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Al-Baqarah - 2:91
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Although The Jews denied the Truth, They claimed to be Believers!
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ
And when it is said to them, meaning, the Jews and the People of the Book,
امِنُواْ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ
Believe in what Allah has sent down, to Muhammad , believe in and follow him.
قَالُواْ نُوْمِنُ بِمَأ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا
They say, "We believe in what was sent down to us." Meaning, it is enough for us to believe in what was revealed to us in the Tawrah and the Injil, and this is the path that we choose.
وَيَكْفُرونَ بِمَا وَرَاءهُ
And they disbelieve in that which came after it.
وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ
while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Meaning, while knowing that what was revealed to Muhammad.
الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ
it is the truth confirming what is with them.
This means that since what was sent to Muhammad conforms to what was revealed to the People of the Book, then this fact constitutes a proof against them.
Similarly, Allah said,
الَّذِينَ اتَيْنَـهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَأءَهُمْ
Those to whom We gave the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognize him (Muhammad) as they recognize their sons.
(2:146)
Allah said next,
قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنبِيَاء اللّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّوْمِنِينَ
"Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers!"
This means, "If your claim that you believe in what was revealed to you is true, then why did you kill the Prophets who came to you affirming the Tawrah's Law, although you knew they were true Prophets! You killed them simply out of transgression, stubbornness and injustice with Allah's Messengers. Therefore, you only follow your lusts, opinions and desires."
Similarly, Allah said,
أَفَكُلَّمَا جَأءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَى أَنفُسُكُم اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ
Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant! Some you disbelieved and some you killed.
(2;87)
Also, As-Suddi said, "In this Ayah, Allah chastised the People of the Book,
قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنبِيَاء اللّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّوْمِنِينَ
(Say (O Muhammad to them):"Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers."
Al-Baqarah - 2:92
وَلَقَدْ جَاءكُم مُّوسَى بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ
And indeed Musa came to you with clear proofs, meaning, with clear signs and clear proofs that he was the Messenger of Allah and that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
The clear signs -or miracles- mentioned here are;
- the flood,
- the locusts,
- the lice,
- the frogs,
- the blood,
- the staff and
- the hand.
Musa's miracles also include;
- parting the sea,
- shading the Jews with clouds,
- the manna and quails,
- the gushing stone, etc.
ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ
yet you worshipped the calf, meaning, as a deity instead of Allah, during the time of Musa.
Allah's statement,
مِن بَعْدِهِ
after he left, after Musa went to Mount Tur to speak to Allah.
Similarly, Allah said,
وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَى مِن بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلً جَسَداً لَّهُ خُوَارٌ
And the people of Musa made in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf (for worship). It had a sound (as if it was mooing).
(7:148)
وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
and you were Zalimun. Meaning, you were unjust in this behavior of worshipping the calf, although you knew that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
Similarly, Allah said,
وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فَى أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْاْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ قَالُواْ لَيِن لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَـسِرِينَ
And when they regretted and saw that they had gone astray, they (repented and) said:"If our Lord have not mercy upon us and forgive us, we shall certainly be of the losers."
(7:149)
Al-Baqarah - 2:93
The Jews rebel after Allah took Their Covenant and raised the Mountain above Their Heads
Allah says;
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُواْ مَا اتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاسْمَعُواْ
And (remember) when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount (saying), "Hold firmly to what We have given you and hear (Our Word)."
Allah reminded the Jews of their errors, breaking His covenant, transgression and defiance, when He raised Mount Tur above them so that they would believe and agree to the terms of the covenant. Yet, they broke it soon afterwards.
قَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا
They said, "We have heard and disobeyed."
We have mentioned the Tafsir of this subject before.
وَأُشْرِبُواْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ
And their hearts absorbed (the worship of) the calf,
Abdur-Razzaq said that Ma'mar narrated that Qatadah said that it, means, "They absorbed its love, until its love resided in their hearts."
This is also the opinion of Abu Al-Aliyah and Ar-Rabi bin Anas.
Allah's statement,
قُلْ بِيْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِهِ إِيمَانُكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّوْمِنِينَ
Say:"Worst indeed is that which your faith enjoins on you if you are believers."
Means, "Worse yet is the manner in which you behaved in the past and even now, disbelieving in Allah's Ayat and defying the Prophets. You also disbelieved in Muhammad, which is the worst of your deeds and the harshest sin that you committed. You disbelieved in the Final Messenger and the master of all Prophets and Messengers, the one who was sent to all mankind. How can you then claim that you believe, while committing the evil of breaking Allah's covenant, disbelieving in Allah's Ayat and worshipping the calf instead of Allah.
