The Cow — Verse 101

Proofs of Muhammad's ﷺ Prophethood Imam Abu Ja`far bin Jarir said that Allah's statement, وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ (And indeed We have sent down to you manifest Ayat) means, "We have sent to you, O Muhammad, clear signs that testify to your prophethood." These Ayat are contained in the Book of Allah (Qur'an) which narrates the secrets of the knowledge that the Jews possess, which they hid, and the stories of their earlier generations. The Book of Allah also mentions the texts in the Books of the Jews that are known to only the rabbis and scholars, and the sections where they altered and distorted the rulings of the Tawrah. Since Allah mentioned all of this in His Book revealed to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, then this fact alone should be enough evidence for those who are truthful with themselves and who wish to avoid bringing themselves to destruction due to envy and transgression. Further human instict testifies to the truth that Muhammad was sent with and the clear signs that he brought which he did not learn or acquire from mankind. Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ (And indeed We have sent down to you manifest Ayat) means, "You recite and convey this Book to them day and night, although you are an Ummi (unlettered) who never read a book. Yet, you inform them of what they have (in their own Books). Allah stated that this fact should serve as an example, a clear sign and a proof against them, if they but knew." The Jews break Their Covenants When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent and Allah reminded the Jews of the covenant that they had with Him, especially concerning Muhammad ﷺ , Malik bin As-Sayf said, "By Allah! Allah never made a covenant with us about Muhammad ﷺ, nor did He take a pledge from us at all." Allah then revealed, أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـهَدُواْ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم (Is it not (the case) that every time they make a covenant, some party among them throw it aside) Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that Allah's statement, بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ (Nay! (the truth is:) most of them believe not) means, "There is not a promise that they make, but they break it and abandon it. They make a promise today and break it tomorrow." The Jews abandoned the Book of Allah and practiced Magic As-Suddi commented on, وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ (And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah (i.e. Muhammad ) confirming what was with them), "When Muhammad ﷺ came to them, they wanted to contradict and dispute with him using the Tawrah. However, the Tawrah and the Qur'an affirmed each other. So the Jews gave up on using the Torah, and took to the Book of Asaf, and the magic of Harut and Marut, which indeed did not conform to the Qur'an. Hence Allah's statement, كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (As if they did not know!)." Also, Qatadah said that Allah's statement, كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (As if they did not know!) means, "They knew the truth but abandoned it, hid it and denied the fact that they even had it." Magic existed before Sulayman (Solomon) As-Suddi said that Allah's statement, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ (They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulayman) means, "`During the time of Prophet Solomon.' Beforehand, the devils used to ascend to heaven and eavesdrop on the conversations of the angels about what will occur on the earth regarding death, other incidents or unseen matters. They would convey this news to the soothsayers, and the soothsayers would in turn convey the news to the people. The people would believe what the soothsayers told them as being true. When the soothsayers trusted the devils, the devils started to lie to them and added other words to the true news that they heard, to the extent of adding seventy false words to each true word. The people recorded these words in some books. Soon after, the Children of Israel said that the Jinns know matters of the Unseen. When Solomon was sent as a Prophet, he collected these books in a box and buried it under his throne; any devil that dared get near the box was burned. Solomon said, `I will not hear of anyone who says that the devils know the Unseen, but I will cut off his head.' When Solomon died and the scholars who knew the truth about Solomon perished, there came another generation. To them, the devil materialized in the shape of a human and said to some of the Children of Israel, `Should I lead you to a treasure that you will never be able to use up' They said. `Yes.' He said, `Dig under this throne,' and he went with them and showed them Solomon's throne. They said to him, `Come closer.' He said, `No. I will wait for you here, and if you do not find the treasure then kill me. ' They dug and found the buried books, and Satan said to them, `Solomon only controlled the humans, devils and birds with this magic.' Thereafter, the news that Solomon was a sorcerer spread among the people, and the Children of Israel adopted these books. When Muhammad ﷺ came, they disputed with him relying on these books. Hence Allah's statement, وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ (Sulayman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved). The Story of Harut and Marut, and the Explanation that They were Angels Allah said, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـرُوتَ وَمَـرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ (And such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife). There is a difference of opinion regarding this story. It was said that this Ayah denies that anything was sent down to the two angels, as Al-Qurtubi stated and then referred to the Ayah, وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ (Sulayman did not disbelieve) saying, "The negation applies in both cases. Allah then said, وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ (But the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels). The Jews claimed that Gabriel and Michael brought magic down to the two angels, but Allah refuted this false claim." Also, Ibn Jarir reported, that Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ (And such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels) "Allah did not send magic down." Also, Ibn Jarir narrated that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said about, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ (And such things that came down to the two angels), "Allah did not send magic down to the them." Ibn Jarir commented, "This is the correct explanation for this Ayah. وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ (They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely) in the lifetime of Sulayman.) meaning, magic. However, neither did Solomon disbelieve nor did Allah send magic with the two angels. The devils, on the other hand, disbelieved and taught magic to the people of the Babylon of Harut and Marut." Ibn Jarir continued; "If someone asks about explaining this Ayah in this manner, we say that, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ (They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely) in the lifetime of Sulayman.) means, magic. Solomon neither disbelieved nor did Allah send magic with the two angels. However, the devils disbelieved and taught magic to the people in the Babylon of Harut and Marut, meaning Gabriel and Michael, for Jewish sorcerers claimed that Allah sent magic by the words of Gabriel and Michael to Solomon, son of David. Allah denied this false claim and stated to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Gabriel and Michael were not sent with magic. Allah also exonerated Solomon from practicing magic, which the devils taught to the people of Babylon by the hands of two men, Harut and Marut. Hence, Harut and Marut were two ordinary men (not angels or Gabriel or Michael)." These were the words of At-Tabari, and this explanation is not plausible. Many among the Salaf, said that Harut and Marut were angels who came down from heaven to earth and did what they did as the Ayah stated. To conform this opinion with the fact that the angels are immune from error, we say that Allah had eternal knowledge what these angels would do, just as He had eternal knowledge that Iblis would do as he did, while Allah refered to him being among the angels, وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ اسْجُدُواْ لأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُواْ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى (And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves before Adam." And they prostrated except Iblis (Satan), he refused) (20:116) and so forth. However, what Harut and Marut did was less evil than what Iblis, may Allah curse him, did. Al-Qurtubi reported this opinion from `Ali, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Ibn `Umar, Ka`b Al-Ahbar, As-Suddi and Al-Kalbi. Learning Magic is Kufr Allah said, وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ (But neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).) Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Ar-Rabi' bin Anas said that Qays bin `Abbad said that Ibn `Abbas said, "When someone came to the angels to learn magic, they would discourage him and say to him, `We are only a test, so do not fall into disbelief.' They had knowledge of what is good and evil and what constitutes belief or disbelief, and they thus knew that magic is a form of disbelief. When the person who came to learn magic still insisted on learning it, they commanded him to go to such and such place, where if he went, Satan would meet him and teach him magic. When this man would learn magic, the light (of faith) would depart him, and he would see it shining (and flying away) in the sky. He would then proclaim, `O my sorrow! Woe unto me! What should I do." Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that this Ayah means, "The angels were sent with magic, so that the people whom Allah willed would be tried and tested. Allah made them promise that they would not teach anyone until first proclaiming, `We are a test for you, do not fall into disbelief."' It was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim. Also, Qatadah said, "Allah took their covenant to not teach anyone magic until they said, `We are a test. Therefore, do not fall in disbelief."' Also, As-Suddi said, "When a man would come to the two angels they would advise him, `Do not fall into disbelief. We are a test. ' When the man would ignore their advice, they would say, `Go to that pile of ashes and urinate on it.' When he would urinate on the ashes, a light, meaning the light of faith, would depart from him and would shine until it entered heaven. Then something black that appeared to be smoke would descend and enter his ears and the rest of his body, and this is Allah's anger. When he told the angels what happened, they would teach him magic. So Allah's statement, وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ (But neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).) Sunayd said that Hajjaj said that Ibn Jurayj commented on this Ayah (2:102), "No one dares practice magic except a disbeliever. As for the Fitnah, it involves trials and freedom of choice."The scholars who stated that learning magic is disbelief relied on this Ayah for evidence. They also mentioned the Hadith that Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded from `Abdullah, which states, «مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا أَوْ سَاحِرًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ فَقَدْ كَفَر بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍصلى الله عليه وسلّم» (Whoever came to a soothsayer or a sorcerer and believed in what he said, will have disbelieved in what Allah revealed to Muhammad .) This Hadith has an authentic chain of narration and there are other Hadiths which support it. Causing a Separation between the Spouses is One of the Effects of Magic Allah said, فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ (And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife,) This means, "The people learned magic from Harut and Marut and indulged in evil acts that included separating spouses, even though spouses are close to, and intimately associate with each other. This is the devil's work." Muslim recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فِي النَّاسِ فَأَقْرَبُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ فِتْنَةً وَيَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا زِلْتُ بِفُلَانٍ حَتَّى تَرَكْتُهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَيَقُولُ إِبْلِيسُ: لَا وَاللهِ مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا، وَيَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا تَرَكْتُهُ حَتّى فَرَّقْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ، قَالَ: فَيُقرِّبُهُ وَيُدْنِيهِ وَيَلْتَزِمُهُ وَيَقُولُ: نِعْمَ أَنْت» (Satan erects his throne on water and sends his emissaries among the people. The closest person to him is the person who causes the most Fitnah. One of them (a devil) would come to him and would say, `I kept inciting so-and-so, until he said such and such words.' Iblis says, `No, by Allah, you have not done much.' Another devil would come to him and would say, `I kept inciting so-and-so, until I separated between him and his wife.' Satan would draw him closer and embrace him, saying, `Yes, you did well.') Separation between a man and his wife occurs here because each spouse imagines that the other spouse is ugly or ill-mannered, etc. Allah's Appointed Term supercedes Everything Allah said, وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ (But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave). Sufyan Ath-Thawri commented, "Except by Allah's appointed term." Further, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that, وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ (But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave) means, "Allah allows magicians to adversely affect whomever He wills and saves whomever He wills from them. Sorcerers never bring harm to anyone except by Allah's leave." Allah's statement, وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ (And they learn that which harms them and profits them not.) means, it harms their religion and does not have a benefit compared to its harm. وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ (And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no (Khalaq) share in the Hereafter.) meaning, "The Jews who preferred magic over following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ knew that those who commit the same error shall have no Khalaq in the Hereafter." Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and As-Suddi stated that `no Khalaq' means, `no share.' Allah then said, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـرُوتَ وَمَـرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ - وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَّوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ (And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own selves, if they but knew. And if they had believed and guarded themselves from evil and kept their duty to Allah, far better would have been the reward from their Lord, if they but knew!). Allah stated, o وَلَبِئْسَ (And how bad) meaning, what they preferred, magic, instead of faith and following the Messenger, if they but comprehend the advice. وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ (And if they had believed and guarded themselves from evil and kept their duty to Allah, far better would have been the reward from their Lord,) meaning, "Had they believed in Allah and His Messenger and avoided the prohibitions, then Allah's reward for these good deeds would have been better for them than what they chose and preferred for themselves." Similarly, Allah said, وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَلاَ يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ الصَّـبِرُونَ (But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: "Woe to you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except As-Sabirun (the patient in following the truth).") (28:80).

