سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 89
وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مَّا عَرَفُوا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿89﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when there came to them (the Jews), a Book (this Qur’ân) from Allâh confirming what is with them [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], although aforetime they had invoked Allâh (for coming of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in order to gain victory over those who disbelieved, then when there came to them that which they had recognised, they disbelieved in it. So let the Curse of Allâh be on the disbelievers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
جَآءَهُمْ
jāahum
came to them
كِتَـٰبٌۭ
kitābun
a Book
مِّنْ
min
of
عِندِ
ʿindi
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مُصَدِّقٌۭ
muṣaddiqun
confirming
لِّمَا
limā
what (was)
مَعَهُمْ
maʿahum
with them
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
though they used to
مِن
min
from
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ
yastaftiḥūna
(that), pray for victory
عَلَى
ʿalā
over
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
فَلَمَّا
falammā
then when
جَآءَهُم
jāahum
came to them
مَّا
mā
what
عَرَفُوا۟
ʿarafū
they recognized
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
they disbelieved
بِهِۦ ۚ
bihi
in it
فَلَعْنَةُ
falaʿnatu
So (the) curse
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
عَلَى
ʿalā
(is) on
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
l-kāfirīna
the disbelievers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 89) { يَسْتَفْتِحُوْنَ: } They used to seek victory and help, that is, before the advent of the Prophet (peace be upon him), when the Jews were overpowered by the polytheists of Arabia, they would pray: “O Allah! May the Last Prophet appear soon, so that we may join him and gain dominance over these disbelievers.” (Tabari) The second meaning of { ”يَسْتَفْتِحُوْنَ“ } is: { ”يَفْتَحُوْنَ عَلَي الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا“ } (the meaning of { فَتَحَ عَلَيْهِ } is to inform), the letters “seen” and “taa” are for emphasis, meaning they used to inform the disbelievers in detail. (Zamakhshari)
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that before the advent of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Jews used to pray for victory and dominance over the Aws and Khazraj with him. When Allah sent him from among the Arabs, they disbelieved in him and denied all those things they used to say about him. So Mu’adh bin Jabal, Bishr bin Ma’rur, and Dawud bin Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them) said to them: “O group of Jews! Fear Allah and become Muslims! You used to pray for victory and dominance over us with Muhammad (peace be upon him) when we were caught in polytheism, and you used to tell us that the last Prophet of Allah is about to be sent and you used to describe his signs.” So Salam bin Mishkam, who was from Banu Nadir, said: “He has not brought us anything we recognize, and he is not the one we used to tell you about.” Upon this statement of theirs, Allah revealed this verse: « وَ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتٰبٌ مِّنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ» [ طبری۔ ابن أبی حاتم بسند حسن : 238/1، ح : ۹۰۸ ]
Qurtubi has also narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the meaning of {”يَسْتَفْتِحُوْنَ“} is that before the appearance of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), when the Jews faced the polytheists of Arabia, they would pray through his means and say: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْئَلُكَ بِحَقِّ النَّبِيِّ الْاُمِّيِّ الَّذِيْ وَعَدْتَّنَا أَنْ تُخْرِجَهٗ لَنَا فِيْ آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ إِلاَّ نَصَرْتَنَا عَلَيْهِمْ ] “O Allah! We ask You by the right of the unlettered Prophet, whom You have promised us that You will send him for us at the end of times, grant us victory over them.” So when they met the enemy and made this supplication, they would defeat them. (Qurtubi)
This narration is in Mustadrak Hakim (2/263, Hadith: 3042). Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, this narration has been brought due to the necessity of tafsir and this narration is gharib (rare). Imam Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in its summary that there is no necessity for it, because the narrator Abdul Malik is abandoned, he is a ruin, and apart from this, none of the narrations of this meaning are Sahih.
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that before the advent of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Jews used to pray for victory and dominance over the Aws and Khazraj with him. When Allah sent him from among the Arabs, they disbelieved in him and denied all those things they used to say about him. So Mu’adh bin Jabal, Bishr bin Ma’rur, and Dawud bin Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them) said to them: “O group of Jews! Fear Allah and become Muslims! You used to pray for victory and dominance over us with Muhammad (peace be upon him) when we were caught in polytheism, and you used to tell us that the last Prophet of Allah is about to be sent and you used to describe his signs.” So Salam bin Mishkam, who was from Banu Nadir, said: “He has not brought us anything we recognize, and he is not the one we used to tell you about.” Upon this statement of theirs, Allah revealed this verse: « وَ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتٰبٌ مِّنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ» [ طبری۔ ابن أبی حاتم بسند حسن : 238/1، ح : ۹۰۸ ]
Qurtubi has also narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the meaning of {”يَسْتَفْتِحُوْنَ“} is that before the appearance of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), when the Jews faced the polytheists of Arabia, they would pray through his means and say: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْئَلُكَ بِحَقِّ النَّبِيِّ الْاُمِّيِّ الَّذِيْ وَعَدْتَّنَا أَنْ تُخْرِجَهٗ لَنَا فِيْ آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ إِلاَّ نَصَرْتَنَا عَلَيْهِمْ ] “O Allah! We ask You by the right of the unlettered Prophet, whom You have promised us that You will send him for us at the end of times, grant us victory over them.” So when they met the enemy and made this supplication, they would defeat them. (Qurtubi)
This narration is in Mustadrak Hakim (2/263, Hadith: 3042). Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, this narration has been brought due to the necessity of tafsir and this narration is gharib (rare). Imam Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in its summary that there is no necessity for it, because the narrator Abdul Malik is abandoned, he is a ruin, and apart from this, none of the narrations of this meaning are Sahih.
