The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 182
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH PT. 1 them a Book from Allah, وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ كِتب مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ And when there came to. 90 مُصَدِّقُ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ fulfilling that which is with“ them, and before that they had prayed for victory over the came to them that which they يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوا فَلَمَّا ش جَاءَهُمْ مَّا عَرَفُوا كَفَرُوا بِهِ فَلَعْنَةُ disbelieversyet when there اللهِ عَلَى الْكَفِرِينَ knew, they rejected it. The curse of Allah disbelievers. 96 be on the "2:42, 92, 98, 102; 3:82; 4:48; 35:32; 46:13. 2:147. word to mean "enclosed in coverings" this reply of the Jews would mean that their hearts enjoyed special protection from their Lord so that they could not be influenced by the preachings of Muslims. Again, taking the word to signify "a storehouse of knowledge", the reply of the Jews would mean that, as they possessed all necessary spiritual knowledge, they did not stand in need of further teaching. Whatever was the motive of the Jews in saying these words, the Quran says that Islamic doctrines were not only consistent with reason and easy to grasp, but superior to all other teachings, and the reply of the Jews only indicated that they had lost all touch with God and their faith had become corrupt and vitiated. The clause, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, is intended to point to the truth that Allah's curse comes only as a result of some evil act on man's own part. Allah, being most Merciful, never deprives a man of His mercy, unless and until he shuts upon himself the doors of divine mercy. 182 The words, little is that which they believe, point to yet another great principle. Though the Jews have been declared to be "accursed" in the sight of God and have been adjudged as "disbelievers", yet God does not say that they are altogether deprived of faith. Their faith is indeed imperfect; nay, it is positively evil, containing much more of falsehood than of truth, yet the little faith that they still happen to possess has been expressly acknowledged by God. Compare with this the claim of the Jews themselves when they say, the Christians stand on nothing (2:114). The God of Islam would not say that of either the Jews or the Christians. 96. Important Words: they prayed for victory) is) يستفتحون derived from meaning (1) he opened a thing, or he disclosed a thing; (2) he conquered or gained victory over. The word would, therefore, have two meanings: (1) they disclose; and (2) they ask or pray for victory (Aqrab).