Sa`id bin Jubayr, As-Suddi and others said that these Ayat were revealed concerning
a delegation that An-Najashi (King of Ethiopia) sent to the Prophet in order to
hear his words and observe his qualities. When the delegation met with the Prophet
and he recited the Qur'an to them, they embraced Islam, cried and were humbled.
Then they returned to An-Najashi and told him what happened. `Ata' bin Abi Rabah
commented, "They were Ethiopians who embraced Islam when the Muslims who migrated
to Ethiopia resided among them.'' Qatadah said, "They were some followers of the
religion of `Isa, son of Maryam, who when they saw Muslims and heard the Qur'an,
they became Muslims without hesitation.'' Ibn Jarir said that these Ayat were revealed
concerning some people who fit this description, whether they were from Ethiopia
or otherwise. Allah said,
﴿لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً
لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ﴾
(Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers the Jews
and those who commit Shirk,) This describes the Jews, since their disbelief is that
of rebellion, defiance, opposing the truth, belittling other, people and degrading
the scholars. This is why the Jews - may Allah's continued curses descend on them
until the Day of Resurrection - killed many of their Prophets and tried to kill
the Messenger of Allah several times, as well as, performing magic spells against
him and poisoning him. They also incited their likes among the polytheists against
the Prophet . Allah's statement,
﴿وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَّوَدَّةً
لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّا نَصَارَى﴾
(and you will find the nearest in love to the believers those who say: "We are Christians.'')
refers to those who call themselves Christians, who follow the religion of the Messiah
and the teachings of his Injil. These people are generally more tolerant of Islam
and its people, because of the mercy and kindness that their hearts acquired through
part of the Messiah's religion. In another Ayah, Allah said;
﴿وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ
اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً﴾
(And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion, mercy, and
monasticism...) ﴿57:27﴾. In their book is the saying; "He who strikes you on the
right cheek, then turn the left cheek for him.'' And fighting was prohibited in
their creed, and this is why Allah said,
﴿ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ
وَرُهْبَاناً وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ﴾
(That is because among them are Qissisin (priests) and Ruhban (monks), and they
are not proud.) This means that among them are Qissisin (priests). The word Ruhban
refers to one dedicated to worship. Allah said,
﴿ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ
وَرُهْبَاناً وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ﴾
(That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not proud.) This
describes them with knowledge, worship and humbleness, along with following the
truth and fairness.
﴿وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى
الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ﴾
(And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their
eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized.) This refers
to the good news that they have about the advent of Muhammad ,
﴿يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا
مَعَ الشَّـهِدِينَ﴾
(They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses.'') who testify
to the truth and believe in it.
﴿وَمَا لَنَا لاَ نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ
وَمَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ
الصَّـلِحِينَ ﴾
("And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the
truth And We wish that our Lord will admit us (in Paradise) along with the righteous
people.'') Such sect of Christians are those mentioned in Allah's statement,
﴿وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَمَن
يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَـشِعِينَ
للَّهِ﴾
(And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe
in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been
revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah.)﴿3:199﴾ and,
﴿الَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ
مِن قَبْلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ - وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا
بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَآ إنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ﴾
(Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it (the Qur'an).
And when it is recited to them, they say, "We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth
from our Lord. Indeed even before it we were Muslims'')﴿28:52-53﴾, until,
﴿لاَ نَبْتَغِى الْجَـهِلِينَ﴾
("We seek not the ignorant.'')﴿28:55﴾ This is why Allah said here,
﴿فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُواْ﴾
(So because of what they said, Allah awarded them...) rewarding them for embracing
the faith and recognizing and believing in the truth,
﴿جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ
خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا﴾
(Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), they will abide therein forever.)
and they will never be removed from it, for they will dwell and remain in it forever
and ever,
﴿وَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾
(Such is the reward of good-doers) who follow the truth and obey it wherever, whenever
and with whomever they find it. Allah then describes the condition of the miserable.
﴿وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ
بِآيَـتِنَآ﴾
(But those who disbelieved and belied Our Ayat,) defied and opposed them,
﴿أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَحِيمِ﴾
(they shall be the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire.) For they are the people of the
Fire who will enter and reside in it (eternally).
﴿يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُحَرِّمُواْ طَيِّبَـتِ مَآ أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ - وَكُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَـلاً
طَيِّباً وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ الَّذِى أَنتُم بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ ﴾
(87. O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful
to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allah does not like the transgressors.) (88.
And eat of the things which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good, and have
Taqwa of Allah in Whom you believe.)
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