Al-Baqarah
البقرة
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Translation
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans — those among them who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness — will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Tafsir (Commentary)
This verse is foundational to interfaith discourse in Islam. It establishes that divine reward is not exclusive to one religious label but is tied to sincere belief in God, accountability in the Hereafter, and righteous action. Classical scholars like al-Tabari understood this to refer to those who followed their prophets' original teachings before the advent of Muhammad. The verse is significant in that it names Jews, Christians, and Sabeans by their communities — a rare acknowledgement of religious pluralism in ancient scripture.
Context of Revelation
Revealed in Medina during a period when Muslims lived alongside Jewish and Christian communities. The verse addresses the universal question of who attains salvation.