SURAH AL-BAQARAH (AYAH 81 to 90) 

بَلَىٰ مَنْ كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَاطَتْ بِهِ خَطِيئَتُهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {2:81}

[Q2:81] Balaa man kasaba sayyi'atanw wa ahaatat bihee khateee'atuhoo fa-ulaaa'ika Ashaabun Naari hum feehaa khaalidoon.
[Q2:81] Yea, whoever earns evil and his sins beset him on every side, these are the inmates of the fire; in it they shall abide.

[Q2:81] (Apa yang kamu katakan itu tidaklah benar), sesungguhnya sesiapa yang berbuat kejahatan dan ia diliputi (ditenggelamkan) oleh kesalahannya itu, maka merekalah ahli neraka, mereka kekal di dalamnya.

EARNING (OBTAINING A RETURN) IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM FALLING INTO EVIL.

[1] Those who earn the wages of sin are enclosed in sin. One sin leads to another sin. It is a vicious and unending cycle.

[2] Willing yielding to evil for self advancement, erects a fortress of wickedness brick by brick; and access to good becomes impossible. They are enclosed in error.

SINNING BECOMES THEIR NATURE, AS THE CONSCIENCE IS PARALYSED. Total abandonment to evil obtains eternal punishment. They are the people of hell.

Ä  MAN FINDS HIMSELF IN SUCH A HOPELESS SITUATION **only when he breaks the covenant made with the Lord AND **disconnects all links of attachment with the divinely commissioned guides (Baqarah 2:38).

Even a little liking for the goodness of the holy Imams may change the lifestyle of a habitual sinner.

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(2:81) Whoever earns evil and becomes engrossed in sin shall be doomed to Hell and abide therein for ever.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {2:82}

[Q2:82] Wallazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati ulaaa'ika Ashaabul Jannati hum feeha khaalidoon.

[Q2:82] And (as for) those who believe and do good deeds, these are the dwellers of the garden; in it they shall abide.
[Q2:82] Dan orang-orang yang beriman serta beramal soleh, merekalah ahli syurga, mereka kekal di dalamnya.

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(2:82) Only those people who believe and do good deeds, will be the dwellers of the Garden and live there for ever.

SECTION 10

The Covernant with the Children of Israel and Their Pledge

The covenant with the children of Israel and their pledge to serve none but ALLAH (SWT)…to do good to parents…to thekindred, to the orphans and to speak kindly with all men---to be steadfast in prayer---and to pay the poor-rate---Israelites backsliding from their solemn pledge---The return for their breaking the covenant.

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ {2:83}

[Q2:83] Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqa Baneee Israaa'eela laa ta'budoona illal laaha wa bil waalidaini ihsaananw wa zil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni wa qooloo linnaasi husnanw wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuzZakaata summa tawallitum illaa qaleelam minkum wa antum mu'ridoon,
[Q2:83] And when We made a covenant with the children of Israel: You shall not serve any but ALLAH (SWT) and (you shall do) good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to the orphans and the needy, and you shall speak to men good words and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you and (now too) you turn aside.

[Q2:83] Dan (ingatlah wahai Muhammad), ketika Kami mengikat perjanjian setia dengan Bani Israil (dengan berfirman): “Janganlah kamu menyembah melainkan ALLAH (SwT), dan berbuat baiklah kepada kedua ibu bapa, dan kaum kerabat, dan anak-anak yatim, serta orang-orang miskin; dan katakanlah kepada sesama manusia perkataan-perkataan yang baik; dan dirikanlah sembahyang serta berilah zakat”. Kemudian kamu berpaling membelakangkan (perjanjian setia kamu itu) kecuali sebahagian kecil dari kamu; dan sememangnya kamu orang-orang yang tidak menghiraukan perjanjian setianya.

THE COVENANT IS A CONTRACT OF GUIDANCE. EVERY CLAUSE IS A COMMAND OF ALLAH (SWT). **Tawhid, worship and adoration of none other than ALLAH (SWT), is the first and the foremost command.

