Tafsir of Al Imran 3:69

Āl 'Imrān: (69) A group of the People of the Book wished...

[69] Waddat ṭā'ifatun mina ahlil-kitābi law yuḍillūnakum... (A group of the People of the Book wished that they could lead you astray...)

Exegesis:

1. Contextual Introduction:
   • After Allah established that the People of the Book deviate from the truth and refuse to accept evidence, He clarifies that they do not stop there.
   • Instead, they strive to mislead those who believe in the Messenger (PBUH) by casting doubts.
   • Examples of their doubts include: "Muhammad (PBUH) affirms Moses and Jesus, yet claims prophethood for himself," or "Moses (AS) announced in the Torah that his law would not be abrogated," or "The concept of abrogation (Naskh) leads to the idea of Badā' (God changing His mind)."
   • The purpose here is to warn the believers not to be deceived by the words of the Jews.
   • This is similar to Allah's saying in Al-Baqarah: {Many of the People of the Book wished they could turn you back into disbelievers out of envy from themselves} (2:109), and {They wish you would disbelieve just as they disbelieved, so that you would be alike} (4:89).

2. Analysis of "A Group" (ṭā'ifatun):
   • The word "min" (of/from) here denotes partiality (some, not all).
   • They are mentioned specifically because some among them did believe, and Allah praised them, saying: {Among them is a moderate nation} (5:66) and {And among the People of the Book is a community standing firm} (3:113).
   • It is narrated that this verse was revealed concerning Mu'ādh, 'Ammār ibn Yāsir, and Ḥudhayfah, whom the Jews invited to their religion.

3. Analysis of "Wished that they could lead you astray" (law yuḍillūnakum):
   • The use of "law" (if/wish) indicates desire/longing (tamannī). It does not mean "they will lead you astray" (an yuḍillūkum).
   • This is analogous to the verse: {One of them wishes he could be granted a life of a thousand years} (2:96).

4. Analysis of "But they only mislead themselves" (wa mā yuḍillūna illā anfusahum):
   • This has several interpretations:
     • Self-Destruction: They are only bringing about their own ruin by deserving punishment for intending to mislead others. This is like the verse: {They did not wrong Us, but they were wronging themselves} (2:57), and {And they will surely carry their burdens, and burdens along with their burdens} (29:13), and {That they may carry their full loads on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the loads of those whom they misguided without knowledge} (16:25).
     • Exclusion from Guidance: They are excluding themselves from the knowledge of guidance and truth, as one who turns away from guidance is described as "astray" (ḍāll).
     • Failure and Loss: Since they exerted effort to mislead the believers, yet the believers did not heed them, they end up disappointed and ruined, having believed one thing only to realize the reality is contrary to their conception.

5. Analysis of "And they are not aware" (wa mā yash'urūn):
   • Meaning: They do not realize that this action harms them and does not harm the believers.

[70] Yā 'ahlal-kitābi lima takfurūna bi-āyātillāhi wa 'antum tashhadūn? (O People of the Book, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allah while you witness [their truth]?)