Surah Maidah ayat 82 Tafsir Quran 5:82

﴿۞ لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ﴾
[ المائدة: 82]

5:82 You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.

You O Muhammad (s) will truly find the most hostile of people to those who believe to be the Jews and the idolaters of Mecca because of the intensity of their disbelief ignorance and utter preoccupation with following whims; and you will truly find the nearest of them in love to those who believe to be those who say ‘Verily we are Christians’; that nearness of theirs in love to the believers is because some of them are priests scholars and monks devout worshippers and because they are not disdainful of following the truth as the Jews and the Meccans are.

You shall find O Muhammad the most avowed enemy to those who conformed their will to Allah’s will arc the Jews and those who incorporate with Allah other deities. And you shall find that the people who have a better disposition toward those who conformed their will to Allah’s will are those who are Christians. This is because among them, there are priests and monks who fear Allah and not extravagant in their accounts of themselves nor do they entertain inordinate self-esteem

The Reason Behind Revealing these Ayat Sa`id bin Jubayr, As-Suddi and others said that these Ayat were revealed concerning a delegation that An-Najashi ( King of Ethiopia ) sent to the Prophet in order to hear his words and observe his qualities.
When the delegation met with the Prophet and he recited the Qur'an to them, they embraced Islam, cried and were humbled.
Then they returned to An-Najashi and told him what happened.
`Ata' bin Abi Rabah commented, "They were Ethiopians who embraced Islam when the Muslims who migrated to Ethiopia resided among them." Qatadah said, "They were some followers of the religion of `Isa, son of Maryam, who when they saw Muslims and heard the Qur'an, they became Muslims without hesitation." Ibn Jarir said that these Ayat were revealed concerning some people who fit this description, whether they were from Ethiopia or otherwise.
Allah said, لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ ( Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers the Jews and those who commit Shirk, ) This describes the Jews, since their disbelief is that of rebellion, defiance, opposing the truth, belittling other, people and degrading the scholars.
This is why the Jews - may Allah's continued curses descend on them until the Day of Resurrection - killed many of their Prophets and tried to kill the Messenger of Allah ﷺ several times, as well as, performing magic spells against him and poisoning him.
They also incited their likes among the polytheists against the Prophet .
Allah's statement, وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّا نَصَارَى ( and you will find the nearest in love to the believers those who say: "We are Christians." ) refers to those who call themselves Christians, who follow the religion of the Messiah and the teachings of his Injil.
These people are generally more tolerant of Islam and its people, because of the mercy and kindness that their hearts acquired through part of the Messiah's religion.
In another Ayah, Allah said; وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ( And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion, mercy, and monasticism... ) 57:27.
In their book is the saying; "He who strikes you on the right cheek, then turn the left cheek for him." And fighting was prohibited in their creed, and this is why Allah said, ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَاناً وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ( That is because among them are Qissisin (priests ) and Ruhban ( monks ), and they are not proud.) This means that among them are Qissisin ( priests ).
The word Ruhban refers to one dedicated to worship.
Allah said, ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَاناً وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ( That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not proud. ) This describes them with knowledge, worship and humbleness, along with following the truth and fairness. وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ( And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. ) This refers to the good news that they have about the advent of Muhammad , يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّـهِدِينَ ( They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses." ) who testify to the truth and believe in it. وَمَا لَنَا لاَ نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( "And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the truth And We wish that our Lord will admit us (in Paradise ) along with the righteous people.") Such sect of Christians are those mentioned in Allah's statement, وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَـشِعِينَ للَّهِ ( And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah. )3:199 and, الَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ - وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَآ إنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ( Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it (the Qur'an ).
And when it is recited to them, they say, "We believe in it.
Verily, it is the truth from our Lord.
Indeed even before it we were Muslims")28:52-53, until, لاَ نَبْتَغِى الْجَـهِلِينَ ( "We seek not the ignorant." )28:55 This is why Allah said here, فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُواْ ( So because of what they said, Allah awarded them... ) rewarding them for embracing the faith and recognizing and believing in the truth, جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا ( Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise ), they will abide therein forever.) and they will never be removed from it, for they will dwell and remain in it forever and ever, وَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ( Such is the reward of good-doers ) who follow the truth and obey it wherever, whenever and with whomever they find it.
Allah then describes the condition of the miserable. وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِآيَـتِنَآ ( But those who disbelieved and belied Our Ayat, ) defied and opposed them, أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَحِيمِ ( they shall be the dwellers of the (Hell ) Fire.) For they are the people of the Fire who will enter and reside in it ( eternally ).

