3. Aal-i-Imraan

Then Allah mentioned the Jews, Finhas Ibn 'Azura' and his friends when they said: �O Muhammad! Allah is poor: He is asking us to give Him a loan�, saying (Verily Allah heard the saying of those) Finhas Ibn 'Azura' and his fellows (who said, (when asked for contributions to the war): �Allah, forsooth, is poor) He needs us to give Him a loan, (and we are rich!�) and we do not need a loan from Him. (We shall record their saying) We shall preserve for them what they have said in the Hereafter (with their slaying of the Prophets) just as We shall record for them their slaying of the prophets (wrongfully) without them having committed any crime (and We shall say: Taste ye the punishment of burning!) which is very severe.

(This) punishment (is on account of that which your own hands have sent before you) which your hands have earned. (Allah is no oppressor of (His) bondmen) such that He punishes them without them having committed a crime.

((The same are) those) i.e. the Jews (who say: Lo! Allah hath charged us) Allah has commanded us in the Scripture (that we believe not in any messenger) we will not accept that anyone is sent with a message (until he bring us an offering which fire (from heaven) shall devour) that is until Allah sends a fire which will devour this offering, as it happened in the time of the [Jewish] prophets. (Say) O Muhammad: (Messengers came unto you before me with miracles) with commands and prohibitions as well as signs, (and with that (very miracle) which ye describe) of an offering [devoured by fire], Zachariah, John and Jesus. (Why then did ye slay them?) why did you kill John and Zachariah, when such an offering [devoured by fire] took place during their time. ((Answer that) if ye are truthful) in your claim.

When they replied that their fathers never killed any prophet wrongfully, Allah said: (And if they deny thee) O Muhammad regarding what you say to them, do not be saddened, (even so did they deny messengers who were before you) their people denied them, (who came with miracles) with commands and prohibitions and signs of prophethood (and with the Psalms) and with the news relating to the Scriptures of past nations (and with the Scripture giving light) showing the lawful and the prohibited.

Allah then mentioned their deaths and what happens after their deaths, saying: (Every soul) that breathes (will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned) the reward of your works. (Whoso is removed from the Fire) by means of declaring Allah's divine Oneness and doing righteous works (and is made to enter Paradise, he indeed is triumphant) in that he gains Paradise and that which it contains, and is further saved from hell and that which it contains. (The life of this world is but comfort of illusion) which is comparable to the relative duration of the stuff one has at home such as pottery, bottles, and the like.

Allah then mentioned the harm that the unbelievers inflicted on the Prophet and his Companions, saying: (Assuredly ye will be tried) you will be tested (in your property) by the loss of your property (and in your persons) and in what befalls your persons of sicknesses, pain, killings, beatings and general misfortunes, (and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you) i.e. the Jews and Christians: you will hear vilification, defamation, lies and false testimony against Allah, (and from the idolaters) i.e. the Arab idolaters. (But if ye persevere) in the face of their harm (and ward off (evil)) and ward off transgressing against Allah while facing such harm, (then that) steadfastness and endurance (is of the steadfast heart of things) is the best of things and the most firm for believers.

Then Allah mentioned His covenant with the people of the Book in the Scripture, which required them to exposit the traits and description of His Prophet, saying: (And (remember) when Allah laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture) i.e. the Torah and the Gospel ((He said): Ye are to expound it) the trait and description of Muhammad (to mankind and not to hide it) not to hide these traits and description of Muhammad in their Scripture. (But they flung it behind their backs) and did not act upon it (and bought thereby a little gain) a paltry acquisition in their means of living by hiding the traits and description of Muhammad in their Scripture. (Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby) evil is that which they have chosen for themselves: Judaism and the concealment of the traits and description of Muhammad.

Allah then mentioned their longing for praise and credit for that which they-the Jews-did not have, saying: (Think not) suppose not, O Muhammad (that those who exult in what they have given) whereby they changed the traits and description of Muhammad in their Scripture, (and love to be praised for what they have not done) they like that people say they have good in them when they do not. They like that people say that they are follower of the Religion of Abraham and that they are good to the poor. (Think not) O Muhammad, (they are in safety from the doom. A painful doom is theirs) a severe torment shall be theirs.

Allah then exposited on the sign of His ability to the unbelievers of Mecca when they said: " O Muhammad, bring us a clear sign to prove what you are saying " , saying: (Lo! In the creation of the heavens) in that which We created in the heavens of angels, the sun, moon, stars and clouds (and the earth) and in the creation of the earth and what is in it of mountains, seas, trees and beasts (and (in) the difference of night and day) and in the alternation of day and night (are tokens (of His sovereignty)) signs of His divine Oneness (for men of understanding) for those among them who have reasons,