Verse 3:80 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

It is not possible for a man that Allah should give him the Book and dominion and prophethood, and then he should say to men: ‘Be servants to me and not to Allah;’ but he would say: ‘Be solely devoted to the Lord because you teach the Book and because you study it.’

English - Five Volume Translation

It is not possible for a man that Allah should give him the Book and dominion and prophethood, and then [a]he should say to men, ‘Be servants to me and not to Allah;’ but he would say, ‘Be solely devoted to the Lord because you teach the Book and because you studyit.’[368]

5:117, 118.

Important Words:

ربانیین (solely devoted to the Lord) is the plural of ربانی which is a relative noun derived from رب (Lord) just as لحیانی (long-bearded) and شعرانی (having long hair) are derived from لحیة (beard) and شعر (hair) respectively. Keeping in view the different meanings of رب (see 1:2 and 3:65) the word ربانی would mean, one who devotes himself to religious service, or applies himself to acts of devotion; one who possesses knowledge of God; one who is learned in religious matters; a good or righteous man; a worshipper of the Lord; a teacher of others who begins to nourish people with the small matters of knowledge or science before taking the great ones; a learned man who not only practises what he knows but also instructs others; one of high rank in knowledge; a lord or master; a leader; a reformer (Lane, Sibawaih & Mubarrad).

The expression ماکان له (it is not possible for him) is, according to Arabic idiom, used in three senses: (1) it does not become him; as in the hadith ماکان لا بن ابی قحافة ان یصلی بین یدی رسول الله صلعم i.e. it does not become the son of Abu Quhafah, (i.e. AbuBakr) to lead the Faithful in Prayers in the presence of the Prophet of God (Bukhari); (2) it is rationally impossible for him to do so; or, it does not stand to reason that he should have done so; (3) he cannot possibly do so, i.e. it is physically impossible for him to do so. It is in the second sense that the expression has been used in this verse. See also 2:35.

Commentary:

It is quite inconceivable that a man whom God has raised as a Prophet and to whom He has given a revealed Book for the guidance of men should teach them to take him as God beside Allah. Such a supposition would imply a serious reflection on God Himself Who chose for His Messenger a man who undid the very work which he had been commissioned to do, and who, instead of calling upon men to worship God, set himself up as God and called upon them to adore him. Such a thing can never occur. A Prophet would always exhort men to become the devotees of God only.

The words, because you teach the Book and because you study it, show that it is the duty of all those who succeed in acquiring spiritual knowledge to impart it to others and not to let men grope in the darkness of ignorance.

English - Short Commentary Translation

It does not befit[432] a truthful man that Allah should give him the Book and Wisdom and Prophethood, and then [b]he should say to men, ‘Be my worshippers instead of Allah;’ but he would say, ‘Be solely devoted[432A] to the Lord because you teach the Book and because you study it,’[432B]

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

کسی بشر کے لئے یہ ممکن نہیں کہ اللہ اُسے کتاب اور حکمت اور نبوت دے پھر وہ لوگوں سے یہ کہے کہ اللہ کے علاوہ میری عبادت کرنے والے بن جاؤ۔ بلکہ (وہ تو یہی کہتا ہے کہ) ربّانی ہوجاؤ، بوجہ اس کے کہ تم کتاب پڑھاتے ہو اور بوجہ اس کے کہ تم (اُسے) پڑھتے ہو۔

French

Il n’est pas possible qu’un homme à qui Allāh accorderait le Livre, la Sagesse et le prophétat – nubuwwah -, dise ensuite aux gens : « Soyez mes serviteurs et non les serviteurs d’Allāh. » Il dirait plutôt, « Consacrez-vous entièrement au Seigneur, parce que vous enseignez le Livre et parce que vous l’étudiez. »

German

Es geziemt einem Menschen nicht, wenn Allah ihm das Buch und die Herrschaft und Prophetentum gibt, dass er zu den Leuten spricht: "Seid meine Diener statt Allahs"; sondern: "Seid einzig dem Herrn ergeben, da ihr ja die Schrift lehrt und euch (in sie) vertieft."

Chinese

这是不适合任何 (诚实) 人的身份的: 安拉赐给他经典、智慧和先知品位, [e]而他竟向人们说: “你们背离安拉, 变成我的仆人!” 而 (这样的人只) 说: “因为你们教授天经, 自己也不断学习它, 所以你们应成为专一地献身于安拉的人!”

Italian

Non s'addice all'uomo che Allah gli abbia dato il libro e la saggezza e lo status del profeta e poi egli dica agli uomini: «Siate miei servi, non di Allah.» Egli invece direbbe: «Siate soltanto devoti del Signore, poiché voi insegnate il libro e lo studiate.»

Spanish

Es inadmisible que un hombre al que Al-lah le haya dado el Libro, la sabiduría y el Profetazgo, diga después a los hombres: “Sed siervos míos y no de Al-lah”; por el contrario debería decir: “Consagraos únicamente al Señor porque enseñáis el Libro y lo estudiáis.”

