Surah Al Ma'idah Tafseer

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعنَّاهُمْ

So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them...,

Allah states, because of their breaking the promise that We took from them, We cursed them, deviated them away from the truth, and expelled them from guidance,

وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً

and made their hearts grow hard...,

and they do not heed any word of advice that they hear, because of the hardness of their hearts.

يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ

They change the words from their (right) places...,

Since their comprehension became corrupt, they behaved treacherously with Allah's Ayat, altering His Book from its apparent meanings which He sent down, and distorting its indications.

They attributed to Allah what He did not say, and we seek refuge with Allah from such behavior.

وَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ

and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them.

by not implementing it and by ignoring it.

Allah said next,

وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىَ خَأيِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ

إِلاَّ قَلِيلً مِّنْهُمُ

And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them.

such as their plots and treachery against you, O Muhammad, and your Companions.

Mujahid said that;

this Ayah refers to their plot to kill the Messenger of Allah.

فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ

But forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds).

This, indeed, is the ultimate victory and triumph.

Some of the Salaf said,

"You would never treat those who disobey Allah with you better than obeying Allah with them."

This way, their hearts will gather around the truth and Allah might lead them to the right guidance.

This is why Allah said,

إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Verily, Allah loves the doers of good.

Therefore, forgive those who err against you.

Qatadah said that;

this Ayah was abrogated with Allah's statement,

قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ

Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day. (9:29)

The Christians Also Broke their Covenant with Allah and the Repercussion of this Behavior

Allah said