An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 159 of 176

An-Nisa 4:159

وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِۦ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا

“And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him [i.e., Jesus] before his death.[234] And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The truth about Jesus will one day be plain to all, and on the Day of Resurrection he will stand as a witness.

A reflection

One small word, two readings

'There is none of the People of the Book but will surely believe in him before his death.' Everything turns on one small pronoun. Whose death?

The commentaries record two main readings, both from the earliest generations.

The first says: before Jesus's death. On this reading, Jesus, raised alive, will return before the end of time. Then every one of the People of the Book alive at that time will believe in him. One classical commentator judged this the soundest reading, and others followed him. An early scholar of the Successors said plainly: he is alive now with Allah, and when he descends, all of them will believe in him.

The second says: before the death of each of the People of the Book. At the moment of death, when the unseen becomes visible, each will recognise the truth about Jesus, that he is Allah's servant and messenger. One report traces this reading to an early Companion. An early copy of the Quran reportedly read 'before their death', supporting it.

A few voices suggested that 'him' means the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or Allah. Most commentators set these aside as less likely.

What both main readings share is striking. The truth about Jesus will not stay disputed forever. A time is coming when it will be plain to every eye, whether at the end of history or at the end of each life.

That is the Quran's quiet confidence. It does not need to win every argument now. It knows how the story ends.

And it leaves each reader with the question that matters: will I recognise the truth while recognising it can still help me?

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.