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

کسی (سچے) انسان کے شایان شان نہیں کہ اللہ تو اسے کتاب اور حکومت اور نبوت دے اور وہ (یہ) کہے (کہ) تم اللہ کو چھوڑ کر میرے بندے بن جاؤ۔ بلکہ (ایسا انسان تو یہی کہتا ہے کہ) تم خدا ہی کے ہو جاؤ کیونکہ تم کتاب (الٰہی) کی تعلیم دیتے ہو اور اس لئے کہ تم (اسے) حفظ کرتے ہو۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

کسی انسان کا یہ کام نہیں ہے کہ اللہ تو اس کو کتاب اور حکم اور نبوت عطا فرمائے اور وہ لوگوں سے کہے کہ اللہ کے بجائے تم میرے بندے بن جاؤ وہ تو یہی کہے گا کہ سچے ربانی بنو جیسا کہ اس کتاب کی تعلیم کا تقاضا ہے جسے تم پڑھتے اور پڑھاتے ہو

English - Sahih

It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

کسی انسان کے لیے یہ جائز نہیں ہے کہ الله اسے کتاب اور حکمت اور نبوت عطا فرمائے پھر وہ لوگوں سے یہ کہے کہ الله کو چھوڑ کر میرے بندے ہو جاؤ لیکن کہے گا کہ تم لوگ الله والے بن جاؤ اس لیے کہ تم الله کی کتاب سکھاتے ہو اوراس واسطے کہ تم پڑھتے ہو

English - Talal Itani

Not is for a human that gives him Allah the Book, and the wisdom, and the Prophethood, then he says to the people, "Be worshippers of me from besides Allah, but (would say) "Be worshippers of the Lord because you have been teaching the Book and because you have been studying (it)."

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

e

5:117, 118.

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book, the Judgment, the Prophethood, then he should say to men, 'Be you servants to me apart from God.' Rather, 'Be you masters in that you know the Book, and in that you study.'

English - Maududi

It does not befit a man that Allah should grant him His Book and sound judgement and prophet-hood, and thereafter he should say to men: 'Become servants to me apart from Allah.' He would rather say: 'Become dedicated men of Allah, in accord with the dictates of the Book you have been teaching and studying.'

English - Ahmed Ali

It is not for a mortal to whom God reveals the Book and the judgement and the prophethood to say to the people: "Be my votaries instead of God's," but (to say): "Become learned in divine law, by virtue of teaching and studying the Book."

English - Yusuf Ali

It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the prophetic office, should say to people: "Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah's": on the contrary (He would say) "Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all: For ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly."

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

5:117, 118.

368

Important Words:

ربانیین (solely devoted to the Lord) is the plural of ربانی which is a relative noun derived from رب (Lord) just as لحیانی (long-bearded) and شعرانی (having long hair) are derived from لحیة (beard) and شعر (hair) respectively. Keeping in view the different meanings of رب (see 1:2 and 3:65) the word ربانی would mean, one who devotes himself to religious service, or applies himself to acts of devotion; one who possesses knowledge of God; one who is learned in religious matters; a good or righteous man; a worshipper of the Lord; a teacher of others who begins to nourish people with the small matters of knowledge or science before taking the great ones; a learned man who not only practises what he knows but also instructs others; one of high rank in knowledge; a lord or master; a leader; a reformer (Lane, Sibawaih & Mubarrad).

The expression ماکان له (it is not possible for him) is, according to Arabic idiom, used in three senses: (1) it does not become him; as in the hadith ماکان لا بن ابی قحافة ان یصلی بین یدی رسول الله صلعم i.e. it does not become the son of Abu Quhafah, (i.e. AbuBakr) to lead the Faithful in Prayers in the presence of the Prophet of God (Bukhari); (2) it is rationally impossible for him to do so; or, it does not stand to reason that he should have done so; (3) he cannot possibly do so, i.e. it is physically impossible for him to do so. It is in the second sense that the expression has been used in this verse. See also 2:35.

Commentary:

It is quite inconceivable that a man whom God has raised as a Prophet and to whom He has given a revealed Book for the guidance of men should teach them to take him as God beside Allah. Such a supposition would imply a serious reflection on God Himself Who chose for His Messenger a man who undid the very work which he had been commissioned to do, and who, instead of calling upon men to worship God, set himself up as God and called upon them to adore him. Such a thing can never occur. A Prophet would always exhort men to become the devotees of God only.

The words, because you teach the Book and because you study it, show that it is the duty of all those who succeed in acquiring spiritual knowledge to impart it to others and not to let men grope in the darkness of ignorance.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

b

5:117, 118.

432

The expression ma Kana la-hu is used in three senses: (a) It does not become him to do so. (b) It is not possible for him to do so; or, it does not stand to reason that he should have done so; (c) he cannot possibly do so, i.e. it is physically impossible for him to do so.

432A

Rabbaniyyin is the plural of Rabbaniy which means, (1) one who devotes himself to religious service or applies himself to acts of devotion; (2) one who possesses knowledge of God; (3) one who is learned in religious lore, or a good or righteous man; (4) a teacher who begins to nourish people with the small matters of knowledge or science before taking the great ones; (5) a lord or master or a leader; (6) a reformer (Lane, Sibawaih & Mubarrad).

432B

The words, because you teach the Book and because you study it, show that it is the duty of all those who themselves have acquired spiritual knowledge that they should impart it to others and should not let men grope in the darkness of ignorance.

English - Pickthall

It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom and the prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah; but (what he said was): Be ye faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant study thereof.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

It is not meet for a mortal that Allah should give him the Book and the judgement and the prophethood, then he should say to men: Be my servants besides Allah’s; but (he would say): Be worshippers of the Lord because you teach the Book and because you study (it);

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

It would not behoove a righteous person that Allah should give him the Book and dominion and Prophethood, and yet he should say to people: Worship me instead of Allah. Such a one could only say: Be solely devoted to the Lord because you teach the Book and because you study it attentively.

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