Surah An Nisa Tafseer

The Crimes of the Jews

Allah said,

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بَأيَاتِ اللّهِ

Because of their breaking the covenant, and their rejecting the Ayat of Allah,

The sins mentioned here are among the many sins that the Jews committed, which caused them to be cursed and removed far away from right guidance. The Jews broke the promises and vows that Allah took from them, and also rejected Allah's Ayat, meaning His signs and proofs, and the miracles that they witnessed at the hands of their Prophets.

Allah said,

وَقَتْلِهِمُ الَانْبِيَاء بِغَيْرِ حَقًّ

and their killing the Prophets unjustly,

because their many crimes and offenses against the Prophets of Allah, for they killed many Prophets, may Allah's peace be upon them

وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ

and their saying:"Our hearts are Ghulf,"

According to Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Qatadah.

meaning, wrapped with covering.

This is similar to the what the idolators said,

وَقَالُواْ قُلُوبُنَا فِى أَكِنَّةٍ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ

And they say:"Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us." (41:5)

Allah said,

بَلْ طَبَعَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ

nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief,

It is as if they had given an excuse that their hearts do not understand what the Prophet says since their hearts are wrapped with coverings, so they claim.

Allah said that their hearts are sealed because of their disbelief, as we mentioned before in the explanation of Surah Al-Baqarah.

Allah then said,

فَلَ يُوْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً

so they believe not but a little.

for their hearts became accustomed to Kufr, transgression and weak faith.

The Evil Accusation the Jews Uttered Against Maryam and Their Claim that They Killed `Isa

Allah said,

وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَى مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا