Surah Baqarah Ayat 138 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 138
[And say, “Ours is] the religion of Allah. And who is better than Allah in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him.”
“(Our religion is) the Baptism of Allah: And who can baptize better than Allah? And it is He Whom we worship.
Say, “Take Allah’s colour, and who can give a better colour than Allah? Therefore, we worship and submit to Him alone. “
[Our Sibghah (religion) is] the Sibghah (Religion) of Allah (Islam) and which Sibghah (religion) can be better than Allah’s? And we are His worshippers. [Tafsir Ibn Kathir.]
(We take our) colour from Allah, and who is better than Allah at colouring. We are His worshippers.
(Our dye is) the dye (i.e. Religion) of Allah; and who has a fairer dye than that of Allah? And to Him we are worshipers.
‘[Our life] takes its colour from God, and who gives a better colour than God? It is Him we worship.’
اللہ کا رنگ اختیار کرو اور اللہ تعالیٰ سے اچھا رنگ کس کا ہوگا؟ ہم تو اسی کی عبادت کرنے والے ہیں
Quran 2 Verse 138 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 138, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:138) Say: “Take on Allah’s colour.”[137] And whose colour is better than Allah’s? It is Him that we serve.
137. This verse can be translated in two ways. One of these is: ‘We have taken on Allah’s colour.’ The other is: ‘Take on Allah’s colour.’ On the eve of the advent of Christianity the Jews followed the practice of bathing everyone who embraced their religion. This ritual bath signified that all his previous sins had been washed away and that he had adopted a different colour for his life. This practice was subsequently taken over by the Christians and is termed baptism’. Not only converts but even new-born babies were baptized. The Qur’anic remarks here refer to this institution. The Qur’an says in effect: ‘Of what use is this formal baptism? What really is worth doing is to adopt the colour of God, and it is not water that gives one this colour but actual service and devotion to God.’
Ibn-Kathir
137. So if they believe in the like of that which you believe then they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice for you against them. And He is the Hearer, the Knower. 138. Our Sibghah (religion) is ﴾the Sibghah of Allah (Islam) and which Sibghah can be better than Allah’s And we are His worshippers.
Allah said, if they, the disbelievers among the People of the Book and other disbelievers, believe in all of Allah’s Books and Messengers and do not differentiate between any of them,
(then they are rightly guided) meaning, they would acquire the truth and be directed to it.
(but if they turn away) from truth to falsehood after proof had been presented to them,
(then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them) meaning, Allah will aid the believers against them,
(And He is the Hearer, the Knower). Allah said,
(The Sibghah of Allah). Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas commented, “The religion of Allah.” This Tafsir was also reported of Mujahid, Abu Al-`Aliyah, `Ikrimah, Ibrahim, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, `Abdullah bin Kathir, `Atiyah Al-`Awfi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, As-Suddi and other scholars. The Ayah,
(Allah’s Fitrah (i.e. Allah’s Islamic Monotheism)) (30:30) directs Muslims to, “Hold to it.”
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