سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 78
لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ ﴿78﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dâwûd (David) and ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allâh and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لُعِنَ
luʿina
Were cursed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
مِنۢ
min
from
بَنِىٓ
banī
(the) Children
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
is'rāīla
(of) Israel
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
by
لِسَانِ
lisāni
(the) tongue
دَاوُۥدَ
dāwūda
(of) Dawood
وَعِيسَى
waʿīsā
and Isa
ٱبْنِ
ib'ni
son
مَرْيَمَ ۚ
maryama
(of) Maryam
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that (was)
بِمَا
bimā
because
عَصَوا۟
ʿaṣaw
they disobeyed
وَّكَانُوا۟
wakānū
and they were
يَعْتَدُونَ
yaʿtadūna
transgressing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
78. Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary, because they disobeyed [124] and used to transgress.
[124]
Who Were the People Turned Into Apes and Swine?
The time of Dawud (علیہ السلام) was approximately one thousand years before the advent of ‘Isa (علیہ السلام), so in the verse, the application of the word "kufr" is not limited only to the fact that the Children of Israel who did not believe in Sayyiduna ‘Isa (علیہ السلام) became disbelievers. Rather, here their "kufr" refers to their disobedience, breaking of covenants, and transgression of the limits set by Allah. It is because of these crimes that they were called disbelievers, and such people were declared accursed in the Zabur as well as in the Injil. And it was the effect of this very curse that some of them were turned into apes and some into swine. Some scholars are of the opinion that before the advent of Dawud (علیہ السلام), those who desecrated the Sabbath were turned into apes, and this incident belongs to that era. And those who demanded a table spread to descend from the sky from Sayyiduna ‘Isa (علیہ السلام), and then, even after the table spread descended, did not believe, they were turned into swine. And Allah knows best what is correct. In any case, it is established from the Noble Quran that some people from among the Children of Israel were turned into apes and some into swine, and this was the effect of that very curse.
[124]
Who Were the People Turned Into Apes and Swine?
The time of Dawud (علیہ السلام) was approximately one thousand years before the advent of ‘Isa (علیہ السلام), so in the verse, the application of the word "kufr" is not limited only to the fact that the Children of Israel who did not believe in Sayyiduna ‘Isa (علیہ السلام) became disbelievers. Rather, here their "kufr" refers to their disobedience, breaking of covenants, and transgression of the limits set by Allah. It is because of these crimes that they were called disbelievers, and such people were declared accursed in the Zabur as well as in the Injil. And it was the effect of this very curse that some of them were turned into apes and some into swine. Some scholars are of the opinion that before the advent of Dawud (علیہ السلام), those who desecrated the Sabbath were turned into apes, and this incident belongs to that era. And those who demanded a table spread to descend from the sky from Sayyiduna ‘Isa (علیہ السلام), and then, even after the table spread descended, did not believe, they were turned into swine. And Allah knows best what is correct. In any case, it is established from the Noble Quran that some people from among the Children of Israel were turned into apes and some into swine, and this was the effect of that very curse.
