Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:101

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verse 101

{And when there came to them a Messenger...}

It is understood that the Messenger confirming what was with them means he acknowledged the prophethood of Moses (peace be upon him) and the truthfulness of the Torah. Alternatively, it means that since the Torah foretold the coming of Muhammad (peace be upon him), his mere arrival served as a confirmation of the Torah.

{...a party of those who were given the Scripture cast the Book of Allah behind their backs...}

The phrase {cast... behind their backs} (nabadha) is a metaphor for their abandonment and turning away from it, similar to casting something aside as if it were worthless and deserving no attention.

Regarding {a party of those who were given the Scripture}: There are two views:

1. It refers to those who studied and memorized the Book. The evidence for this is that Allah described this party with knowledge when He said, {as if they did not know}.
2. It refers to anyone who claims adherence to the Book, whether they truly know it or not. This is similar to how Muslims are described as "People of the Qur'an"; it doesn't exclusively mean those who master its sciences, but rather those who believe in it and adhere to its commands.

Regarding {the Book of Allah behind their backs}: It is said this refers to the Torah, and it is also said it refers to the Qur'an. The latter is more probable for two reasons:

1. Casting aside (nabdh) is only meaningful for something they initially held onto. If they never paid attention to it, one would not say they "cast it aside."
2. The verse specifies {a party of those who were given the Scripture}. If it meant the Qur'an, specifying "a party" would be meaningless, as all of them (the People of the Book) did not believe in the Qur'an.

If one argues: How can they cast aside the Torah if they claim to adhere to it? We reply: If the Torah contained indications of Muhammad's prophethood, descriptions, and the obligation to believe in him, and they turned away from that, then they were indeed casting aside the Torah.

Regarding {as if they did not know}: This indicates that they abandoned it with knowledge and awareness, as this description is only applied to someone who possesses knowledge. Thus, the verse implies that this party knew the truth of his prophethood but denied what they knew. Since denial by a large group is not plausible, it must be concluded that those deniers were few enough for such stubbornness to be attributed to them.

**{7 < And they followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon. But Solomon did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and what had been sent down to the two angels in Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two did not teach anyone until they said, "We are but a trial, so do not disbelieve." And from them they learned that which caused separation between a man and his wife. But they could not harm anyone thereby except by permission of Allah. And they learned what harmed them and did not benefit them. And certainly did they know that whoever purchased it [i.e., magic] had no share in the Hereafter. And evil was that for which they sold themselves, if only they knew. > 7

<}**