When there came to them a messenger from God namely Muhammad (s) confirming what was with them a party of them who were given the Scripture have cast away the Scripture of God that is the Torah behind their backs that is to say they have not acted according to what it said about belief in the Messenger and otherwise; as though they did not know what is contained in it to the effect that he is a true Prophet or that it is the Book of God.

When there came to them a messenger from God, confirming what was with them, a party of them who were given the Scripture have cast away the Scripture of God behind their backs, as though they did not know.This is manifest [in meaning] and can be known from what has already been [mentioned in previous verses]. The exoteric sense is that Gabriel is the active intellect, Michael is the spirit of the sixth celestial sphere, from his intellect emanates the universal vegetative soul charged with the provision of [God's] servants; Isrāfīl is the spirit of the fourth celestial sphere, from his intellect emanates the universal animal soul that is in charge of the animals; ʿIzrāÌīl is the spirit of the seventh celestial sphere and he is in charge of all human spirits which he seizes by himself or through intermediaries who are his assistants whereupon he hands them over to God, exalted be He.

When there came to them a messenger from God, confirming what was with them, a party of them who were given the Scripture have cast away the Scripture of God behind their backs, as though they did not know.This is manifest [in meaning] and can be known from what has already been [mentioned in previous verses]. The exoteric sense is that Gabriel is the active intellect, Michael is the spirit of the sixth celestial sphere, from his intellect emanates the universal vegetative soul charged with the provision of [God's] servants; Isrāfīl is the spirit of the fourth celestial sphere, from his intellect emanates the universal animal soul that is in charge of the animals; ʿIzrāÌīl is the spirit of the seventh celestial sphere and he is in charge of all human spirits which he seizes by himself or through intermediaries who are his assistants whereupon he hands them over to God, exalted be He.

