Understand with ease.

Surah Al- Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence)

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Lam ya kunil lazeena kafaru min ahlil kitaabi wal mushri keena mun fak keena hattaa ta-tiya humul bayyinah

Rasoolum minal laahi yatlu suhufam mutahharah

Feeha kutubun qaiyimah

Wa maa tafarraqal lazeena ootul kitaaba il-la mim b'adi ma jaa-at humul baiyyinah

Wa maa umiroo il-la liy'abu dul laaha mukhliseena lahud-deena huna faa-a wa yuqeemus salaahta wa yu-tuz zakaata; wa zaalika deenul qaiyimah

Innal lazeena kafaru min ahlil kitaabi wal mushri keena fee nari jahan nama khaali deena feeha; ulaa-ika hum shar rul ba reeyah

Innal lazeena aamanu wa 'amilus saalihaati ula-ika hum khairul bareey yah

Jazaa-uhum inda rabbihim jan naatu 'adnin tajree min tahtihal an haaru khalideena feeha abada; radiy-yallaahu 'anhum wa ra du 'an zaalika liman khashiya rabbah.

In the Name of Allah, Most Kind, Most Merciful

Those who disbelieved among the People of the Book and the mushrikoon would not leave (their disbelief) until clear evidence came to them:

A Messenger from Allah reciting purified pages,

Containing correct and straight laws;

Those who were given the Book did not divide into sects until after clear evidence came to them;

They were not ordered to do anything but to worship Allah, devoting themselves sincerely to  Him alone, as straight and true believers, and to perform salah and give zakah; and that is the correct religion.

Indeed, those who disbelieve from among the People of the Book and the mushrikoon will be in the fire of Hell, remaining in it forever; they are the worst of all creatures.

Indeed, those who believe and do righteous actions - they are the best of all creatures;

Their reward with Allah will be the gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow. They will abide there forever. Allah will be pleased with them and they with Him; that is for whoever fears his Lord!

Whereas some Qur'an scholars believe that this surah belongs to the Madinah period, many others regard it as a late Makkan revelation. The key word by which it is named is found at the end of the first verse.

Where it was revealed, at Makkah or Madinah, is also disputed. Some commentators say it is a Makki revelation according to most scholars; others say it is a Madani revelation according to most scholars. Ibn Az Zubair and Ata bin Yasar hold the view that it is Madani. Ibn Abbas and Qatadah are reported to have held two views, first that it is Makki, second that it is Madani. Hadrat Aishah regards it as a Makki Surah. Abu Hayyan, author of Bahr al-Muhit, and Abdul Munim ibn al- Faras, author of Ahkam al-Quran, also have preferred to regard it as Makki. As for its contents, there is nothing in it to indicate whether it was revealed at Makkah or at Madinah.

This surah describes the difference between the true believers and the disbelievers. The 'clear evidence' is the Qur'an. The term  'People of the Book' is used in the Qur'an to denote the Christians and the Jews, who had been given holy books: The Tawrah which was given to the Jews and the Injeel which was given to the Christians. Many changes, additions and deletions have crept into these books. Only the Qur'an, the final revelation from Allah to His Messenger Muhammad SAWW, remains intact.

The mushrikoon are those who commit shirk, by associating others with Allah in worship. They include the idolaters and the fire worshippers among the Arabs and non-Arabs.

The surah mentions the reward of the true believers in the hereafter because of their belief in Almighty Allah and their good actions that are pleasing to Him. It also mentions the punishment of the disbelievers in Hellfire because of their disbelief and rejection of the truth.

Source: Islamic Studies, Darussalam Publication.