وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مَّا عَرَفُوا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 89
Translations
And when there came to them a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] from Allāh confirming that which was with them - although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved - but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allāh will be upon the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa-lammā jāʾahum kitābun min ʿindi -llāhi muṣaddiqun li-mā maʿahum wa-kānū min qablu yastaftīḥūna ʿala -lladhīna kafarū fa-lammā jāʾahum mā ʿarafū kafarū bihi fa-laʿnatu -llāhi ʿala -lkāfirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Jews of Madinah who possessed the Torah and other scriptures that foretold the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and they would even invoke his name in invoking victory over pagan Arabs. However, when the Quran came to them as a confirmation of what they already possessed, they rejected it out of envy and stubbornness despite recognizing its truth. The ayah concludes with Allah's curse upon those who reject His signs after knowledge of them.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a passage addressing the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb), particularly the Jewish tribes of Madinah such as Banu Qurayẓah, Banu Naḍīr, and Banu Qaynuqāʿ. The historical context involves these tribes' rejection of the Prophet despite their awareness of prophecies about him in their own scriptures. This passage highlights their cognitive and spiritual contradiction.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself contains references to the Jews seeking victory through the Prophet before his advent (3:49). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain accounts of how some Jewish scholars recognized the Prophet's description in their texts but rejected him due to worldly concerns and tribal pride.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that knowledge alone does not guarantee faith—the sincerity of the heart, freedom from envy, and willingness to submit to truth are equally essential. We should examine our own hearts for any cognitive dissonance between what we know intellectually and what we practice spiritually.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِكُلِّ ءَايَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا۟ قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers.
قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed."
ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Then We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ
Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are for [i.e., in pursuit of] the Fire!