When there came to them a messenger from God confirming what was with them a party of those who had been given the scripture cast away the scripture of God behind their backs as though they did not know. They denied the messengers of the Real that came to their hearts by means of intuitions khawāṬir and [they] belied the messengers who came to them outwardly. O ignorance in which there is not a sliver of deeper knowledge ʿirfān! O deprivation whose companion is disappointment khidhlān!

When there came to them a messenger from God confirming what was with them a party of those who had been given the scripture cast away the scripture of God behind their backs as though they did not know. They denied the messengers of the Real that came to their hearts by means of intuitions khawāṬir and [they] belied the messengers who came to them outwardly. O ignorance in which there is not a sliver of deeper knowledge ʿirfān! O deprivation whose companion is disappointment khidhlān!

ولما جاءهم محمد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالقرآن الموافق لما معهم من التوراة طرح فريق منهم كتاب الله، وجعلوه وراء ظهورهم، شأنهم شأن الجهال الذين لا يعلمون حقيقته.

قال ههنا "ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله مصدق لما معهم" الآية أي طرح طائفة منهم كتاب الله الذي بأيديهم مما فيه البشارة بمحمد - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وراء ظهورهم أي تركوها كأنهم لا يعلمون ما فيها وأقبلوا على تعلم السحر واتباعه ولهذا أرادوا كيدا برسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وسحروه في مشط ومشاقة وجف طلعة ذكر تحت راعوفة ببئر أروان وكان الذي تولى ذلك منهم رجل يقال له لبيد بن الأعصم لعنه الله وقبحه فأطلع الله على ذلك رسوله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وشفاه منه وأنقذه كما ثبت ذلك مبسوطا في الصحيحين عن عائشة أم المؤمنين رضي الله عنها كما سيأتي بيانه. قال السدي "ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله مصدق لما معهم" قال: لما جاءهم محمد - صلى الله عليه وسلم - عارضوه بالتوراة فخاصموه بها فاتفقت التوراة والقرآن فنبذوا التوراة وأخذوا بكتاب آصف وسحر هاروت وماروت فلم يوافق القرآن فذلك قوله "كأنهم لا يعلمون" وقال قتادة في قوله "كأنهم لا يعلمون" قال: إن القوم كانوا يعلمون ولكنهم نبذوا علمهم وكتموه وجحدوا به.

