The Holy Quran 9:34 — Surah At-Tawbah

Arabic text

۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Translation

O you who have Imaan! Verily many of the priests and monks (whom the Ahlul Kitaab regard as their divinely appointed religious leaders) falsely (unlawfully) devour (consume) the wealth of people and forbid (others) from the path of Allaah (Islaam). Verily those who hoard (amass) gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of (for the pleasure of) Allaah, then give them the good news of a painful punishment (for hankering after worldly desires).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The irreligion of the scholars of the People of the Book: that is, they take money and alter the injunctions of the shariah and the tidings from Allah. Meanwhile the common people, as mentioned earlier, have given them the rank of divinity: whatever they say, however wrong and muddled, is an authority in their eyes.

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