Surah Ali 'Imran 3:21
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ · Medinan · Verse 21 of 200
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّۢ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Translation
Give news of agonizing torment to those who ignore God’s revelations, who unjustifiably kill prophets, who kill those who command that justice is done:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse addresses a specific group of people: those who deny Allah's clear signs, kill His prophets unjustly, and also kill those righteous individuals who call for justice among humanity. Allah Himself is speaking here, delivering a stern rebuke and a severe warning of punishment. The tone is one of profound condemnation, highlighting the enormity of their transgressions.
Layers of Disbelief
The verse begins by describing those who "disbelieve in Allah's signs" (إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ). Imam al-Razi explains that "Allah's signs" here can refer broadly to all His revelations, including the Quran and the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him. A denial of Prophet Muhammad's message, in essence, becomes a denial of all divine signs because it implies inconsistency in belief. The use of the present tense verb "يكفرون" (they disbelieve) isn't just about past actions; Ibn Ashur notes it vividly "brings forth the heinous state" of these individuals, implying a continuous state of disbelief or an active endorsement of past rejections.
The Gravity of Killing
The verse then escalates to two grave acts: "and kill the prophets without right" (وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّۢ) and "and kill those who enjoin justice among people" (وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ). Although the physical killing of prophets happened in the past (carried out by their forefathers, as al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur explain, referring to the Jews), the Quran uses the present tense "يقتلون" (they kill). This is a powerful linguistic choice. It indicates that the contemporary generation is just as culpable, either because they approved of these past heinous acts, desired to commit similar ones against Prophet Muhammad, or embody the same spiritual sickness.
The phrase "without right" (بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّۢ) is a profound emphasis. Ibn Ashur clarifies that it adds to the repulsion of their act, for killing a prophet can never be justified. By explicitly stating "without right," Allah underscores the sheer injustice and criminality of their deeds. This is immediately followed by the killing of those who "enjoin justice," highlighting that their crime extends beyond prophets to anyone who champions truth and fairness. Imam al-Razi mentions a narration describing how the Children of Israel killed prophets and then massacred righteous individuals who commanded good. An alternative reading by Hamza for the second "يقتلون" is "يقاتلون" (they fight/combat), which further emphasizes their aggressive confrontation with those who call to justice.
A Bitter 'Good Tidings'
The chilling culmination comes with the command, "then give them good tidings of a painful punishment" (فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ). The word "بشرهم" (give them good tidings) usually means to deliver joyful news. Here, however, it is used with cutting irony, a figure of speech known as *istia'ra tahakkumiyyah*, or sarcastic metaphor, as explained by Ibn Ashur and al-Jalalayn. Instead of a direct warning, Allah employs this phrase to emphasize the certainty and severity of the torment awaiting them. It's as if their impending suffering is so assured, it's treated like a piece of news to be delivered, twisting what would normally be good news into the most dreadful announcement imaginable. Al-Jadwal rightly points out that this ironic usage is "more stinging and painful" than a straightforward warning.
This precise wording makes the verse not just an informative statement but a profound, emotionally charged condemnation, where every word deepens the reflection on the gravity of denying truth and shedding innocent blood.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ali 'Imran 3:21 is discussed in 9 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ali 'Imran 3:21 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.