Surah Jathiya Ayat 16 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 16
And We did certainly give the Children of Israel the Scripture and judgement and prophethood, and We provided them with good things and preferred them over the worlds.
We did aforetime grant to the Children of Israel the Book the Power of Command, and Prophethood; We gave them, for Sustenance, things good and pure; and We favoured them above the nations.
Indeed We endowed the Children of Israel with the Book and Wisdom and Prophethood, and provided them with good things as sustenance, and exalted them above the peoples of the whole world.
And indeed We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding of the Scripture and its laws, and the Prophethood; and provided them with good things, and preferred them above the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinns) (of their time, during that period),
And verily we gave the Children of Israel the Scripture and the Command and the Prophethood, and provided them with good things and favoured them above (all) peoples;
And indeed We already brought the Seeds (Or: sons) of Israel) the Book, and the Judgment, and the Prophethood, and We provided them with good things, and We graced them over the worlds.
We gave scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to the Children of Israel; We provided them with good things and favoured them above others;
یقیناً ہم نے بنی اسرائیل کو کتاب، حکومت اور نبوت دی تھی، اور ہم نے انہیں پاکیزه (اور نفیس) روزیاں دی تھیں اور انہیں دنیا والوں پر فضیلت دی تھی
Quran 45 Verse 16 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Jathiya ayat 16, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(45:16) Indeed We endowed the Children of Israel with the Book and Wisdom[20] and Prophethood, and provided them with good things[21] as sustenance, and exalted them above the peoples of the whole world.
20. Hukm (judgment) implies three things:
(1) Knowledge and understanding of the Book and Religion.
(2) Wisdom to act according to the intention of the Book.
(3) Capability to give right decisions in disputes.
21. It does not mean that they were given preference over all the people of the world forever, rather it means: Allah had chosen the children of Israel from among all the contemporary nations of the world for the service that they should hold fast to the divine Book and should rise as the standard bearers of God worship in the world.
Ibn-Kathir
16. And indeed We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding of the Scripture and its laws, and the prophethood; and provided them with good things, and preferred them above the nations. 17. And gave them clear proofs in matters. And they differed not until after the knowledge came to them, through envy among themselves. Verily, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they used to differ. 18. Then We have put you on a (legal) way of commandment. So follow you that, and follow not the desires of those who know not. 19. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah. Verily, the wrongdoers are protecting friends of one another, but Allah is the Protector of those who have Taqwa. 20. This is a clear insight and evidence for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy for people who have faith with certainty.
Allah the Exalted mentions the favors He granted the Children of Israel, such as revealing the Divine Books to them, sending the Messengers to them and granting them kingship. Allah said,
(And indeed We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding of the Scripture and its laws, and the prophethood; and provided them with good things,) such as foods and drinks,
(and preferred them above the nations.) of their time,
(And gave them clear proofs in matters.) `We gave them evidences, proofs and unequivocal signs.’ Therefore, the proof has been established against them, yet they differed among themselves after the proof came to them, out of transgression against each other,
(Verily, your Lord) `O Muhammad’,
(will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they used to differ. ) He will judge between them by His just judgement.
This Ayah contains a warning to the Muslim Ummah as well. It warns them not to take the path the Jews took nor adopt their ways. This is why Allah said,
(Then We have put you on a (legal) way of commandment. So follow you that.) `follow what was revealed to you from your Lord, O Muhammad, there is no true deity except Him, and turn away from the idolators.’ Allah said,
(and follow not the desires of those who know not. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah. Verily, the wrongdoers are protecting friends of one another,) Allah says, `what will the loyalty that the idolators give each other avail them’ Indeed, all they will earn from their protecting friends is more loss, destruction and demise,
(but Allah is the Protector of those who have Taqwa.) and He will deliver them from the darkness to the light. In contrast, all the false deities are the protecting friends of those who disbelieve, taking them out of the light to the darkness. Allah said,
(This is a clear insight and evidence for man- kind,) in reference to the Qur’an,
(and a guidance and a mercy for people who have faith with certainty.)
Quick navigation links
