Surah Aal-i-Imraan: Verse 112 - ضربت عليهم الذلة أين ما... - English
Tafsir of Verse 112, Surah Aal-i-Imraan
English Translation
They have been put under humiliation [by Allah] wherever they are overtaken, except for a covenant from Allah and a rope from the Muslims. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allah and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in the verses of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.English Transliteration
Duribat AAalayhimu alththillatu ayna ma thuqifoo illa bihablin mina Allahi wahablin mina alnnasi wabaoo bighadabin mina Allahi waduribat AAalayhimu almaskanatu thalika biannahum kanoo yakfuroona biayati Allahi wayaqtuloona alanbiyaa bighayri haqqin thalika bima AAasaw wakanoo yaAAtadoonaTafsir of Verse 112
Commentary
The meaning of disgrace and wrath cast on the Jews:
A detailed discussion on this subject has already appeared under comments on verse 61 of Surah al-Baqarah where the text has not mentioned any exception. This can be seen in Volume I of this commentary. It also covers the exception given in the present verse - إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ النَّاسِ
Briefly, the verse means that the Jews shall remain stamped with disgrace and misery except under two situations:
1. Though a Covenant of Allah. For example, a minor child or woman shall not be killed. (This exception is meant by the words 'through a source from Allah' ).
Through a treaty obligation, that is, بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ النَّاسِ (through a source from men). Such patronage may cause their disgrace and misery not to become manifest. The specific words used in the Holy Qur'an i.e., a source from men, cover all men, believers and disbelievers. The possibility that they live with freedom after making a peace treaty with Muslims is included here. Also possible is the situation that they may come under the protection of other non-Muslim powers through a peace treaty (or informal collaboration strategy), a situation that prevails in the form of the present-day state of Israel. To discerning people all over the world, it is no secret that the state of Israel is really a joint encampment of the West. Behind all the facade of power they appear to have is the power of others. If the U.S., U.K., Europe, and USSR too, were daring enough to withdraw their patronage of Israel, it would not survive for a day. Allah knows best.
