Surah Ali 'Imran 3:65

Disputing with the Jews and Christians About the Religion of Ibrahim

Allah censures the Jews and Christians for their dispute with Muslims over Ibrahim Al-Khalil and the claim each group made that he was one of them. Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Christians of Najran and Jewish rabbis gathered before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and disputed in front of him. The rabbis said, `Ibrahim was certainly Jewish.' The Christians said, `Certainly, Ibrahim was Christian.' So Allah sent down,

يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ لِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِى إِبْرَهِيمَ

(O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Ibrahim,) meaning, `How is it that you, Jews, claim that Ibrahim was Jew, although he lived before Allah sent down the Tawrah to Musa How is it that you, Christians, claim that Ibrahim was Christian, although Christianity came after his time" This is why Allah said,

أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ

(Have you then no sense)

Allah then said,

هأَنتُمْ هَـؤُلاءِ حَـجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِ عِلمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَآجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ

(Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have knowledge. Why do you then dispute concerning that of which you have no knowledge)

This Ayah criticizes those who argue and dispute without knowledge, just as the Jews and Christians did concerning Ibrahim. Had they disputed about their religions, which they had knowledge of, and about the Law that was legislated for them until Muhammad ﷺ was sent, it would have been better for them. Rather, they disputed about what they had no knowledge of, so Allah criticized them for this behavior. Allah commanded them to refer what they have no knowledge of to He Who knows the seen and unseen matters and Who knows the true reality of all things. This is why Allah said,

وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ

(It is Allah Who knows, and you know not.)

Allah said,

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلاَ نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا

(Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa), shunning Shirk and living in Iman,

وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(and he was not of the Mushrikin.)

This Ayah is similar to the Ayah in Surat Al-Baqarah,

وَقَالُواْ كُونُواْ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـرَى تَهْتَدُواْ

(And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided...") 2:135.

Allah said next,

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـذَا النَّبِىُّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَاللَّهُ وَلِىُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who have believed. And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.)

This Ayah means, "The people who have the most right to be followers of Ibrahim are those who followed his religion and this Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ , and his Companions from the Muhajirin, Ansar and those who followed their lead." Sa`id bin Mansur recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيَ وُلَاةً مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَإِنَّ وَلِيِّي مِنْهُمْ أَبِي وَخَلِيلُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَل»

(Every Prophet had a Wali (supporter, best friend) from among the Prophets. My Wali among them is my father Ibrahim, the Khalil (intimate friend) of my Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored)

The Prophet then recited,

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ

(Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him...)

Allah's statement,

وَاللَّهُ وَلِىُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.) means, Allah is the Protector of all those who believe in His Messengers.

Allah mencela perbuatan orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani yang selalu berselisih dalam hal kemurnian agama mereka masing-masing, karena mereka menganggap bahwa agama merekalah yang paling benar.

Ahli Kitab, orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani dikecam, mengapa mereka saling berselisih dan berbantah-bantah dalam persoalan agama nenek moyang mereka Nabi Ibrahim. Orang Yahudi mengatakan bahwa Nabi Ibrahim beragama Yahudi dan orang-orang Nasrani mengatakan bahwa Nabi Ibrahim memeluk agama Nasrani. Mereka berpendapat demikian karena Nabi Ibrahim itu dianggap sebagai lambang ketinggian martabat bagi masing-masing golongan. Di dalam kitab mereka terdapat pujian terhadap Ibrahim a.s., baik dalam perjanjian lama maupun dalam perjanjuan baru, sebagaimana juga orang Quraisy memuliakan namanya, mereka pun mengakui bahwa agama merekalah yang sesuai dengan agama Ibrahim.

Menurut pernyataan Al-Qur'an, pengakuan mereka itu sedikit pun tidak beralasan, karena ajaran Ibrahim sedikit pun tidak membekas dalam upacara-upacara keagamaan mereka. Yang benar ialah Nabi Ibrahim itu memeluk agama yang sesuai dengan agama yang diturunkan kepada Nabi Muhammad.

Ketentuan serupa ini telah diisyaratkan oleh firman Allah, bahwa Taurat dan Injil itu diturunkan oleh Allah sesudah datangnya Ibrahim. Logikanya karena kedua Kitab itu diturunkan sesudah Ibrahim, semestinya tidak akan terjadi perselisihan pendapat dan bantah membantah seperti itu. Perselisihan yang hebat itu menunjukkan ketidakbenaran alasan yang dikemukakan mereka, karena tidak mungkin yang datang terlebih dahulu itu mengikuti yang datang sesudahnya.

Itulah sebabnya maka Allah menegur mereka, "Apakah mereka itu tidak berpikir." Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa andaikata mereka itu mau berpikir tentu tidak akan terjadi perbantahan seperti itu. Dalam hal ini terdapat isyarat yang kuat, yang menunjukkan kelemahan pikiran dan hujjah (argumentasi) mereka.

Mengenai sabab nuzul ayat ini Ibnu Ishak dan Ibnu Jarir telah mengemukakan sebuah riwayat dari Ibnu 'Abbas, beliau berkata, "Orang Nasrani dari Najran dan beberapa pendeta Yahudi berkumpul di hadapan Nabi Muhammad saw, kemudian mereka berselisih pendapat. Pendeta-pendeta itu berkata: Nabi Ibrahim tak memeluk agama kecuali agama Yahudi. Sedangkan orang Nasrani berkata: Nabi Ibrahim tak memeluk agama kecuali agama Nasrani.