And they say, “ Uncircumcised are our hearts.” Nay! God hath cursed them in their infidelity: few are they who believe!
And when a Book had come to them from God, confirming that which they had received already—although they had before prayed for victory over those who believed not—yet when that Koran come to them, of which they had knowledge, they did not recognise it. The curse of God on the infidels!
For a vile price have they sold themselves, by not believing what God hath sent down, envious of God’s sending down his grace on such of his servants as he pleaseth:[1] and they have brought on themselves wrath upon wrath. And for the unbelievers is a disgraceful chastisement.
And when it is said to them, “ Believe in what God hath sent down,” they say, “ In that which hath been sent down to us we believe: ” but what hath since been sent down they disbelieve, although it be the truth confirmatory of their own Scriptures. Say: Why then have ye of old slain God’s prophets,[2] if ye are indeed believers?
Moreover, Moses came unto you with proofs of his mission. Then in his absence ye took the calf for your God, and did wickedly.
And when we accepted your covenant, and uplifted[3] the mountain over you, we said, “Take firm hold on what we have given you, and hearken.” They said, “ We have hearkened and have rebelled: ” then were they made to drink down the calf into their hearts for their ingratitude. Say: A bad thing hath your faith commanded you, if ye be indeed believers.
Say: If the future dwelling place with God be specially for you, but not for the rest of mankind, then wish for death, if ye are sincere:
But never can they wish for it, because of that which their own hands have sent on before them![4] And God knoweth the oflenders.
90 And thou wilt surely find them of all men most covetous of life, beyond even the polytheists. To be kept alive a thousand years might one of them desire: but that he may be preserved alive, shall no one reprieve himself from the punishment! And God seeth what they do.
- ↑ The gift of the prophetic office, etc., to a pagan Arab and not to a Jew.
- ↑ Matt. xxiii. 37.
- ↑ See Sura vii. 170, p. 309.
- ↑ Comp. 1 Tim. v. 24.