Call upon Him with sincere (and exclusive) obedience. (ARAF 7:29)

»         Turning to a ghayrallah is as bad as surrendering to Shaytan who is an open enemy of man.

IYYAKA NA-BUDU WA IYYAKA NASTA-IN (FATIHAH 1:4)

For this reason recitation of al Fatihah has been made obligatory in every salat.

ONE IS BORN INTO THIS WORLD THROUGH PARENTS, AND THEREFORE HE WHO IS ON THE PATH OF GUIDANCE CANNOT BUT DO GOOD TO PARENTS (Luqman 31:13).

Parents should be *loved, *respected, *obeyed and *looked after in health and sickness. *To walk ahead of them, *to shout in their presence, *to lose temper on account of any of their actions, or *even to look at them with displeasure is unworthy of a true believer.

·         In a wider sense, *teachers and *guardians are also parents - the spiritual source of guidance.

     The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

       "I and Ali are the fathers of the ummah."

In the Old Testament the covenant made with the Bani Israil has been referred to as under:

°          "He announced the terms of His covenant to you, binding you observe the ten words." (Deut 4: 13)

°          "You shall have no other ALLAH (SWT) to set against Me." (Exodus 20: 3)

°          "Worship the Lord your ALLAH (SWT)." (Exodus 23: 25)

°          "At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce for that year and leave it in your settlements so that the Levites, who have no holding or patrimony among you, and the aliens, orphans, and widows in your settlements may come and eat their fill. If you do this the Lord your ALLAH (SWT) will bless you in everything to which you set your hand. (Deut 14: 28 and 29)

IN THIS VERSE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RELIGION OF ALLAH (SWT), ISLAM, HAS BEEN POINTED OUT. If the commandments of this verse are carried out how peaceful and pleasant would life on earth be!

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(2:83) Remember that We made a solemn covenant with the children of Israel to this effect: worship none save Allah: be good to your parents, to your relatives, to the orphans and to the helpless; speak aright with the people: establish the Salat and pay the Zakat. But with the exception of a few, you all slid back from it and are paying no heed to it even now.

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ {2:84}

[Q2:84] Wa iz akhaznaa meesaa qakum laa tasfikoona dimaaa'akum wa laa tukrijoona anfusakum min diyaarikum summa aqrartum wa antum tashhadoon.

[Q2:84] And when We made a covenant with you: You shall not shed your blood and you shall not turn your people out of your cities; then you gave a promise while you witnessed.
[Q2:84] Dan (ingatlah), ketika Kami mengikat perjanjian setia dengan kamu: “(Bahawa) janganlah kamu menumpahkan darah (berbunuh-bunuhan) sesama sendiri, dan janganlah kamu usir-mengusir sesama sendiri dari kampung masing-masing”. Kemudian kamu telah berikrar mematuhi perjanjian setia itu, dan kamu sendiri pula menjadi saksi (yang mengakui kebenarannya).

Ibna Hisham in "Siratun Nabi", and Amir Ali in the "Spirit of Islam" say that this reminder is directed to the Bani Israil, who entered into a treaty with the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) at Madina.

A few clauses are quoted below:

"Whosoever is rebellious, or seeks to spread enmity and sedition, the hand of every man shall be against him, even if he be a son. Whosoever of the Jews follows us shall have aid and succour; they shall not be injured, nor shall any enemy be aided against them. The Jewish clans in alliance with the several tribes of Madina are one people with the believers. The Jews will profess their religion, the Muslims theirs. As with the Jews, so with their adherents. No one shall go forth to war excepting with the permission of Muhammad, but this shall not hinder any from seeking lawful revenge. The Jews shall be responsible for their expenditure, the Muslims for theirs, but if attacked each shall come to the assistance of the other. Madina shall be sacred and inviolable for all that join this treaty; controversies and disputes shall be referred to for the decision of ALLAH (SWT) and His Prophet. None shall join the men of Makka or their allies, for verily the engaging parties are bound together against every one that shall threaten Madina. War and peace shall be made in common."

