وَلَمّا جاءَهُم رَسولٌ مِن عِندِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِما مَعَهُم نَبَذَ فَريقٌ مِنَ الَّذينَ أوتُوا الكِتابَ كِتابَ اللَّهِ وَراءَ ظُهورِهِم كَأَنَّهُم لا يَعلَمونَ

And when there came to them a Messenger from God, confirming what was with them, a faction of those who were given the Scripture threw the Scripture of God behind their backs, as though they didn’t know.

وَاتَّبَعوا ما تَتلُو الشَّياطينُ عَلىٰ مُلكِ سُلَيمانَ ۖ وَما كَفَرَ سُلَيمانُ وَلـٰكِنَّ الشَّياطينَ كَفَروا يُعَلِّمونَ النّاسَ السِّحرَ وَما أُنزِلَ عَلَى المَلَكَينِ بِبابِلَ هاروتَ وَماروتَ ۚ وَما يُعَلِّمانِ مِن أَحَدٍ حَتّىٰ يَقولا إِنَّما نَحنُ فِتنَةٌ فَلا تَكفُر ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمونَ مِنهُما ما يُفَرِّقونَ بِهِ بَينَ المَرءِ وَزَوجِهِ ۚ وَما هُم بِضارّينَ بِهِ مِن أَحَدٍ إِلّا بِإِذنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمونَ ما يَضُرُّهُم وَلا يَنفَعُهُم ۚ وَلَقَد عَلِموا لَمَنِ اشتَراهُ ما لَهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِن خَلاقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئسَ ما شَرَوا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ لَو كانوا يَعلَمونَ

They followed what the devils attributed during Solomon’s reign. Solomon didn’t disbelieve, but the devils did. They taught people magic, and what was revealed to the two angels, Harut and Marut, in Babylon. They didn’t teach anyone without first cautioning, “We’re a test, so don’t lose faith.” They learned from them how to sow discord between a man and his wife. Yet, they can’t harm anyone without God’s permission. They learned what harms them and doesn’t benefit them, knowing well that whoever practices it will have no share in the Hereafter. How terrible is what they sold their souls for—if only they understood.

وَلَو أَنَّهُم آمَنوا وَاتَّقَوا لَمَثوبَةٌ مِن عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيرٌ ۖ لَو كانوا يَعلَمونَ

If they had remained faithful and righteous, a reward from God would’ve been far better—if only they knew.

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا لا تَقولوا راعِنا وَقولُوا انظُرنا وَاسمَعوا ۗ وَلِلكافِرينَ عَذابٌ أَليمٌ

O you who believe, don’t use words of disrespect, but speak in a manner that is honest, and listen carefully. The unbelievers will face severe punishment.

ما يَوَدُّ الَّذينَ كَفَروا مِن أَهلِ الكِتابِ وَلَا المُشرِكينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيكُم مِن خَيرٍ مِن رَبِّكُم ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَختَصُّ بِرَحمَتِهِ مَن يَشاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الفَضلِ العَظيمِ

Neither the unbelievers among the People of the Scripture nor the polytheists desire any blessings for you from your Lord. However, God selects for His mercy whom He wills, for God is of boundless grace.

أَلَم تَعلَم أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُ مُلكُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۗ وَما لَكُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلا نَصيرٍ

Don’t you know that God reigns over the heavens and the earth? Apart from Him, you have neither guardian nor ally.

أَم تُريدونَ أَن تَسأَلوا رَسولَكُم كَما سُئِلَ موسىٰ مِن قَبلُ ۗ وَمَن يَتَبَدَّلِ الكُفرَ بِالإيمانِ فَقَد ضَلَّ سَواءَ السَّبيلِ

Would you question your Messenger as Moses was questioned before? Whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has strayed from the right way.

وَدَّ كَثيرٌ مِن أَهلِ الكِتابِ لَو يَرُدّونَكُم مِن بَعدِ إيمانِكُم كُفّارًا حَسَدًا مِن عِندِ أَنفُسِهِم مِن بَعدِ ما تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الحَقُّ ۖ فَاعفوا وَاصفَحوا حَتّىٰ يَأتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَديرٌ

Many among the People of the Scripture, out of envy, wish to turn you back into unbelievers after you have believed, even after the truth has become clear to them. Nevertheless, forgive and overlook until God brings His command. God has power over all things.

وَأَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكاةَ ۚ وَما تُقَدِّموا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِن خَيرٍ تَجِدوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِما تَعمَلونَ بَصيرٌ

Establish prayer and give the purifying charity. Whatever good you put forward for yourselves, you’ll find it with God. God sees what you do.

وَقالوا لَن يَدخُلَ الجَنَّةَ إِلّا مَن كانَ هودًا أَو نَصارىٰ ۗ تِلكَ أَمانِيُّهُم ۗ قُل هاتوا بُرهانَكُم إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ

They say, “Only Jews and Christians will enter Paradise.” These are their wishes. Say, “Present your proof, if you are truthful.”