إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلْمَجُوسَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
Important Words:
المجوس (Magians) is derived from مجس (majjasa). They say مجسه i.e. he made him a Magian. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said,
ما من مولود الا یولد علی الفطرة فأبواہ یھودانه و ینصرانه و یمجسانه
i.e." Every child is born on the true Islamic nature but his parents make him a Jew, Christian or Magian" (Bukhari, Kitabul-Jana’iz & Muslim). المجوس (Magians) are a people who worship the sun and the fire; sometimes the word مجوسی is used for a magician or a philosopher. It applies particularly to the Zoroastrians whose sacred Book is Zend-Avesta. In later Arabic literature, the word is also used to denote the people of northern Europe (Aqrab & Enc. of Islam).
Commentary:
The present verse read in conjunction with 2:63 and 5:70, clears the misunderstanding to which these two verses are mistakenly understood to give rise. These verses do not bear the construction put upon them by some Christian writers, viz. that Christians, Jews and Sabians are equally eligible to salvation along with true believers. The Quran lends support to no such belief. According to it the only religion acceptable to God is Islam (3:20, 86). The present verse lays down only a criterion to test the truth of all these religions and not that it regards all of them as true. The implied criterion is that of all these religions the true one will prevail over others in the "Hour of Decision."
In later Arabic literature, the word has been also used to denote the people of northern Europe (Enc. of Islam).
This verse and vv. 2:63 and 5:70 do not signify that Christians, Jews and Sabians are equally eligible to salvation along with true believers. The Qur’an does not support any such belief. According to it the only religion acceptable to God is Islam (3:20, 86). The present verse only lays down a criterion to test the truth of all the different religions and not that it regards all of them as true. The implied criterion is, that of all religions the true one will prevail over others in the "Hour of Decision." Or, the verse may mean that false beliefs of a person constitute no reason that he should be punished in this life. That matter will be decided on the Day of Judgment.