Al-Baqarah - 2:94
Calling the Jews to invoke Allah to destroy the Unjust Party
Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn Abbas said, "Allah said to His Prophet,
قُلْ إِن كَانَتْ لَكُمُ الدَّارُ الَاخِرَةُ عِندَ اللّهِ خَالِصَةً مِّن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
Say to (them):"If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is indeed for you especially and not for others, of mankind, then long for death if you are truthful."
Meaning, 'Invoke Allah to bring death to the lying camp among the two (Muslims and Jews).'
The Jews declined this offer by the Messenger of Allah."
Al-Baqarah - 2:95
وَلَن يَتَمَنَّوْهُ أَبَدًا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمينَ
But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent before them (i.e. what they have done). And Allah is Aware of the Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers).
Meaning, "Since they know that they recognize you, and yet disbelieve in you."
Had they wished death that day, no Jew would have remained alive on the face of the earth.
Moreover, Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that,
فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ
(Then long for death), means, "Invoke (Allah) for death."
Also, Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ikrimah said that Ibn Abbas commented,
فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
(Then long for death if you are truthful), "Had the Jews invoked Allah for death, they would have perished."
Also, Ibn Abi Hatim recorded Sa'id bin Jubayr saying that Ibn Abbas said, "Had the Jews asked for death, one of them would have choked on his own saliva."
These statements have authentic chains of narration up to Ibn Abbas.
Further, Ibn Jarir said in his Tafsir, "We were told that the Prophet said,
لَوْ أَنَّ الْيَهُودَ تَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ لَمَاتُوا وَلَرَأَوْا مَقَاعِدَهُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَوْ خَرَجَ الَّذِينَ يُبَاهِلُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِصلى الله عليه وسلّم لَرَجَعُوا لَا يَجِدُونَ أَهْلً وَلَا مَالاً
Had the Jews wished for death, they would have died and seen their seats in the Fire. And, those who invoked such curse against Allah's Messenger would have found no families or property had they returned to their homes."
Similar to this Ayah is Allah's statement in Surah Al-Jumuah,
قُلْ يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ إِن زَعمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ
وَلَا يَتَمَنَّونَهُ أَبَداً بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْديهِمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّـلِمِينَ
قُلْ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِى تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مُلَـقِيكُمْ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ فَيُنَبِّيُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
(Say (O Muhammad ):"O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allah, to the exclusion of (all) other mankind, then long for death if you are truthful.
"But they will never long for it (death), because of what (deeds) their hands have sent before them! And Allah knows well the Zalimin.
Say (to them): "Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allah) the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do."
(62:6-8)
So they claimed that they are Allah's sons and loved ones and said, "Only those who are Christian or Jews shall enter Paradise."
Therefore, they were called to invoke Allah to destroy the lying group, be it them or the Muslims. When the Jews declined, every one was sure of their wrong, for had they been sure of their claims, then they would have accepted the proposal. Their lies were thus exposed after they declined the offer to invoke the curse.
Similarly, the Messenger of Allah called a delegation of Najran's Christians to curse after he refuted them in a debate in which they demonstrated stubbornness and defiance.
Allah said,
فَمَنْ حَأجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَأءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ أَبْنَأءَنَا وَأَبْنَأءَكُمْ وَنِسَأءَنَا وَنِسَأءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَـذِبِينَ
Then whoever disputes with you concerning him (`Isa) after (all this) knowledge that has come to you (i.e. `Isa) being a servant of Allah, and having no share in divinity), say (O Muhammad): "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the curse of Allah upon those who lie."
(3:61)
When the Christians heard this challenge, some of them said to each other, "By Allah! If you do such with this Prophet, none of you will have an eye that blinks."
This is when they resorted to peace and gave the Jizyah (tax) in disgrace. The Prophet accepted the Jizyah from them and sent Abu Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah with them as a trustee.
Similar to this meaning is Allah's command to His Prophet to proclaim to the polytheists:
قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِى الضَّلَـلَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـنُ مَدّاً
Say (O Muhammad ) whoever is in error, the Most Gracious (Allah) will prolong him (in it).
(19:75)
Meaning, "Whoever among us has deviated, may Allah increase and prolong his deviation."
We will mention this subject later, Allah willing.
The Mubahalah (invocation to Allah to destroy the liars) was called a 'wish' here, because every just person wishes that Allah destroy the unjust opponent who is debating with him, especially when the just person has a clear, apparent proof for the truth he is calling to.
Also, the Mubahalah involves invoking Allah for death of the unjust group, because to disbelievers, life is the biggest prize, especially when they know the evil destination they will meet after death.
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