سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ

Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 70

The Table · Medinan · Juz 6 · Page 119

لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا ۖ كُلَّمَا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا۟ وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ ﴿70﴾
Verily, We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent Messengers to them. Whenever there came to them a Messenger with what they themselves desired not, - a group of them they called liars, and others among them they killed.
لَقَدْ laqad Certainly
أَخَذْنَا akhadhnā We took
مِيثَـٰقَ mīthāqa a Covenant
بَنِىٓ banī (from the) Children
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ is'rāīla (of) Israel
وَأَرْسَلْنَآ wa-arsalnā and We sent
إِلَيْهِمْ ilayhim to them
رُسُلًۭا ۖ rusulan Messengers
كُلَّمَا kullamā Whenever
جَآءَهُمْ jāahum came to them
رَسُولٌۢ rasūlun any Messenger
بِمَا bimā with what
لَا not
تَهْوَىٰٓ tahwā desired
أَنفُسُهُمْ anfusuhum their souls
فَرِيقًۭا farīqan a group
كَذَّبُوا۟ kadhabū they denied
وَفَرِيقًۭا wafarīqan and a group
يَقْتُلُونَ yaqtulūna they kill

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 70) {لَقَدْ اَخَذْنَا مِيْثَاقَ بَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ ……:} This refers to the rebelliousness of the Children of Israel and their failure to fulfill their promises; thus, it is connected to the beginning of the Surah {’’ اَوْفُوْا بِالْعُقُوْدِ ‘‘}, meaning We took a covenant from them that they would remain steadfast on monotheism and the Shariah, and that they would listen to and obey the messengers sent to them. Mention of this covenant is found in verse (12) of this Surah and in verses (83 to 85) of Surah Al-Baqarah.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

70. We took a solemn covenant from the Children of Israel and sent messengers to them. But whenever a messenger came to them with what their souls did not desire [117], a group of them they denied, and another group they killed.

[117]
Who Deserves Salvation in the Hereafter?

The misdeeds of the Children of Israel have been mentioned at many places in the Quran, and what is noteworthy is that their religion was merely the following of their own desires. To follow from the Book of Allah only those things that suited their desires, and to take the path of disobedience and rebellion in matters that went against their desires, is in reality not following the Book of Allah but rather following one's own desires. And this is exactly what they used to do. In following their desires, they had gone so far that not only did they reject the Prophets, but they did not even hesitate to kill them.