Negative things

And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: “Twice you will spread corruption in the land and rise to great arrogance.”

When the first of these warnings came to pass, We sent against you servants of Ours, possessing great might, who ravaged your homes. It was a decree fulfilled.

Then We granted you victory over them, increased your wealth and children, and made you more numerous.

If you do good, it is for your own benefit; but if you do evil, it is against yourselves. Then, when the second warning comes, they will disgrace your faces and enter the Temple as they did before, utterly destroying what they conquer.

Say, “Shall I tell you of a fate worse than what you imagine? Those whom Allah has cursed, turned into apes and swine, and those who worship falsehood, such are in the worst place, far astray.”

You knew of those among you who violated the Sabbath, so We said to them, 'Be like despised apes!'

Whenever they make a covenant, some among them break it, most of them do not truly believe.

And We gave them clear rulings. Yet they differed only after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding what they used to dispute.

Those who trade Allah’s covenant and their oaths for a fleeting gain will have no share in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them.

Yet they broke their covenant, so We cursed them and hardened their hearts. They distort words from their places and neglect much of what they were commanded. You will always find treachery among them, except for a few. But pardon them and overlook, for Allah loves those who act with grace.

The Children of Israel were repeatedly warned, yet whenever messengers came with truths they disliked, they rejected some and killed others.

Say, 'If you truly believed in your scripture, why did you kill the prophets unjustly?'

And recall when We took your pledge: 'Do not shed each other’s blood or expel one another from your homes.' You agreed and bore witness.

And remember when you killed a man and disputed over it, but Allah exposed what you concealed.

We said, 'Strike the slain man with a part of the cow.' Thus does Allah bring the dead to life and show you His signs, so that you may understand.

Yet after witnessing this, your hearts hardened like stone, or even harder. For among stones, some burst forth with rivers, others split and release water, and some fall in awe of Allah.

Because of this, We decreed for the Children of Israel: Whoever kills a soul unjustly, it is as if he has slain all of humanity. And whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.

Yet here you are, killing one another and driving some of your own people from their homes, supporting one another in wrongdoing.

Have you not seen the hypocrites who say to their disbelieving allies among the People of the Book, “If you are expelled, we will go with you and never obey anyone against you. If you are attacked, we will help you.” But Allah bears witness that they are liars.

The disbelievers among the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongues of David and Jesus, son of Mary, for their defiance and transgression.

They say, 'Our hearts are sealed.' No! Allah has cursed them for their denial, so only a few truly believe.

Yet they broke their covenant, so We cursed them and hardened their hearts.

They were given a portion of the Scripture, yet they believe in superstition and false gods, saying that the disbelievers are better guided than the believers.

These are the ones whom Allah has cursed; whoever Allah curses will find no helper.

O People of the Book, believe in what We have revealed, confirming what you already have, before We erase faces and turn them backward or curse them as We cursed those before. Allah’s command is always fulfilled.

They did not stop each other from wrongdoing; how vile was their conduct!

You see many of them befriending those who reject faith. Evil is what they have sent ahead for themselves, earning Allah’s wrath and eternal punishment.

Had they truly believed in Allah, the Prophet, and what was revealed, they would not have allied with such people. But many are rebellious.

And when a Book came to them from Allah, confirming what they already had, though they used to pray for victory over the disbelievers, they rejected it when it arrived, even though they recognized it. So may Allah’s curse be upon the disbelievers.

You see many of them rushing toward sin, aggression, and consuming unlawful wealth. How vile is what they do!

Why do their scholars and religious leaders not forbid them from speaking falsely and consuming what is forbidden? Their actions are truly corrupt.

The Jews say, “Allah’s hand is tied.” May their own hands be bound! Rather, His hands are open wide, granting as He wills. Yet their rebellion only increases. We have placed enmity among them until the Day of Judgment. Whenever they ignite the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it. They spread corruption.

Allah has heard the words of those who said, ‘Allah is poor while we are rich.’ We will record their words and their unjust killing of the prophets, and We will say, ‘Taste the torment of the Fire.’

If the People of the Book had believed and been mindful, We would have erased their sins and led them to gardens of bliss.

Some among them are upright, but many act wickedly.

Yet their rebellion only increases. But do not grieve over the disbelievers.

among the Jews who eagerly listen to lies and to those who never met you. They distort words from their places, saying, “If you are given this ruling, accept it; but if not, beware.” But those whom Allah wills to test, you hold no power over their fate. These are the ones whose hearts Allah does not will to cleanse.

They are habitual listeners to falsehood, devourers of illicit gain. If they come to you for judgment, you may choose to rule between them or turn away. If you turn away, they cannot harm you. But if you judge, do so with justice.

Yet how can they seek your judgment when they have the Torah, in which is Allah’s ruling? Still, they turn away, for they are not true believers.

Judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires. Beware, lest they tempt you away from part of what Allah has sent down. If they turn away, know that Allah intends to afflict them for some of their sins. Many among the people are defiantly disobedient.

But no! By your Lord, they will not truly believe until they accept your judgment in their disputes, without hesitation, and submit completely.

Then, We would have granted them a great reward from Our presence.

And guided them to a straight path.

And We raised among them leaders who guided by Our command, when they remained patient and were certain of Our signs.

Surely your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding what they used to dispute.

Have they not seen the many generations before them, Whom We destroyed as they walked the lands? Surely, in this are signs, Will they not listen and reflect?

We will surely question those to whom messengers were sent, and We will surely question the messengers themselves.

Then We will narrate to them with knowledge, for We were never absent.

The scales on that Day will be just, those whose deeds weigh heavily will be the successful.

Had they believed and been mindful, their reward from Allah would have been far better, if only they understood.

It is neither wishful thinking nor inherited privilege that determines one’s fate. Whoever does wrong will be held accountable, and none will find refuge beyond Allah.

They assumed no harm would come to them, but they were blinded and deafened. Then Allah turned to them in mercy, yet many persisted in their ways.

Do you believe in part of the Scripture and reject the rest? What should be the reward for those who do this except disgrace in this life and a severe punishment in the Hereafter?

These are the ones whose hearts Allah does not will to cleanse. For them is disgrace in this life, and an immense punishment in the next.”

These are the ones who traded the Hereafter for worldly gain, so their punishment will not be lightened, nor will they be helped.

How terrible is the bargain they have made, rejecting what Allah has revealed out of envy that He grants His favour to whomever He wills. So, they have drawn upon themselves wrath upon wrath, and for the disbelievers, there is a humiliating punishment.

Say, 'If the Hereafter belongs to you alone, excluding all others, then wish for death, if you are truthful.'

Say, “O you who claim to be guided, if you assert that you are Allah’s chosen ones apart from others, then wish for death, if you are truthful.”

But they will never wish for it, because of what their hands have sent ahead.

Say, “The death you flee from will surely meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”

You will find them clinging to life more than any other people, even more than the idolaters. Each of them wishes to live a thousand years, but even a long life will not save them from punishment. Allah sees all that they do.

Ask the Children of Israel how many clear signs We gave them. Yet whoever trades Allah’s favour for disbelief will find that Allah is severe in punishment.

The People of the Book demand that you bring down a scripture from the heavens, yet they asked Moses for even greater signs, saying, “Show us Allah openly!” But they were struck down for their arrogance. Even after witnessing clear signs, they worshipped the calf, yet Allah forgave them and granted Moses undeniable authority.

Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize it as clearly as they recognize their own children. Yet those who have lost themselves refuse to believe.

And it is foretold in the scriptures of earlier peoples.

Is it not a sign to them that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognize it?

Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize this truth as they recognize their own children.