Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 75

Word Meanings:

• Afatatma'oona – Do you then covet or hope?
• Fareeq – A group or party (here, referring to the scholars of the Jews).
• Yuharrifoonahu – They distort it, altering its words or meanings.
• Min ba'di ma 'aqaloo – After they had understood and comprehended it.
• Wa hum ya'lamoon – While they know (the gravity of their deed).

Tafsir (Explanation):

O believers, do you truly hope and long for the Jews to believe in you and accept the message you have brought, when you know full well their history and their stubborn nature? Have you forgotten what they did with the Book of Allah? A group among them—their scholars and learned men—used to hear the very Words of Allah revealed in the Torah. They listened, understood its meanings, and grasped its truths with their minds. Yet, despite this profound understanding, they deliberately twisted and distorted those words, changing their meanings and altering their texts. They did this not out of ignorance, but with full knowledge and awareness of what they were doing, fully conscious that they were corrupting the speech of their Lord.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that the hearts of such people are not easily turned, for they have a long history of tampering with divine revelation. But do not lose hope, for guidance is in the Hands of Allah alone. He opens hearts as He wills, and His mercy encompasses all things. The lesson here is twofold: first, to be cautious of those who distort the truth, and second, to remain steadfast in your own faith, trusting that Allah's promise is true. The Qur'an you hold is preserved by Allah Himself—no distortion can touch it, and no falsehood can approach it from any direction. So hold fast to it, and let your hope be in Allah, not in the whims of people. Indeed, the hearts of the Children of Adam are between two of the fingers of the Most Merciful, and He turns them as He pleases. So ask Him to guide whom He wills, and to keep your own hearts firm upon His path.