ثم تحدث القرآن بعد ذلك عن نبذ اليهود لكتاب الله ، واتباعهم للسحر والأوهام ، فقال - تعالى - :( وَلَمَّآ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ الله مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ . . . )المعنى : وحين جاء اليهود وأحبارهم رسول من عند الله ، وهو محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم الذي يجدونه مكتوباً عندهم في التوراة ، طرح فريق كبير منهم تعاليم التوراة التي تشهد بصدقه ، وراء ظهورهم ، حتى لكأنهم يجهلون أنها من عند الله ، واتعبوا ما قصته واختلقته الشياطين من السحر والأوهام والمفتريات على عهد سليمان - عليه السلام - ومن هذه المفتريات والأكاذيب زعمهم أن سليمان - عليه السلام - كان ساحراً ، وما تم له ملكه العريض ، ولا ظهرت على يديه المعجزات الباهرة من تسخير الجن والريح إلا بهذا .وقد أكذبهم الله - تعالى - في هذه الزعم بقوله : ( وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ ) أي : بتعلم السحر والعمل به ، كما يزعم هؤلاء ( ولكن الشياطين ) هم الذين ( كَفَرُواْ ) بتعلم السحر وتعليمه للناس ، وتعليمهم - أيضاً - ضرباً آخر منه وهو ( وَمَآ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى الملكين بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ ) من وصف السحر وما هيته وكيفية الاحتيال به ، ولقد كان المكان لا يعلمان أحدا من الناس السحر حتى ينصحاه بقولهما : إن السحر الذي نعلمك إياه القصد منه التمييز بين المطيع والعاصي ، وبين السحر والمعجزة ، فحذار أن تستعلمه فيما نهيت عنه فتكون من الكافرين ، بخلاف الشياطين فإنهم تعلموه وعلموه لغيرهم لاستعماله في الشرور والآثام ، ولإحداث التفرقة بين الزوجين ، ولكن هذا السحر الذي يتعاطاه الشياطين وأتباعهم لن يضر أحداً بذاته ، وإنما ضرره يتأتى إذا أراد الله تعالى - ذلك وشاءه ، ولقد علم أولئك النابذون لكتاب الله المؤثرون عليه اتباع السحر ، أن من استبدل السحر بكتاب الله ، فليس له نصيب من نعيم الجنة ، ( وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ ) علماً نافعاً . ( وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ ) بالله ورسوله محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم كما أرشدتهم إليه التوراة ، ( واتقوا ) المعاصي والآثام لأثيبوا مثوبة من عند الله هي خير لهم مما آثروه واختاروه على كتاب الله ( لَّوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ ) .وقوله تعالى : ( وَلَمَّآ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ الله مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ الذين أُوتُواْ الكتاب كِتَابَ الله وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ ) . . إلخ الآية .بيان لما صدر عن اليهود من تكذيب للرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وطرح لتعاليم كتابهم التي أمرتهم باتباعه .أخرج ابن جرير عن السدى قال في قوله تعالى : ( وَلَمَّآ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ الله مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنَ الذين أُوتُواْ الكتاب كِتَابَ الله وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ واتبعوا مَا تَتْلُواْ الشياطين على مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ) أي لما جاءهم محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم عارضوه بالتوراة فخاصموه بها .فاتفقت التوراة والقرآن ، فنبذوا التوراة والقرآن وأخذوا بكتاب آصف وسحر هاروت ، فذلك قول الله ( كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ) أي كأن هؤلاء الذين نبذوا كتاب الله من علماء اليهود ، فنقضوا عهد الله ، لا يعلمون ما في التوراة من الأمر باتباع محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وتصديقه .وفي وصف الرسول بأنه آت من عند الله تعظيم له ، ومبالغة في انكار عدم إيمانهم به ، وإغراء للناس جميعاً بالدخول في دعوته ، لأنه ليس رسولا من تلقاء نفسه ، وإنما هو رسول من عند الله - تعالى - :والمراد ( لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ ) التوراة . وتصديق الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم لها ، معناه أن ما جاء به من تعاليم موافق لها في أصول الدين ، وأن ما جاءت به من صفات للرسول المنتظر بعد عيسى - عليه السلام - لا تنطبق إلا عليه صلى الله عليه وسلم .وعبر - سبحانه - عن تركهم العمل بالكتاب الذي نزل لهدايتهم بالنبذ ، مبالغة في عدم اعتدادهم ، وتناسبهم إياه ، لأن أصل النبذ طرح وإلقاء ما لا يعتد به .وفي إسناد النبذ إلى فريق من الذين أوتوا الكتاب ، سخرية بهم ، واستجهال لهم ، لأن الذين أوتوه هم الذين نبذوه ، ولو كان النابذون من المشركين لكان لهم بعض العذر لجهلهم ، ولكن أن يكون التاركون للنور هم الذين أوتوه وأكرموا به ، فذلك هو الضلال المبين .والمراد من ( كِتَابَ الله ) الذي نبذوه لما جاءهم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - التوراة ، لأنهم لو كانوا مؤمنين بها حقاً ، لاتبعوا الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم الذي ذكرت صفاته فيها ، والذي وجب عليهم بقتضى كتابهم التوراة الإِيمان به ، فهم بجحودهم لنبوته ، يكونون جاحدين لتوراتهم التي شهدت له بالصدق .وقيل المراد بكتاب الله الذي نبذوه القرآن ، لأنهم لم يؤمنوا به ، بل تركوه بعد سماعه ، وتناسوا ما اشتمل عليه من هداية وإرشاد ، مع أنه كان من المتحتم عليهم أن يتلقوه بالقبول .