The Quran

سورة النِّسَاء

Surah Al-Nisâ’ 4:51

The Women · Verse 51 of 176

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِنَ الْكِتَابِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَبِيلًا

Abdul Mannan Omar

Have you not considered the case of those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in nonsense things devoid of good and follow those who transgress, and they say of those who disbelieve, `These are better guided in the (right) way than those who believe (in Islam).´

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Hast thou not turned Thy vision to those who were given a portion of the Book? they believe in sorcery and Evil, and say to the Unbelievers that they are better guided in the (right) way Than the believers!

Ahmed Ali

Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Book, who believe in false deities and evil powers, and say of unbelievers: "These are better guided than those who believe."

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Do you not consider those who were given a portion of the Book, how they believe in any false deity and all manner of powers of evil (who institute patterns of faith and rule in defiance of God), and say about those (idolaters) who disbelieve that they are more rightly guided (in the way they follow) than those who believe?

Daryabadi

Hast thou not observed those unto whom is vouchsafed a portion of the Book testifying to idols and devils, and saying of those who have disbelieved: these are better guided as regards the way than the believers?

Faridul Haque

Did you not see those who received a portion of the Book, that they believe in idols and the devil, and say regarding the disbelievers that they are more rightly guided than the Muslims?

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Hast thou not seen those to whom a portion of the Book was given? They believe in sorcery and diviners and say of those who disbelieve: These are better guided in the path than those who believe.

Maulvi Sher Ali

Hast thou not seen those who were given a portion of the Book? They believe in evil objects and follow those who transgress, and they say of the disbelievers, `These are better guided in religion than those who believe.'

Muhammad Asad

Art thou not aware of those who, having been granted their share of the divine writ, [now] believe in baseless mysteries and in the powers of evil, and maintain that those who are bent on denying the truth are more surely guided than those who have attained to faith?

Muhammad Musin Khan

Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Jibt and Taghut and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims).

Muhammad Pickthall

Hast thou not seen those unto whom a portion of the Scripture hath been given, how they believe in idols and false deities, and how they say of those (idolaters) who disbelieve: "These are more rightly guided than those who believe"?

Muhammad Sarwar

Have you seen how those who had been given a share of the Book believe in idols and Satan and who say, "The disbelievers are better guided than the believers".

Muhammed ali Shakir

Have you not seen those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They believe in idols and false deities and say of those who disbelieve: These are better guided in the path than those who believe.

Rashad Khalifa

Have you noted those who received a portion of the scripture, and how they believe in idolatry and false doctrine, then say, "The disbelievers are better guided than the believers?!"

Shabbir Ahmed

Are you not aware of those who, after receiving their share of the Book, believe in JIBT and Taaghoot? And they say that the 'kafirs' are better guided than the believers (in God's messages).

Commentary 4:51 Jibt جِبْتِ refers to things that are nonsense such as sorcery (Bukhârî) and idols (Tâj), all manner of superstitions or divination (Dâ’ûd), as well as…

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَـٰؤُلَاءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَبِيلًا

4:51 Jibt جِبْتِ refers to things that are nonsense such as sorcery (Bukhârî) and idols (Tâj), all manner of superstitions or divination (Dâ’ûd), as well as what is worthless in itself or a thing in which there is no good (Qâmûs). This general statement found its practical application in the Battle of Confederates. The Jewish tribes incited the Makkans and other Arab tribes to join forces against the Muslims in Madînah and succeeded in allying 10,000 fighters. In order to rally the pagan Arabs to their cause, the Jews stated that the polytheistic religion of the pagan Arabs was superior to their own monotheistic religion. Though they were in possession of the Divine Book of the Torah, they proclaimed the pagans “better guided than they” (cf. 33:9-26).