Tafsir of Surah An Nisa | quranmazid.com

مِّنَٱلَّذِينَهَادُوا۟يُحَرِّفُونَٱلْكَلِمَعَنمَّوَاضِعِهِۦوَيَقُولُونَسَمِعْنَاوَعَصَيْنَاوَٱسْمَعْغَيْرَمُسْمَعٍوَرَٰعِنَالَيًّۢابِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْوَطَعْنًافِىٱلدِّينِوَلَوْأَنَّهُمْقَالُوا۟سَمِعْنَاوَأَطَعْنَاوَٱسْمَعْوَٱنظُرْنَالَكَانَخَيْرًالَّهُمْوَأَقْوَمَوَلَٰكِنلَّعَنَهُمُٱللَّهُبِكُفْرِهِمْفَلَايُؤْمِنُونَإِلَّاقَلِيلًا ٤٦

Saheeh International

Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] usages and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Ra'ina," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.

ur: Tafsir Ahsanul Bayaan

en: Ibn Kathir

Tafseer 'Ibn Kathir' (EN)

مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ

Among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places,

meaning, they intentionally and falsely alter the meanings of the Words of Allah and explain them in a different manner than what Allah meant.

وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا

And say:"We hear your word and disobey,

Mujahid and Ibn Zayd explained,

saying, "We hear what you say, O Muhammad, but we do not obey you in it."

This is the implied meaning of the Ayah, and it demonstrates the Jews' disbelief, stubbornness and disregard for Allah's Book after they understood it, all the while aware of the sin and punishment that this behavior will earn for them.

Allah's statement,

وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ

And "Hear and let you hear nothing."

Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn Abbas,

means, hear our words, may you never hear anything.

This is the Jews' way of mocking and jesting, may Allah's curse descend on them.

وَرَاعِنَا لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ

And Ra`ina, with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion.

meaning, they pretend to say, `Hear us,' when they say, Ra`ina (an insult in Hebrew, but in Arabic it means `Listen to us.').' Yet, their true aim is to curse the Prophet.

We mentioned this subject when we explained Allah's statement,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ لَا تَقُولُواْ رَاعِنَا وَقُولُواْ انظُرْنَا

(O you who believe! Say not Ra`ina but say Unzurna (make us understand)). (2:104)

Therefore, Allah said about them, while they pretend to say other than what they truly mean,

لَيًّا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِي الدِّينِ

(With a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion) because of their cursing the Prophet.

Allah then said,

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ اللّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَ يُوْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً

And if only they had said:"We hear and obey", and "Do make us understand," it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few.

meaning, their hearts are cast away from the path of righteousness and therefore, no beneficial part of faith enters it.

Earlier, when we explained,

فَقَلِيلً مَّا يُوْمِنُونَ

(so little is that which they believe) (2:88) which means they do not have beneficial faith