Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 85

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

85. 1. In the time of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, there were two tribes of the Ansar (who were polytheists before Islam): Aws and Khazraj. They were constantly at war with each other. Similarly, there were three Jewish tribes in Madinah: Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadhir, and Banu Qurayzah. They also used to fight among themselves. Banu Qurayzah were allies (companions) of Aws, and Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadhir were allies of Banu Khazraj. In war, they would help their respective allies (companions), and would kill their own fellow Jews, loot their homes, and exile them, even though according to the Torah, doing so was forbidden for them. But when those same Jews, due to being overpowered, became captives, they would ransom them and say that this is what we have been commanded in the Torah. In these verses, this very behavior of the Jews is described: that they had made the Shariah like a nose of wax. They would believe in some things and abandon others, act upon some commands, and at times give no importance to the command of the Shariah. Killing, exile, and helping against each other were also forbidden in their Shariah, yet they committed these acts without restraint, and acted upon the command of ransoming captives, whereas if they had observed the first three matters, the situation of ransoming would not have arisen at all.

85. Then you are the very ones who kill your own people and expel a group of your own from their homes, supporting one another against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, [97] although their expulsion was forbidden to you. Do you then believe in part of the Book and disbelieve in part? So what is the recompense for those who do so among you except disgrace [98] in this worldly life, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be driven to a severe punishment? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

[97] Before the arrival of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Madinah, the two famous polytheist tribes of Madinah, Aws and Khazraj, resided there and were always at war with each other. The two Jewish tribes of Madinah, Banu Qurayzah and Banu Nadir, acted as allies of these Arab tribes and played the role of keeping them engaged in mutual conflict. Banu Qurayzah were allies of the Aws tribe, and Banu Nadir were allies of the Khazraj tribe. Although the Jews were fewer in number, they were a wealthy people and maintained their political superiority by inciting Aws and Khazraj to fight each other, and they also sold weapons, being merchants of such goods. Consider the example of these Jews exactly like that of Russia and America some time ago. Both these powers were enemies of Islam and also had differences between themselves, but in their enmity towards Islam, they would unite and keep Muslim countries fighting among themselves. One of them would become an ally of one Muslim country and the other of another. In this way, the Jews would reap various benefits. Their weapons would be sold, and their political superiority would remain intact.

The Jews Ransoming Their Captive Tribesmen:

Allah Almighty took four covenants from the Jews: (1) They would not shed each other's blood, (2) They would not exile each other, (3) They would not help in oppression and excess, (4) And they would ransom captives by paying a ransom. Now, in the wars between Aws and Khazraj, Banu Qurayzah and Banu Nadir, being allies, would also fight and slaughter each other. Now, for example, if Aws and Banu Qurayzah were victorious in a battle, captives from Banu Nadir would inevitably fall into their hands, and Banu Nadir would pay ransom to free them. When asked about the reason for this, they would say that ransoming captives is Allah's command. And when asked under which command of Allah they fought against them, they would say, "What can we do? We cannot humiliate our friends (allies)." Thus, they would act against Allah's command in three matters and follow it in one, the cause of which was also of their own making. Allah Almighty, seizing them for such actions, said: "Do you believe in some parts of Allah's Book and deny other parts?" The meaning of this is that if a person follows some religious commands and leaves those commands which are against his nature, habit, or will, then following some commands will not benefit him, and such denial is, in fact, denial of the entire Book of Allah. Such people are, in reality, followers of their own desires, not of the Book of Allah.

The Fate of the Jews in the Prophetic Era:

In this world, these Jews faced a dreadful fate. Banu Nadir faced such humiliation in 4 AH, the detailed account of which is mentioned in Surah Hashr. The Muslims besieged them and set some of their orchards on fire. They barricaded themselves in their fortresses and began to destroy and ruin their own homes, because they were certain that exile was now their destiny, and they could not bear for the Muslims to benefit from their constructed houses. Thus, without a fight, they surrendered. They were immediately ordered into exile, so they headed towards Syria, and after the command of jizyah was revealed, jizyah continued to be taken from them. As for Banu Qurayzah, an attack was launched against them immediately after the Battle of the Trench [احزاب 5ھ ], their men were put to the sword, and their women and children were made slaves, and as for the punishment they will face in the Hereafter, Allah knows best.