Al-Bayyina (ٱلْبَيِّنَة)

Surah Baiyyinah is the 98th Surah in the 30th Juz of the Quran. Al-Bayyinah means “The Clear Evidence” and here Allah clarifies the difference between people of the Books and the Believers of Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah describes the reaction of people of Ahl Bayt upon hearing the message of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ). Surah Al-Bayyinah consists of 8 verses and 1 Ruku and was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) after Hijrah in Madinah. The Surah delivers the importance of worshipping Allah only and following the right path of Muhammad (ﷺ).

 

٩٨ - ٱلْبَيِّنَة

98 - Al-Bayyina

لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْ اَہْلِ الْكِتٰبِ وَالْمُشْرِكِيْنَ مُنْفَكِّيْنَ حَتّٰى تَاْتِيَہُمُ الْبَيِّنَۃُ۝۱ۙ
Lam yakuni allatheena kafaroo min ahli alkitabi waalmushrikeena munfakkeena hatta tatiyahumu albayyinatu

English

Ahmed Ali

THOSE AMONG THE people of the Book who disbelieve, and the idolaters, would not have been freed (from false beliefs) until the clear proof came to them --

1

رَسُوْلٌ مِّنَ اللہِ يَتْلُوْا صُحُفًا مُّطَہَّرَۃً۝۲ۙ
Rasoolun mina Allahi yatloo suhufan mutahharatan

English

Ahmed Ali

An Apostle from God, reading out hallowed pages

2

فِيْہَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَۃٌ۝۳ۭ
Feeha kutubun qayyimatun

English

Ahmed Ali

Containing firm decrees.

3

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ اِلَّا مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَاۗءَتْہُمُ الْبَيِّنَۃُ۝۴ۭ
Wama tafarraqa allatheena ootoo alkitaba illa min baAAdi ma jaathumu albayyinatu

English

Ahmed Ali

The people of the Book were not divided among themselves till after the clear proof had come to them.

4

وَمَاۗ اُمِرُوْۗا اِلَّا لِــيَعْبُدُوا اللہَ مُخْلِصِيْنَ لَہُ الدِّيْنَ۝۰ۥۙ حُنَفَاۗءَ وَيُقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكٰوۃَ وَذٰلِكَ دِيْنُ الْقَيِّمَۃِ۝۵ۭ
Wama omiroo illa liyaAAbudoo Allaha mukhliseena lahu alddeena hunafaa wayuqeemoo alssalata wayutoo alzzakata wathalika deenu alqayyimati

English

Ahmed Ali

They were commanded only to serve God with all-exclusive faith in Him, to be upright, and to fulfil their devotional obligations, and to give zakat; for this is the even way.

5

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْ اَہْلِ الْكِتٰبِ وَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ فِيْ نَارِ جَہَنَّمَ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْہَا۝۰ۭ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّۃِ۝۶ۭ
Inna allatheena kafaroo min ahli alkitabi waalmushrikeena fee nari jahannama khalideena feeha olaika hum sharru albariyyati

English

Ahmed Ali

Surely the unbelievers among the people of the Book and the idolaters, will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.

6

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ۝۰ۙ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّۃِ۝۷ۭ
Inna allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati olaika hum khayru albariyyati

English

Ahmed Ali

But those who believe and do the right are surely the best of created beings,

7

جَزَاۗؤُہُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّہِمْ جَنّٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِيْ مِنْ تَحْتِہَا الْاَنْہٰرُ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْہَاۗ اَبَدًا۝۰ۭ رَضِيَ اللہُ عَنْہُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْہُ۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ رَبَّہٗ۝۸ۧ
Jazaohum AAinda rabbihim jannatu AAadnin tajree min tahtiha alanharu khalideena feeha abadan radiya Allahu AAanhum waradoo AAanhu thalika liman khashiya rabbahu

English

Ahmed Ali

Whose reward is with their Lord -- gardens of Eden with rivers flowing by, where they will abide for ever, God pleased with their service, they with obedience to Him. This (awaits) him who stands in awe of his Lord.

8

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Bayyinah

In the very first verse of Surah Al-Bayyinah, Allah declares the Quran to be the clear proof for all the people who disbelieve in Allah and worship the idolaters. The Surah describes the disbelievers and people of earlier scriptures, including Jews and Christians, before the arrival of the clear evidence. It highlights that both groups were in clear misguidance, lacking the proper understanding and practice of monotheism.

Even after the revelation of the message, these people denied it and divided into sects, showing their stubbornness and resistance to accept the message of Muhammad (ﷺ). The Surah highlights that the arrival of Muhammad (ﷺ) as the Messenger of Allah was the ultimate evidence of divine guidance sent by the Creator, clearing all the previous misconceptions and providing a clear path to follow. 

Allah describes the practices of believers as sincere worship of Allah alone, establishing regular prayers, and giving zakat. These practices serve as Islam's fundamental pillars of faith and righteous conduct. The Surah also contrasts the practices and fate of believers and the mushriks. Those who accept the clear evidence are among Allah's best creatures, who are promised an eternal blissful life in the gardens of Paradise, with Allah being pleased with them, while those who deny the clear evidence are among the worst of creatures and belong to Hellfire.

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Bayyinah

Surah Al-Bayyinah serves as a powerful message and reminder for Muslims and non-Muslims about the clear evidence Allah has sent upon us. This Surah calls upon the people of the Books to abandon all forms of misguidance and to embrace the true religion and teachings sent by Allah through Muhammad (ﷺ). 

Anas bin Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to Ubayy bin Ka’b:

“I have been commanded to recite to you the Surah (Al-Bayyinah), which opens with these words (Lam Yakunil Ladhiyna Kafaruu) He said: Has he mentioned to you my name? He said: Yes; thereupon he shed tears of joy.” (Sahih Muslim 799e, Book 44, Hadith 173)

On another occasion, Ubayy bin Ka’b narrates:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told him: “Indeed Allah has ordered me to recite the Quran to you.” So he recited to him: “Those who disbelieve were not going to… (98:1) and he recited in it: “Indeed the religion with Allah is that which is Hanafiyyah, Muslim, not Judaism, nor Christianity, nor Zoroastrian, whoever does good then it shall not be rejected from him.” And he recited to him: “if the son of Adam has a valley of wealth he would seek a second, and if he had a second he would seek a third, and nothing fills the belly of the son of Adam except dirt. And Allah pardons those who repent.” (Jami At-Tirmidhi, Book 46, Hadith 3895)

The Surah highlights the importance of believing in Allah and encourages Muslims to pray salah and give charity. It assures believers who perform righteous deeds of the gift of Paradise, which encourages Muslims to strengthen their faith, remain steadfast in their deen, and seek Allah’s pleasure.