Surah Al Ma'idah Tafseer

The People of the Book are Enraged at the Believers Because of their Faith in Allah

Allah says;

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ

Say:"O People of the Scripture!

Allah commands:Say, O Muhammad, to those who mock and jest about your religion from among the People of the Scriptures.

هَلْ تَنقِمُونَ مِنَّا إِلاَّ أَنْ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلُ

Do you criticize us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah, and in what has been sent down to us and in that which has been sent down before (us),

Do you have any criticism or cause of blame for us, other than this This, by no means, is cause of blame or criticism.

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَمَا نَقَمُواْ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَن يُوْمِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

And they had no fault except that they believed in Allah, the Almighty, Worthy of all praise! (85:8)

and,

وَمَا نَقَمُواْ إِلَا أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ

and they could not find any cause to do so except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. (9:74)

In an agreed upon Hadith, the Prophet said,

مَا يَنْقِمُ ابْنُ جَمِيلٍ إِلاَّ أَنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَأَغْنَاهُ الله

What caused Ibn Jamil to Yanqim (refuse to give Zakah), although he was poor and Allah made him rich!

Allah's statement,

وَأَنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

and that most of you are rebellious...

is connected to

أَنْ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلُ

(that we believe in Allah, and in that which has been sent down to us and in that which has been sent down before (us)). Therefore, the meaning of this part of the Ayah is:we also believe that most of you are rebellious and deviated from the straight path.

The People of the Scriptures Deserve the Worst Torment on the Day of Resurrection

Allah said next