتے ہیں، پھر لوگوں سے کہتے ہیں کہ یہ اللہ کے پاس سے آیا ہوا ہے تاکہ اس کے معاوضے میں تھوڑا سا فائدہ حاصل کر لیں ان کے ہاتھوں کا لکھا بھی ان کے لیے تباہی کا سامان ہے اور ان کی یہ کمائی بھی ان کے لیے موجب ہلاکت

English - Sahih

So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

سو افسوس ہے ان لوگوں پر جو اپنے ہاتھوں سے لکھتے ہیں پھر کہتے ہیں کہ یہ الله کی طرف سے ہے تاکہ اس سے کچھ روپیہ کمائیں پھر افسوس ہے ان کے ہاتھوں کے لکھنے پر اور افسوس ہے ان کی کمائی ہر

English - Talal Itani

So woe to those who write the book with their (own) hands then, they say, "This (is) from Allah," to barter with it (for) a price little. So woe to them for what have written their hands and woe to them for what they earn.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

d

2:175; 3:200.

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

So woe to those who write the Book with their hands, then say, 'This is from God,' that they may sell it for a little price; so woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for their earnings.

English - Maududi

So woe to their learned people, who write the law with their own hands and then say to the people, "This is from Allah," so that they might gain some paltry worldly end. (They do not see that) this writing of their hands will bring woe to them and what they gain thereby will lead to their ruin.

English - Ahmed Ali

But woe to them who fake the Scriptures and say: "This is from God," so that they might earn some profit thereby; and woe to them for what they fake, and woe to them for what they earn from it!

English - Yusuf Ali

Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from Allah," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

2:175; 3:200; 13:27.

86

Important Words:

ویل (woe) means: (1) the coming or befalling of some calamity, misfortune or sorrow; (2) punishment; (3) perdition. The expression ویل له or ویله or ویل لك or ویلك etc. is used as a warning for some coming sorrow or misfortune (Aqrab & Lane).

Commentary:

There were Jews who composed books or parts thereof and then gave them out as the word of God. This malpractice was common among the Jews and other peoples. Therefore, in addition to the canonical Books of the Bible, there are a number of books which are supposed to be revealed, so that it has now become impossible to distinguish the revealed Books from those not revealed. Another mal-practice of the Jews was that they distorted the meaning of the Divine Word. They themselves wrote a whole book or part thereof and declared it to be based on Biblical evidence; while, as a matter of fact, it was opposed to this evidence. Those responsible for this were responsible not only for their own misdeeds, namely, fabricating and distorting the Word of God, but also for the misdeeds of their followers who were led by their example to commit one or all of the following acts (1) tampering with the Word of God (2:76); (2) preferring worldliness to religion (2:77); and (3) following their own vain desires and false notions (2:79). Hence, while speaking of them, the Quran uses the word ویل (woe) in order to warn them and remind them of the seriousness of their offence.

Some Christian writers have argued that the verse under comment proves that the Jewish and Christian scriptures were intact at the time of the Holy Prophet. This inference is absolutely unjustified. For tampering with the text does not necessarily mean tampering with a genuine text. One who tampers with a version of a false book which he believes to be true is as liable to blame as the one who tampers with a genuine scripture. Hence, the warning to the People of the Book against tampering with the Bible cannot be cited as proof of the existence of the true Bible at the time of the Holy Prophet.

The words, paltry price, do not mean that the taking of a good price would be lawful. The words have been used to point out that whatever price they may take would be paltry in view of the great loss they would be suffering thereby. Elsewhere, the Quran says: the benefit of this world is little (4:78).

In the last clause the Quran repeats the words, Woe to them, twice, saying: Woe, then, to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn. This is to point out that by so doing the Israelites are committing two offences: (1) writing down a thing falsely and (2) doing it with the intention of earning some worldly benefit. As the offence is double, the punishment also will be double.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

2:175; 3:200.

114

There were Jews who composed books or parts thereof and then gave them out as the Word of God. This malpractice was common among the Jews. In addition, therefore, to the canonical Books of the Bible, there are a number of books which are supposed by the Jews to have been revealed, so that it has now become impossible to distinguish the revealed Books from those not revealed.

English - Pickthall

Therefore woe be unto those who write the Scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written, and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

Woe! then to those who write the Book with their hands then say, This is from Allah; so that they may take for it a small price. So woe! to them for what their hands write and woe! to them for what they earn.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

Painful is the chastisement awaiting those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: This is from Allah; to gain therewith a paltry sum; so for them is a painful chastisement for that which they write and a painful chastisement for that which they earn.

Verse 80

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