The Reason Behind Revealing these Ayat Sa`id bin Jubayr, As-Suddi and others said that these Ayat were revealed concerning a delegation that An-Najashi ( King of Ethiopia ) sent to the Prophet in order to hear his words and observe his qualities.
When the delegation met with the Prophet and he recited the Qur'an to them, they embraced Islam, cried and were humbled.
Then they returned to An-Najashi and told him what happened.
`Ata' bin Abi Rabah commented, "They were Ethiopians who embraced Islam when the Muslims who migrated to Ethiopia resided among them." Qatadah said, "They were some followers of the religion of `Isa, son of Maryam, who when they saw Muslims and heard the Qur'an, they became Muslims without hesitation." Ibn Jarir said that these Ayat were revealed concerning some people who fit this description, whether they were from Ethiopia or otherwise.
Allah said, لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ ( Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers the Jews and those who commit Shirk, ) This describes the Jews, since their disbelief is that of rebellion, defiance, opposing the truth, belittling other, people and degrading the scholars.
This is why the Jews - may Allah's continued curses descend on them until the Day of Resurrection - killed many of their Prophets and tried to kill the Messenger of Allah ﷺ several times, as well as, performing magic spells against him and poisoning him.
They also incited their likes among the polytheists against the Prophet .
Allah's statement, وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّا نَصَارَى ( and you will find the nearest in love to the believers those who say: "We are Christians." ) refers to those who call themselves Christians, who follow the religion of the Messiah and the teachings of his Injil.
These people are generally more tolerant of Islam and its people, because of the mercy and kindness that their hearts acquired through part of the Messiah's religion.
In another Ayah, Allah said; وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ( And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion, mercy, and monasticism... ) 57:27.
In their book is the saying; "He who strikes you on the right cheek, then turn the left cheek for him." And fighting was prohibited in their creed, and this is why Allah said, ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَاناً وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ( That is because among them are Qissisin (priests ) and Ruhban ( monks ), and they are not proud.) This means that among them are Qissisin ( priests ).
The word Ruhban refers to one dedicated to worship.
Allah said, ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَاناً وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ( That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not proud. ) This describes them with knowledge, worship and humbleness, along with following the truth and fairness. وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ( And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. ) This refers to the good news that they have about the advent of Muhammad , يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّـهِدِينَ ( They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses." ) who testify to the truth and believe in it. وَمَا لَنَا لاَ نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( "And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the truth And We wish that our Lord will admit us (in Paradise ) along with the righteous people.") Such sect of Christians are those mentioned in Allah's statement, وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَـشِعِينَ للَّهِ ( And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah. )3:199 and, الَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ - وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَآ إنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ( Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it (the Qur'an ).
And when it is recited to them, they say, "We believe in it.
Verily, it is the truth from our Lord.
Indeed even before it we were Muslims")28:52-53, until, لاَ نَبْتَغِى الْجَـهِلِينَ ( "We seek not the ignorant." )28:55 This is why Allah said here, فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُواْ ( So because of what they said, Allah awarded them... ) rewarding them for embracing the faith and recognizing and believing in the truth, جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا ( Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise ), they will abide therein forever.) and they will never be removed from it, for they will dwell and remain in it forever and ever, وَذَلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ( Such is the reward of good-doers ) who follow the truth and obey it wherever, whenever and with whomever they find it.
Allah then describes the condition of the miserable. وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِآيَـتِنَآ ( But those who disbelieved and belied Our Ayat, ) defied and opposed them, أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَحِيمِ ( they shall be the dwellers of the (Hell ) Fire.) For they are the people of the Fire who will enter and reside in it ( eternally ).

Allah then showed their enmity towards the Prophet ( pbuh ) and his Companions, saying: ( Thou wilt find ) O Muhammad ( the most vehement of mankind in hostility ) and most vile in speech ( to those who believe ) Muhammad and his Companions ( (to be ) the Jews) the Jews of the Banu Qurayzah, Banu’l-Nadir, Fadak and Khaybar ( and the idolaters ) and the most vehement in hostility to the believers among the idolaters are the idolaters of Mecca. ( And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection ) in their bond and most lenient in speech ( to those who believe ) Muhammad and his Companions ( (to be ) those who say: Lo! We are Christians) the Negus and his followers who were 32 men; it is also said that they were 40 people in total: 32 from Abyssinia, and eight monks from Historic Syria: the monk Bahirah and his followers Abrahah, Ashraf, Idris, Tamim, Tammam, Durayd and Ayman. ( That ) affection ( is because there are among them priests ) ascetics whose heads are shaved in the middle ( and monks ) secluded in monasteries who are their men of knowledge, ( and because they are not proud ) in believing in Muhammad and the Qur’an.

Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are Al-Mushrikun (see V. 2:105), and you will find the nearest in love to the believers (Muslims) those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud.

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