Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:98-101)

Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:98-101)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

The Deadly Danger of Hypocrites

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿٩٨﴾‏ قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَاءُ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿٩٩﴾‏ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تُطِيعُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ كَافِرِينَ ‎﴿١٠٠﴾ ‏وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُ ۗ وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِيَ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ‎﴿١٠١﴾‏

3:98 Say: “O’ People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the Verses of Allah (SWT) while Allah (SWT) is Witness over what you do?”

3:99 Say: “O’ People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allah (SWT) those who believe, seeking to make it (seem) deviant, while you are witnesses (to the truth)? And Allah (SWT) is not unaware of what you do.”

3:100 O’ you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, (to being) unbelievers.

3:101 And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the Verses of Allah (SWT) and among you is God’s Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allah (SWT) has (indeed) been guided to a Straight Path.

Commentary: “Shaas ibn Qays” (شاس بن قیس) was a prominent Leader of the Banu Qaynuqa’ Tribe (بنى قينقاع), known for his hostility toward Muslims. One day, he came across a gathering of people from the Aws and Khazraj Tribes (الأوس والخزرج), who were united in peace and harmony. He observed that the deep-seated animosity that had once divided them during the pre-Islamic era had completely vanished.

Witnessing this scene, he felt distraught and thought to himself: “If they continue on this path under the leadership of the Prophet (PBUH), the survival of the Jews will be at risk.”

An idea came to him. He instructed one of the Jewish youths to join their group, discuss the horrific events at Ba’ath—where the fierce battle between the Aws and Khazraj had taken place—and help them visualize those terrible moments in their minds.

The plan, skilfully executed by a young Jewish man, proved to be effective. Upon hearing about the incident, the group began to place blame on one another. Some members even came close to resorting to physical violence in their desire for revenge for the murder of their tribesman. Before long, the long-forgotten conflict was on the verge of reigniting.

The news reached the Prophet (PBUH), who immediately went to address the situation involving the people. With his practical advice and inspiring words, he was able to restore peace and tranquillity among them. As the crowd listened to the Prophet’s (PBUH) comforting message, they came to understand that the incident was part of a scheme orchestrated by the enemies of Islam. During this time, four verses were revealed: the first two condemned the deceptive actions of the Jews, while the latter two provided warnings to the Muslims.

Verse 3:98 addresses the People of the Book, specifically the Jews. In this Verse, God instructs the Prophet (PBUH) to challenge them and inquire why they disbelieve in God’s Signs, as God is fully aware of their deeds.

The Verse reads: “ Say: O’ People of the Scripture (قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ), why do you disbelieve in the Verses of Allah (SWT) (لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ) while Allah (SWT) is Witness over what you do? (وَاللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ)’”

The phrase “the Verses of God” (آيَاتِ اللَّهِ) may refer to sections of the Torah that foretold the signs of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) or to Verses of the Quran that affirm his truthfulness.

Verse 99 criticizes those who reject Islam and distort its principles in the minds of others, making it appear crooked and incorrect. The Verse reads: “Say: “O’ People of the Scripture, (قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ) why do you avert those who believe from the way of Allah (SWT) (لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ), seeking to make it (seem) deviant (تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا), while you are witnesses (to the truth) (وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَاءُ)?

The People of the Scripture should have been the first to embrace the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), as his arrival had been foretold in their sacred texts, and they were witnesses to this promise. So, why did they discourage others from following the Prophet (PBUH) by spreading harmful, deceptive messages that instil doubts and rekindle old animosities among Muslims? Ultimately, this verse serves as a warning to the People of the Scripture that God is aware of their actions. (وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ).

The phrase “God is not unaware” suggests that conspirators often carry out secretive plans and schemes to fulfill their malicious intentions. This phrase highlights that God, being all-knowing, is fully aware of the actions of these conspirators. As a result, those involved in such conspiracies are ultimately destined to face Divine Punishment!

The following two verses are directed at the believers. Verse 3:100 warns the Muslims by stating: “O’ you who have believed (‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا), if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture (إِن تُطِيعُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ), they will turn you back (يَرُدُّوكُم), after your belief (بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ), to being unbelievers (كَافِرِينَ).

This Verse serves as a warning to Muslims about the dangers of falling into the enemies’ deception and being influenced by their distortion of the truth. If they allow this to happen, they risk losing their faith and reverting to disbelief. Shaas ibn Qays intentionally stirred up hostility among the people, aiming to create division and animosity within the community.

Had the Muslims fallen into Shaas ibn Qays’ deceptive trap, this division would have ultimately weakened their bond of brotherhood, which could have led them back to a state reminiscent of the pre-Islamic era, marked by endless wars and conflicts that harm one another.

The word “Kāfirīna” (كَافِرِينَ) is translated to disbelievers; it either states the state of disbelief and absolute alienation from Islam or the pre-Islamic era of hostility.

Verse 3:101 states that if Muslims fall into the enemy’s deception and go astray while the Prophet (PBUH) is among them, they are primarily responsible for their actions, and they will face severe punishment.

The Verse reads: “And how could you disbelieve (وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ) while to you are being recited the Verses of Allah (SWT) (وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ) and among you is God’s Messenger (وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُ)?”

At the end of the Verse, Muslims are encouraged to seek God’s grace to protect them from the deception of their enemies and to guide them along the straight path. The Verse reads: “And whoever holds firmly to Allah (SWT) (وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِاللَّهِ) has (indeed) been guided to Straight Path. (فَقَدْ هُدِيَ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ)”

A noteworthy observation can be made in these Verses. In Verses 3:98-99, Allah (SWT) addresses the Jews through an intermediary, as indicated by the phrase “Say: O’ Prophet.” In contrast, in Verses 3:100-101, Allah (SWT) speaks directly to the believers, emphasizing God’s Immense, Grace and exceptional attention toward God’s faithful servants.