Surah 98 · Medinan · 8 Verses
البينة
SURAH AL-BAYYINAH
The Clear Proof
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ
فِيهَا كُتُبٌۭ قَيِّمَةٌۭ
Within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws].
وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ
And they were not commanded except to worship Allāh, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakāh. And that is the correct religion.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ
Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ
Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures.
جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۖ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ
Their reward with their Lord will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allāh being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord.
About This Surah
Surah Al-Bayyinah describes the coming of clear evidence through a messenger reciting purified pages and addresses division after knowledge arrived. It summarizes sincere religion as worship of God alone, prayer and almsgiving, then contrasts persistent rejection with faith expressed in good works. Interfaith language requires accuracy and must not become hostility toward whole populations.
The chapter names people among the People of the Book and polytheists who would not leave their position until clear evidence came: a messenger from God reciting purified pages containing upright writings. Division is then connected to what happened after evidence arrived.
The commanded core is stated in concise terms: sincere worship of God, upright devotion, established prayer and almsgiving. The description should be read as the Quran’s theological claim, not a complete history of every Jewish, Christian or polytheist community.
The final contrast uses severe language for those who disbelieve and honor for those who believe and do good. Their reward is lasting gardens and, most centrally, mutual pleasure between God and His servants.
Because the surah names religious categories, its claims about belief give no basis for prejudice, harassment or assumptions about every individual. It should neither conceal the verse nor weaponize it.
Core Themes
- Revelation brings accountable clarity
- Knowledge does not automatically prevent division
- Sincere worship joins prayer and giving
- Faith is expressed through good works
Structure
Verses 1-3: clear evidence and purified pages — 1-3
Verses 1-3 focus on clear evidence and purified pages.
Verses 4-5: division and sincere worship — 4-5
Verses 4-5 focus on division and sincere worship.
Verses 6-8: two outcomes and divine pleasure — 6-8
Verses 6-8 focus on two outcomes and divine pleasure.
Key Passages
The clear evidence — 1-3
Verses 1-3 address the clear evidence.
Sincerity, prayer and almsgiving — 4-5
Verses 4-5 address sincerity, prayer and almsgiving.
Accountability and lasting reward — 6-8
Verses 6-8 address accountability and lasting reward.
Interpretation Limits
- Do not turn theological disagreement into ethnic hostility.
- Do not claim every member of a named group has identical knowledge or conduct.
- Detailed legal judgments require qualified scholarship beyond this overview.