Fifth Argument: Revelation of the Verse on the Ruse of Jews
The first person to interpret the Verse of Proclamation on the ruse of the Jews was the Sunni exegete Muqatil ibn Sulayman[1], followed by Tabari, Baghawi, and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Razi.[2]
Considering various possibilities, Fakhr Razi, too, has accepted this narration. The only reason he puts forward is the style and appropriateness of the verses before and after, all of which refer to the Jews.[3]
Response:
First, Maidah was the last chapter revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) during his last pilgrimage to Mecca, when and where the Jews were absent and there was no fear of their conspiracy against the Prophet (PBUH).
Second, the existing Qur’an was not based on the order of the revelation of verses to help understanding the meaning or concept accordingly.
Third, the style of the verses, in case we accept the above, is nonverbal and it has no manifest in view of the explicit text of the traditions that have verbal matches.
Fourth, by virtue of Fakhr Razi’s narration, the rule that God issued on the Jews and they were annoyed, so that the Prophet (PBUH) took some time to announce it was this verse: “O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord." And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.”[4]
Fifth, the existence of this verse among the verses on the Jews indicates that the number of infidels and the feeble-minded among some of the hypocrites and some so-called followers of the Prophet (PBUH) may not be less than the Jews, i.e. those who have converted to Islam by force not by faith, fearing Imam Ali’s sword. They have always been ignorant ones, following the Prophet (PBUH) to gain easy wealth and rejecting everyone questioning or threatening their power and wealth.[5]
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Notes:
[1] Tafsir Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Vol. 1, Pp. 491 & 429
[2] Tabari’s Jami' al-Bayan, Vol. 4, P. 307
[3] Tafsir Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Vol. 1, Pp. 491
[4] Tabari’s Jami' al-bayan, Vol. 4, P. 307; Tafsir Maalimul-Tanzil, Vol. 2, P.51; Razi’s Tafsir Aalatul Qur'an al-Majid va Ojubatoha, P. 74
[5] Mafatih al-Ghayb, Vol. 12, P. 50
Other links:
Hypocrites a Source of Concern for Prophet Muhammad on the Day of Ghadir Khum
Leadership of Imam Ali (A.S) in the Qur’an
First Argument: Reviewing Doubts of some Sunni Exegetes and scholars about the Verse of Proclamation and Shia response