والذي نراه أن الرأي الأول أرجح ، لأن النبذ يقتضي سابقة الأخذ ، في الجملة . وهو متحقق بالنسبة للتوراة ، بخلاف القرآن الكريم فإنهم لم يسبق لهم أن تمسكوا به ، ولأن مذمتهم تكون أشد وجحودهم أكثر ، إذا كان المراد بالكتاب الذي نبذوه ، هو عين الكتاب الذي نزل لهدايتهم وآمنوا به وهو التوراة .وقوله تعالى : ( وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ ) كناية عن إعراضهم الشديد عنه ، وتوليهم عن تعاليمه .تقول العرب : جعل هذا الأمر وراء ظهره ، أي تولي عنه معرضاً ، لأن ما يجعل وراء الظهر لا ينظر إلأيه ، ففي هذه الجملة الكريمة تصوير صادق لإِعراضهم عن كتاب الله - تعالى - حيث شبه - سبحانه - تركهم لكتابه ، بحالة شيء يرمى به وراء الظهر استهانة به . وفي إضافة الوراء إلى الظهر ، تأكيد لنبذ ما ترك بحيث لا يؤخذ بعد ذلك .قال الأستاذ الإِمام : ليس المراد بنبذ الكتاب وراء ظهورهم أنهم طرحوه برمته ، وتركوا التصديق به في جملته وتفصيله .وإنما المراد أنهم طرحوا أجزاء منه وهو ما يبشر بالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ويبين صفاته ويأمرهم بالإِيمان به واتباعه . فهو تشبيه لتركهم إياه وإنكاره ، بمن يلقى الشيء وراء ظهره حتى لا يراه فيتذكره ، وترك الجزء منه كتركه كله ، لأن ترك البعض يذهب بحرمة الوحي من النفس ، ويجرئ على ترك الباقي . . .وقوله تعالى : ( كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ) جملة حالية ، أي طرحوه ، وراء ظهورهم مشبهين بحال من لا يعلم منه شيئاً ، ومن لا يعرف أنه كتاب الله .وشبههم بمن لا يعلمون مع أنهم في الواقع يعلمون أنه من عند الله - حق العلم - لأنهم نبذوه مكابرة وعناداً ، ولأنهم لم يعملوا بمقتضى علمهم ومن كان هذا شأنه فهو والجاهل سواء ، في جحود الحق والانغماس في الآثام .وقال - سبحانه - : ( كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ) بنفي الحال والاستقبال للإِشعار بأنهم قوم لا أمل فيء توبتهم وإنابتهم ، بل هم تمر بهم الأيام ، وتتوالى عليهم العظات ، ومع ذلك لا يتوبون ولا يرجعون إلى الحق ، فهم مستمرون على طرح كتاب الله في كل وقت وآن ، ومصممون على ذلك .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ (101)قال أبو جعفر: يعني جل ثناؤه بقوله: (ولما جاءهم)، أحبار اليهود وعلماءها من بني إسرائيل -(رسول)، يعني بالرسول: محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم. كما:-1643 - حدثني موسى بن هارون قال، حدثنا عمرو قال، حدثنا أسباط, عن السدي في قوله: (ولما جاءهم رسول)، قال: لما جاءهم محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم.* * *وأما قوله: (مصدق لما معهم)، فإنه يعني به أن محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم يصدق التوراة والتوراة تصدقه، في أنه لله نبي مبعوث إلى خلقه.* * *وأما تأويل قوله: (ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله مصدق لما معهم)، فإنه للذي هو مع اليهود, وهو التوراة. فأخبر الله جل ثناؤه أن اليهود لما جاءهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الله بتصديق ما في أيديهم من التوراة، أن محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم نبي لله,(نبذ فريق), يعني بذلك: أنهم جحدوه ورفضوه بعد أن كانوا به مقرين، حسدا منهم له وبغيا عليه. وقوله: (من الذين أوتوا الكتاب). وهم علماء اليهود الذين أعطاهم الله العلم بالتوراة وما فيها. ويعني بقوله: (كتاب الله)، التوراة.وقوله: (وراء ظهورهم)، (85) جعلوه وراء ظهورهم. وهذا مثل, يقال لكل رافض أمرا كان منه على بال: " قد جعل فلان هذا الأمر منه بظهر، وجعله وراء ظهره ", يعني به: أعرض عنه وصد وانصرف، كما:-1644 - حدثني موسى قال، حدثنا عمرو قال، حدثنا أسباط, عن السدي: (ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله مصدق لما معهم نبذ فريق من الذين أوتوا الكتاب كتاب الله وراء ظهورهم)، قال: لما جاءهم محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم عارضوه بالتوراة فخاصموه بها, فاتفقت التوراة والقرآن, فنبذوا التوراة وأخذوا بكتاب آصف، وسحر هاروت وماروت. (86) فذلك قوله الله: (كأنهم لا يعلمون).* * *ومعنى قوله: (كأنهم لا يعلمون)، كأن هؤلاء الذين نبذوا كتاب الله من علماء اليهود - فنقضوا عهد الله بتركهم العمل بما واثقوا الله على أنفسهم العمل بما فيه - لا يعلمون ما في التوراة من الأمر باتباع محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وتصديقه. وهذا من الله جل ثناؤه إخبار عنهم أنهم جحدوا الحق على علم منهم به ومعرفة, وأنهم عاندوا أمر الله فخالفوا على علم منهم بوجوبه عليهم، كما:-1645 - حدثنا بشر بن معاذ قال، حدثنا يزيد قال، حدثنا سعيد, عن قتادة قوله: (نبذ فريق من الذين أوتوا الكتاب)، يقول: نقض فريق من الذين أوتوا الكتاب " كتاب الله وراء ظهورهم، كأنهم لا يعلمون): أي أن القوم كانوا يعلمون، ولكنهم أفسدوا علمهم، وجحدوا وكفروا وكتموا.* * *---------------------------الهوامش :(85) في المطبوعة : "وقوله نبذوه وراء ظهورهم" ، فحذفت"نبذوه" ، لأن الطبري ساق الآية بتمامها ، وهذا لفظ مقحم فيها .(86) في تفسير ابن كثير 1 : 247 زيادة ، بعد قوله : "وماروت ، فلم يوافق القرآن ، فذلك قول الله" . وآصف : كان كاتب سليمان . وكان يعلم الاسم الأعظم ، وكان يكتب كل شيء بأمر سليمان . ويدفنه تحت كرسيه ، فلما مات سليمان أخرجته الشياطين ، فكتبوا بين كل سطرين سحرا وكفرا (ابن كثير 1 : 248) .

{ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله} يعني محمداً.{مصدق لما معهم نبذ فريق من الذين أوتوا الكتاب كتاب الله وراء ظهورهم} يعني التوراة، وقيل: التوراة وقيل: القرآن.{كأنهم لا يعلمون} قال الشعبي: "كانوا يقرؤون التوراة ولا يعملون بها"، وقال سفيان بن عينية: "أدرجوها في الحرير والديباج وحلوها بالذهب والفضة ولم يعملوا بها فذلك نبذهم لها".

وقوله : { ولما جاءهم رسول } إلخ معطوف على قوله : { أو كلما } عطف القصة على القصة لغرابة هاته الشؤون . والرسول هو محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم لقوله : { مصدق لما معهم } . والنبذ طرح الشيء من اليد فهو يقتضي سبق الأخذ . وكتاب الله ظاهر في أنه المراد به القرآن لأنه الأتم في نسبته إلى الله . فالنبذ على هذا مراد به تركه بعد سماعه فنزل السماع منزلة الأخذ ونزل الكفر به بعد سماعه منزلة النبذ . وقيل : المراد بكتاب الله التوراة وأشار في «الكشاف» إلى ترجيحه بالتقديم لأن النبذ يقتضي سابقة أخذ المنبوذ وهم لم يتمسكوا بالقرآن ، والأصل في إطلاق اللفظ المفرد أنه حقيقة لفظاً ومعنى وقيل المعرفة إذا أعيدت معرفة كانت عين الأولى وفيه نظر لأن ذلك في إعادة الاسم المعرف باللام ، أو تجعل النبذ تمثيلاً لحال قلة اكتراث المعرض بالشيء فليس مراداً به معناه .وقوله : { وراء ظهورهم } تمثيل للإعراض لأن من أعرض عن شيء تجاوزه فخلفه وراء ظهره وإضافة الوراء إلى الظهر لتأكيد بُعد المتروك بحيث لا يلقاه بعد ذلك فجعل للظهر وراء وإن كان هو هنا بمعنى الوراء . فالإضافة كالبيانية وبهذا يجاب عما نقله ابن عرفة عن الفقيه أبي العباس أحمد بن عبلون أنه كان يقول : مقتضى هذا أنهم طرحوا كتاب الله أمامهم لأن الذي وراء الظهر هو الوجه وكما أن الظهر خلف للوجه كذلك الوجه وراء للظهر قال ابن عرفة : وأجيب بأن المراد أي بذكر الظهر تأكيد لمعنى وراء كقولهم من وراءِ وراء .وقوله : { كأنهم لا يعلمون } تسجيل عليهم بأنهم عالمون بأن القرآن كتاب الله أو كأنهم لا يعلمون التوراة وما فيها من البشارة ببعثة الرسول من ولد إسماعيل .

