Читать книгу Towards Understanding the Qur'an - Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi - Страница 78

Al-Baqarah 2: 103–4

And yet they learned from them what might cause division between a man and his wife. They could not cause harm to anyone except by the leave of Allah, and still they learned what harmed rather than profited them, knowing well that he who bought it will have no share in the World to Come. Evil indeed is what they sold themselves for. Had they but known! (103) Had they believed and been God- fearing Allah’s reward would have been better! Had they but known!

(104) O you who believe! Do not say (to the Prophet): Ra[ina (Lend ear to us), but say Unzurna (Favour us with your attention) and pay heed (to him).36 ▶

slavery and captivity in Babylonia, God sent two angels in human form in order to test the Jews. In the same way as angels were sent to the people of Lot in the form of handsome youth (see Surah Hud 11: 69 ff. Ed.), they were presumably sent to Israel in the form of divines who could work magic and sorcery. These angels at once began working their magical wonders but they warned the people that their presence among them was designed to test their faith, and that they ought not to jeopardize their prospects in the After-Life by practising magic. Despite the warning it seems that the Israelites had become so fond of their magical artifices that they continued to pounce upon the talismans and sorcery they taught.

36 When the Jews visited the Prophet (peace be on him) they tried to vent their spite by using ambiguous expressions in their greetings and conversation. They

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