It was reported that Ka`b Al-Ahbar became Muslim when he heard this Ayah ﴿4:47﴾.
Ibn Jarir recorded that `Isa bin Al-Mughirah said: We were with Ibrahim when we
talked about the time when Ka`b became Muslim. He said, `Ka`b became Muslim during
the reign of `Umar, for he passed by Al-Madinah intending to visit Jerusalem, and
`Umar said to him, "Embrace Islam, O Ka`b.' Ka`b said, `Do you not read in your
Book,
﴿مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُواْ التَّوْرَاةَ﴾
(The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah...) ﴿62:5﴾ until,
﴿أَسْفَاراً﴾
(Books) I am among those who were entrusted with the Tawrah.' `Umar left him alone
and Ka`b went on to Hims (in Syria) and heard one of its inhabitants recite this
Ayah while feeling sad,
﴿يَـأَيُّهَآ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ
ءَامِنُواْ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ
وُجُوهاً فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَى أَدْبَـرِهَآ﴾
(O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what
We have revealed confirming what is with you, before We efface faces and turn them
backwards). Ka`b said, `I believe, O Lord! I embraced Islam, O Lord!' for He feared
that this might be struck by this threat. He then went back to his family in Yemen
and returned with them all as Muslims.'' Allah's statement,
﴿أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ
أَصْحَـبَ السَّبْتِ﴾
(or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath.) refers to those who breached
the sanctity of the Sabbath, using deceit, for the purpose of doing more work. Allah
changed these people into apes and swine, as we will come to know in the explanation
of Surat Al-A`raf (7). Allah's statement,
﴿وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ مَفْعُولاً﴾
(And the commandment of Allah is always executed.) means, when He commands something,
then no one can dispute or resist His command.
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