ALTHOUGH the Jews acknowledged and witnessed the divine command not to shed blood of their people, NOR drive them away out of their habitations, yet they transgressed.

**This Jewish attitude was conspicuously noticeable in the nature of the MUSLIM UMMAH, WHEN THEY KILLED, TORMENTED AND ABUSED THE HOLY FAMILY OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) IN KARBALA AND AFTER KARBALA.

·         Imam Ali bin Husayn al Zaynul Abidin had said:

In view of the clear instructions of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) AND the decisive injunctions of the Qur’an it is obligatory to love, revere and follow the Ahlul Bayt, but, even if the prophet had commanded the ummah to hate and abuse his children, they could not have been able to do worse than what they did to us.

    They persecuted the Ahlul Bayt in whichever town they took shelter, forced them to drift from place to place, and at last surrounded them from all sides in the desert of Karbala, and then murdered in cold blood, all the male friends, relatives and companions of Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) They spared no one, not even the six month infant son of the Holy Imam.    

      The persecutors, in devilish frenzy, trampled the bodies of the devoted martyrs under the hooves of their horses, plundered, looted and set the tents of the Ahlul Bayt on fire. It was a premeditated, ruthless and satanic dance of death.

The ladies and children of the holy house in chains, along with the severed heads of the martyrs, walked through the streets of Kufa and Damascus (to the court of Yazid).

THE TRAGEDY OF KARBALA casts a gloom upon every refined, compassionate and ALLAH (SWT)-fearing soul. It makes hearts bleed, and tears flow. Cries of lamentation reach the heavens.

IN THE COURT OF YAZID, BIBI ZAYNAB BINTA ALI STOOD UP AND SAID IN A CLEAR, DEFINITE AND STRONG VOICE:

O’ Yazid! **What would the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) say if he sees us in this condition today? **Think you O’ Yazid, that by killing our men and capturing us and reducing us to this state, you have won and we have lost? Then verily you are mistaken. **Our cause has been established by ALLAH (SWT) and no power on earth can ever do it any harm. The temporal power which you assume is to be counted but only for a very few days and then you shall feel sorry for your tyranny but it shall be in vain. **The divine kingdom is with us and shall remain with us for ever. All that you possess is nothing but a passing show and there is nothing divine in it. **Verily, Satan holds power on the earth more than all the tyrants together but in the eyes of ALLAH (SWT) he is the cursed and the derided one. **It appears that sins have encompassed your heart and severed all the links of faith and made you bold to utter the proud words against the truth. "Have they not travelled on the earth and seen how the others before them had met their end? They were far more powerful than them, dug up the earth and built far more than what did they build; and their messengers came to them with clear proofs. It was not for ALLAH (SWT) to wrong them, they wronged themselves. Then evil was the end of those who did evil, for they belied the signs of ALLAH (SWT) and made fun of them."

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(2:84) Remember also that We made another solemn covenant with you: you shall not shed blood among yourselves nor expel one another from your homes. And you confirmed it and you are a witness to it.

ثُمَّ أَنْتُمْ هَٰؤُلَاءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ تَظَاهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَإِنْ يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَارَىٰ تُفَادُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ {2:85}

[Q2:85] Summa antum haaa'ulaaa'i taqtuloona anfusakum wa tukhrijoona fareeqam minkum min diyaarihim tazaaharoona 'alaihim bil ismi wal'udwaani wa iny yaatookum usaaraa tufaadoohum wahuwa muharramun 'alaikum ikhraajuhum; afatu' mi-noona biba'dil Kitaabi wa takfuroona biba'd; famaa jazaaa'u mai yaf'alu zaalika minkum illaa khizyun fil hayaatid-dunyaa wa yawmal qiyaamati yuraddoona ilaaa ashaddil 'azaab; wa mal laahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon.
[Q2:85] Yet you it is who slay your people and turn a party from among you out of their homes, backing each other up against them unlawfully and exceeding the limits; and if they should come to you, as captives you would ransom them-- while their very turning out was unlawful for you. Do you then believe in a part of the Book and disbelieve in the other? What then is the reward of such among you as do this but disgrace in the life of this world, and on the day of resurrection they shall be sent back to the most grievous chastisement, and ALLAH (SWT) is not at all heedless of what you do.

