Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa qadrihi ith qaloo ma anzala Allahu AAala basharin min shayin qul man anzala alkitaba allathee jaa bihi moosa nooran wahudan lilnnasi tajAAaloonahu qarateesa tubdoonaha watukhfoona katheeran waAAullimtum ma lam taAAlamoo antum wala abaokum quli Allahu thumma tharhum fee khawdihim yalAAaboona
English
Ahmed Ali
But they failed to make a just estimation of God when they said: "He did not reveal to any man any thing." Ask them: "Who then revealed the Book that Moses brought, -- a guidance and light for men, -- which you treat as sheafs of paper, which you display, yet conceal a great deal, though through it you were taught things you did not know before, nor even your fathers knew?" Say: "God," and leave them to the sport of engaging in vain discourse.
91
Tafseer
'Abdullāh Ibn 'Abbās / Muḥammad al-Fīrūzabādī
تفسير : (and they measure not the power of allah its true measure) they do not glorify allah as he should be glorified (when they say: allah hath naught) no scripture (revealed unto a human being) among the prophets. this verse was revealed about malik ibn al-sayf, the jew, who claimed that allah did not reveal any scripture to human beings. (say) o muhammad, to malik: (who revealed the book which moses brought, a light) an exposition and enlightenment (and guidance for mankind) from error, (which ye have put) written (on parchments which ye show) many things which do not contain the traits and description of the prophet (pbuh) (but ye hide much (thereof)) you hide many portions of it which contain the traits and description of muhammad (pbuh) (and by which ye were taught) of legal rulings, punishment, the lawful and the unlawful as well as the traits and description of muhammad (pbuh) in the scripture (that which ye knew not yourselves nor (did) your fathers (know it)) before the revelation of legal rulings and punishments? if they answer and say it was allah, then fine, if they do not, (say: allah) revealed it. (then leave them to their play of cavilling) let them indulge in their falsehood: quibbling and lying.
Jalāl al-Dīn al-Maḥallī
تفسير : they, that is, the jews, measured not god with his true measure, that is, they have not extended him the grandeur that truly befits him, or [it means] they have not attained the true knowledge of him, when they said, to the prophet (s), disputing with him about the qur’ān: ‘god has not revealed anything to any mortal.’ say, to them: ‘who revealed the book which moses brought, a light and guidance for mankind? you put it (in all three instances [the verbs may be] read either in the third person plural [yaj‘alūnahu, ‘they put it’; yubdūnahā, ‘they reveal it’; wa-yukhfūna, ‘and they hide’] or in the second person plural [taj‘alūnahu, ‘you put it’; tubdūnahā, ‘you reveal it’; wa-tukhfūna, ‘and you hide’]) on parchments, that is, you write it down on fragments of notes, which you disclose, that is, what you choose to disclose thereof, but you hide much, of what is in them, as in [the case of] the descriptions of muhammad (s); and you have been taught, o jews, in the qur’ān, what you did not know, neither you nor your fathers’, in the torah, through the elucidation therein of what you were confused about and in disagreement over. say: ‘god’, revealed it — and if they do not say it, there is no other response — then leave them to play in their discourse, their falsehood.
Ali ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi
تفسير : (and they measure not the power of allah its true measure when they say: allah hath naught revealed unto a human being…) [6:91].
al-walibi reported that ibn ‘abbas said: “the jews said to the prophet: ‘o muhammad, has allah revealed a scripture to you?’ the prophet answered: ‘yes, he did!’ they said: ‘by allah, allah has never sent down any scripture from heaven’. allah, exalted is he, then revealed (say (unto the jews who speak thus): who revealed the book which moses brought, a light and guidance for mankind…)”.
muhammad ibn ka‘b al-quradi said: “allah commanded muhammad, allah bless him and give him peace, to ask the people of the book about his matter and how he is mentioned in their scriptures. however, their resentful envy toward muhammad drove them to disbelieve in allah and his messenger. they said: ‘allah has never revealed anything to any human being’. and so allah, exalted is he, revealed this verse”.
sa‘id ibn jubayr said: “a jew by the name of malik ibn al-sayf went to argue with the prophet, allah bless him and give him peace. the prophet, allah bless him and give him peace, said to him: ‘i plead with you by him who has revealed the torah to moses, do you not find in the torah that allah loathes the fat rabbi?’ because this jew was a fat rabbi, he got angry and said: ‘by allah, allah has never sent anything to any human being’. horrified, his companions exclaimed: ‘woe unto you, not even to moses!’ he said: ‘by allah, allah has never sent anything to any human being’. and so allah, exalted is he, revealed this verse”.
