The Holy Quran 3:187 — Surah Ali 'Imran

Arabic text

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ

Translation

(Do not forget the time) When Allaah took a pledge from those given the Book (from the scholars of the Jews and the Christians, saying), "You must definitely explain it (the divine Books) to mankind and not conceal (alter the meaning in) it." They then threw it behind their backs (failed to practise its commands) and sold it for a cheap price (accepted bribes for issuing rulings that pleased people. In this manner, they broke the pledge). Evil indeed was what (wealth and status) they bought.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The People of the Book broke Allah's covenant: that is, a covenant was taken from the scholars of the People of the Book that they would clearly and openly explain to people the commands and glad tidings contained in the Book of Allah, would conceal nothing, and would not alter their meaning by twisting them.

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