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Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:78

Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:78

ﱁ ﱂ ﱃ ﱄ ﱅ ﱆ ﱇ ﱈ ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ

Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 5:78

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Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): Verse 78

{ Cursed were those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved, on the tongue of *David* and Jesus, son of Mary. }

The majority of the exegetes (Mufassirun) state that this refers to:

  1. The companions of the Sabbath (Ashab al-Sabt).
  2. The companions of the Table Spread (Ashab al-Ma'idah).

Regarding the Companions of the Sabbath: They were the people of David, residing in Aylah. When they transgressed the sanctity of the Sabbath by fishing (as Allah mentioned this story in Surah Al-A'raf), David supplicated: "O Allah, curse them and make them a sign (Ayah)." Consequently, they were transformed into apes.

Regarding the Companions of the Table Spread: When they ate from the Table Spread and did not truly believe, Jesus supplicated: "O Allah, curse them just as You cursed the companions of the Sabbath." They were then transformed into pigs. It is reported that there were five thousand men among them, with no women or children present.

Some scholars said that the Jews used to boast about being the descendants of the Prophets. Allah mentioned this verse to indicate that they were cursed by the tongues of the Prophets.

It is also narrated (and this is the view of Al-Asamm) that David and Jesus (peace be upon them) prophesied the coming of Muhammad (PBUH) and cursed whoever disbelieved in him.

{ That was because they disobeyed and were transgressing. }

This means that this curse occurred because they were disobeying Allah and were persistent and excessive in that disobedience.

{ They used not to forbid one another from the wrong which they did. Evil indeed was that which they used to do. }

They did not restrain each other from the evil deeds they committed. How evil was the practice they habitually followed!