[Q2:85] Kemudian kamu ini (wahai Bani Israil), kamu berbunuh-bunuhan sesama sendiri dan kamu usir satu puak dari kaum kamu keluar dari kampungnya; kamu pula saling bantu-membantu (dengan orang lain) untuk menentang mereka dengan melakukan dosa dan penganiayaan; padahal kalau mereka datang kepada kamu sebagai orang tawanan, kamu tebus mereka; sedang perbuatan mengusir mereka diharamkan juga atas kamu. Sesudah itu maka patutkah kamu hanya percaya kepada sebahagian (dari isi) Kitab Taurat dan mengingkari akan sebahagian yang lain? Maka tiadalah balasan bagi orang yang berbuat demikian itu dari antara kamu, selain dari kehinaan ketika hidup di dunia, dan pada hari kiamat akan ditolak mereka ke dalam azab seksa yang amat berat. Dan (ingatlah), ALLAH (SwT) tidak sekali-kali lalai akan apa yang kamu lakukan.

It is said by some commentators that this verse refers to the dual standards of the Jews of Madina.

"The Jewish tribes Bani Qurayza and Bani Nadhir living side by side at Madina made an alliance with Aus and Khazraj, the two rival tribes of Madina respectively, and when the latter fought against each other their allies took part in fighting and thus one Jewish tribe slaughtered and imprisoned the other and laid waste their habitations; but afterwards collected subscriptions for the release of Jewish prisoners, giving reason for this that their law commanded them to redeem the prisoners and they fought for the honour of their allies."

They carried out one command of ALLAH (SWT) by ransoming their people BUT violated the other command that they should have not slain their people and laid waste their habitations.

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(2:85) But inspite of this, you are killing your brethren and driving them out from their homes and making unjust and aggressive alliances against one another. And when they come to you as captives, you trade on their ransoms whereas their expulsion itself was unlawful for you. Do you then believe in one part of the Scriptures and disbelieve in the other? *92 What other punishment do such people from among you deserve except an ignominious life in this world and the most grievous doom on the Day of Resurrection? Allah is not unaware of what you are doing.

*92. Before the advent of the Prophet (peace be on him) the Jewish tribes who lived on the outskirts of Madina had concluded an alliance with the Arab tribes of Aws and Khazraj. When the Arab tribes fought against one another each Jewish tribe fought on the side of its allies, which led to fratricide and so to a flagrant violation of the Book of God. Moreover, when the war ended the captives were ransomed. This ransom was justified on the basis of scriptural arguments; they extolled the Word of God when it permitted the ransom of prisoners of war, but attached no significance at all to the same Word of God when it prohibited mutual feuding.

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا بِالْآخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ {2:86}

[Q2:86] Ulaaa'ikal lazeenash tarawul hayaatad dunyaa bil aakhirati falaa yukhaffafu 'anhumul 'azaabu wa laa hum yunsaroon.

[Q2:86] These are they who buy the life of this world for the hereafter, so their chastisement shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped.
[Q2:86] Mereka itulah orang-orang yang membeli (mengutamakan) kehidupan dunia (dan kesenangannya) dengan (meninggalkan perintah-perintah ALLAH (SwT) yang membawa kebahagiaan dalam kehidupan) akhirat; maka tidak akan diringankan azab seksa mereka (pada hari kiamat), dan mereka pula tidak akan diberikan pertolongan.

They who bought the life of this world for personal gain and fulfilment of their treacherous [1] designs by using unfair, [2] wicked and [3] brutal means to suppress and usurp the rights of the Ahlul Bayt, are included among those who shall be punished in the hereafter.

