The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 81
PT. 3 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN CH. 3 بَلَى مَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ وَاتَّقَى فَإِنَّ اللهَ Nay, but whoso fulfils his. 77 pledge and fears God-verily, Allah loves the God-fearing. 365 b يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ اِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَاَيْمَانِهِمْ As for those who take a. 78 ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَبِكَ لَا خَلَقَ لَهُمْ فِي their covenant with Allah and الْآخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللهُ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ paltry price in exchange for their oaths, they shall have no portion in the life to come, and a5:2; 6:153; 13:21; 16:92; 17:35. "See 2:42. an liberty to do as they liked concerning Muslims and would not be called to account for it. Possibly, they deduced this queer doctrine from the Jewish law of usury, which makes invidious distinction between a Jew and a non-Jew regarding the giving and taking of interest (Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:36, 37; Deut. 23:20, 21). Another meaning of this verse is obtained if we take the words "trust", "treasure", "dīnār", figurative sense. The Bible contains etc. , in a not only prophecies about the Holy Prophet of Islam, but also clear injunctions to the People of the Book to accept him when he made his appearance. This was in the nature of a "trust" with them. But when the Promised Prophet appeared, they refused to surrender that trust, except a few of them who accepted Islam. These it is that are spoken of as returning the treasure they are trusted with, whereas those who not only rejected the Holy Prophet but even refused to admit that their scriptures contained any prophecies about him are likened to such as would not even return a "dīnār" entrusted to them unless you keep standing over them, i. e. force them in argument to admit the truth. unless you 365. Commentary: In this verse believers are exhorted not to follow the bad example of Jews but to deal equitably with all peoples alike. All treaties and covenants and all obligations should be loyally fulfilled and all pledges properly redeemed. The verse also refutes the Jewish notion that they are superior to other nations and lays down the golden rule that all human beings as such are equal and it is only personal qualities that make a difference. In fact, all rivalry between different nations and the consequent tension and war are the result of the pernicious notion that some nations are superior to others by virtue of their descent. 521 Figuratively, the verse also hints that the People of the Book can no longer enjoy God's pleasure unless they faithfully tender the evidence that is with them regarding the Holy