Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:99

(And We have certainly revealed to you signs [that are] clear, and none disbelieve in them except the defiantly disobedient.)

This was revealed regarding Ibn Suriya, as it is narrated from Ibn Abbas—may Allah be pleased with both of them—when he said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "You have not brought us anything that we recognize, and no signs have been revealed to you that we should follow you."

This is joined to His saying, the Almighty: "(Say: 'Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel...')," as an inclusion of one narrative within another.

"(And none disbelieve)..." is joined to the response to the oath, for it is preceded by the [oath-confirming] 'lam' (as in 'La-qad') and [at times] by the negation [particle].

The "signs" refer to the Quran, the miracles, and the reports regarding that which was hidden or concealed in the previous scriptures, or the laws and ordinances, or the entirety of what has preceded. The apparent meaning is absolute.

The "defiantly disobedient" (al-fasiqūn) are those rebellious in their disbelief who have strayed beyond the boundaries; for those among the disbelievers who do not possess such characteristics would not dare to disbelieve in such clear signs.

Al-Hasan said: "When fisq (disobedience) is applied to a type of sin, it falls upon the greatest individual of that category, whether it be disbelief or otherwise. So if it is said, 'He is a fasiq in drinking,' it means he is the most excessive in committing it. And if it is said, 'He is a fasiq in adultery,' it means he is the most extreme in committing it." Its origin lies in the expression "the date has fasaqat (slipped out)," meaning it has come out from its skin.

The [definite article] al- (in al-fasiqūn) is either for specification—because the context of the verses indicates that this refers to the Jews—or for the category [of all those who fit this description], and they [the Jews] are included within it, as has passed more than once.