وَلَمَّا

جَآءَهُمۡ

رَسُولٞ

مِّنۡ

عِندِ

ٱللَّهِ

مُصَدِّقٞ

لِّمَا

مَعَهُمۡ

نَبَذَ

فَرِيقٞ

مِّنَ

ٱلَّذِينَ

أُوتُواْ

ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ

كِتَٰبَ

ٱللَّهِ

وَرَآءَ

ظُهُورِهِمۡ

كَأَنَّهُمۡ

لَا

يَعۡلَمُونَ

١٠١

Now, when a messenger from Allah has come to them—confirming their own Scriptures—some of the People of the Book cast the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know.

They ˹instead˺ followed the magic promoted by the devils during the reign of Solomon. Never did Solomon disbelieve, rather the devils disbelieved. They taught magic to the people, along with what had been revealed to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, in Babylon.¹ The two angels never taught anyone without saying, “We are only a test ˹for you˺, so do not abandon ˹your˺ faith.” Yet people learned ˹magic˺ that caused a rift ˹even˺ between husband and wife; although their magic could not harm anyone except by Allah’s Will. They learned what harmed them and did not benefit them—although they already knew that whoever buys into magic would have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed was the price for which they sold their souls, if only they knew!

If only they were faithful and mindful ˹of Allah˺, there would have been a better reward from Allah, if only they knew!

O believers! Do not say, “Râ’ina.” [Herd us!] But say, “Unẓurna,” [Tend to us!] and listen ˹attentively˺.¹ And the disbelievers will suffer a painful punishment.

The disbelievers from the People of the Book and the polytheists would not want you to receive any blessing from your Lord, but Allah selects whoever He wills for His mercy. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.

If We ever abrogate¹ a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We replace it with a better or similar one. Do you not know that Allah is Most Capable of everything?

Do you not know that the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs ˹only˺ to Allah, and you have no guardian or helper besides Allah?

Or do you ˹believers˺ intend to ask of your Messenger as Moses was asked before?¹ But whoever trades belief for disbelief has truly strayed from the Right Way.

Many among the People of the Book wish they could turn you ˹believers˺ back to disbelief because of their envy, after the truth has been made clear to them. Pardon and bear with them until Allah delivers His decision. Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.

Establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will ˹certainly˺ find ˹its reward˺ with Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.