أي: ولما جاءهم هذا الرسول الكريم بالكتاب العظيم بالحق الموافق لما معهم، وكانوا يزعمون أنهم متمسكون بكتابهم, فلما كفروا بهذا الرسول وبما جاء به، { نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ } الذي أنزل إليهم أي: طرحوه رغبة عنه { وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ } وهذا أبلغ في الإعراض كأنهم في فعلهم هذا من الجاهلين وهم يعلمون صدقه، وحقيّة ما جاء به. تبين بهذا أن هذا الفريق من أهل الكتاب لم يبق في أيديهم شيء حيث لم يؤمنوا بهذا الرسول, فصار كفرهم به كفرا بكتابهم من حيث لا يشعرون.

قوله تعالى : ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله مصدق لما معهم نبذ فريق من الذين أوتوا الكتاب كتاب الله وراء ظهورهم كأنهم لا يعلمونقوله تعالى : ولما جاءهم رسول من عند الله مصدق لما معهم نعت لرسول ، ويجوز نصبه على الحال . نبذ فريق جواب لما ، من الذين أوتوا الكتاب كتاب الله نصب ب نبذ ، والمراد التوراة ; لأن كفرهم بالنبي عليه السلام وتكذيبهم له نبذ لها . قال السدي : نبذوا التوراة وأخذوا بكتاب آصف وسحر هاروت وماروت . وقيل : يجوز أن يعني به القرآن . قال الشعبي : هو بين أيديهم يقرءونه ، ولكن نبذوا العمل به . وقال سفيان بن عيينة : أدرجوه في الحرير والديباج ، وحلوه بالذهب والفضة ، ولم يحلوا حلاله ولم يحرموا حرامه ، فذلك النبذ . وقد تقدم بيانه مستوفى . كأنهم لا يعلمون تشبيه بمن لا يعلم إذ فعلوا فعل الجاهل فيجيء من اللفظ أنهم كفروا على علم .

Perversion sets in in the People of the Book for just one reason. They come to believe that by uttering mere words, or by performing lifeless rituals, they will be able to earn salvation, but salvation can be earned only by performing righteous actions. During this stage of decline, superstition comes to be more highly regarded than actual good deeds. People begin to expect mysterious kinds of results or benefits by performing senseless rituals. This thinking, initially centreing on salvation, later comes to dominate the entire national policy of the group. A realistic approach is thus replaced by a superstitious approach. Now those who merely make an outward show of following their religion are inevitably averse to responding in earnest to the proclamation of true, unadulterated religion. For such people, the call is seen as a threat to the worldly honour and status that they enjoy owing to their worldly interpretation of religion. Due to their negativism, they begin to make such representations as are outwardly correct but which, in terms of the inner reality, are totally meaningless. There is no doubt about it that the coming of the angels and messengers was entirely a part of the divine plan. All arguments point to the fact that the Arab Prophet received the same message as was sent down to Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and that the revelation received by the Arab Prophet tallied exactly with the predictions made in previous divine scriptures. This proves beyond all doubt that it was sent by God Himself. People make many protestation of their faith, but all these mouthings being hollow and meaningless, they bear no relation to true faith and piety.

The previous verse had told us how the breaking of pledges and disobedience had become a regular habit with the Jews. The present verse gives us the latest instance, which is the most relevant to the context. The Torah had already given the Jews the good tidings of the coming of the Holy Prophet . When he actually came with all signs which the Torah had indicated, thus confirming the Sacred Book of the Jews, a large number of them refused to accept him as a prophet. In doing this, they were, in fact, denying the Torah itself, and behaving as if they know nothing of the prophecy, or even the Torah being a Book of Allah. Thus, they were being guilty of infidelity (Kufr) even in terms of the Torah itself.

(And when there cometh unto them a messenger from Allah, confirming) conforming in traits and description (that which they possess) of the Book, (a party of those who have received the Scripture fling the Scripture of Allah) i.e. the Torah (behind their backs) disbelieving in what it contains of the traits and description of Muhammad (pbuh) nor did they exposit this (as if they knew not) as if they were ignorant people who knew nothing.

When there came to them a messenger from God namely Muhammad (s) confirming what was with them a party of them who were given the Scripture have cast away the Scripture of God that is the Torah behind their backs that is to say they have not acted according to what it said about belief in the Messenger and otherwise; as though they did not know what is contained in it to the effect that he is a true Prophet or that it is the Book of God.