Surah Al Baqarah Tafseer

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."