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(2:86) These are the people who have preferred the worldly life to the life in the Hereafter. Therefore their torment shall not be lightened nor shall help be given to them (from any quarter).

SECTION 11

Rejection and the Murder of the Apostles of ALLAH (SWT)

Israelies’ rejection of the apostles of ALLAH (SWT) and the murdering them---Their lack of belief in Moses too---Demand to invoke death if they really believe in ALLAH (SWT) and the hereafter.

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ بِالرُّسُلِ ۖ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ {2:87}

[Q2:87] Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba wa qaffainaa mim ba'dihee bir Rusuli wa aatainaa 'Eesab-na-Maryamal baiyinaati wa ayyadnaahu bi Roohil Qudus; afakullamaa jaaa'akum Rasoolum bimaa laa tahwaaa anfusukumus takbartum fafareeqan kazzabtum wa fareeqan taqtuloon.
[Q2:87] And most certainly We gave Musa the Book and We sent messengers after him one after another; and We gave Isa, the son of Marium, clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! Whenever then a messenger came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew.

[Q2:87] Dan sesungguhnya Kami telah memberikan kepada Nabi Musa Kitab Taurat, dan Kami iringi kemudian daripadanya dengan beberapa orang Rasul, dan Kami berikan kepada Nabi Isa Ibni Maryam beberapa mukjizat serta Kami teguhkan kebenarannya dengan Ruhul-Qudus (Jibril). Maka patutkah, tiap-tiap kali datang kepada kamu seorang Rasul membawa sesuatu (kebenaran) yang tidak disukai oleh hawa nafsu kamu, kamu (dengan) sombong takbur (menolaknya), sehingga sebahagian dari Rasul-rasul itu kamu dustakan, dan sebahagian yang lain pula kamu membunuhnya?

Whenever the message of truth is not conducive to the selfish interests of the people the (animal) nafs rejects it, AND the rejection manifests itself in rebellion against the divine covenant AND against those who are divinely chosen to guide to the right path.

v  Although, according to verse 58:22 of al Mujadilah, ALLAH (SWT) guides and inspires every virtuous individual through the spirit, but the repeated mention of ruhul quds (the holy spirit), in the verses of the Qur’an, has a special significance.

IT IS, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, a very highly refined spiritual entity whose function is **to guide, **inspire and **infuse the prophetic spirit. **It also equips the divinely selected individual to exercise miraculous powers.

ï  An impostor, who did not have such a spirit or an angel to guide him, yet claimed prophethood, interprets ruh as guidance, which every virtuous individual receives from ALLAH (SWT). According to him, even the help which prophet Isa received from ALLAH (SWT) was merely in the form of guidance. In this way he purposely tries to discredit every true messenger of ALLAH (SWT) from having any angelic service at his command.

The repeated mention of ruhul quds in connection with the prophet Isa clearly establishes the fact that he was particularly chosen for this distinction.

Please refer to the following verses wherein the word holy spirit or spirit has been used: AL BAQARAH 2:253; AL MA-IDAH 5:110; AL NAHL 16:102; AL MUMIN 23:15; AL SHURA 42:52; AL MUJADILAH 58:22; AL NABA 78:38; AL QADR 97:4

Through fa-fariqan kadhdhabtum, the obstinate refusal to believe in the true messengers of ALLAH (SWT), and to carry out those commands which do not serve selfish interests, is disclosed.

In fariqan taqtuluna, the change of tense from the past to the present refers to the attempts the Jews were making to kill the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

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(2:87) And We gave Moses the Book and sent after him a train of Messengers in succession. Then We sent Jesus, son of Mary, with clear Signs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. *93 Then how is it that whenever a Messenger came to you wish that which did not suit your lusts, you grew rebellious against him, and repudiated some and slew others.

*93. The 'spirit of holiness' signifies the knowledge derived through revelation. It also signifies the angel Gabriel who brought this revelation. It also denotes the holy spirit of Jesus, the spirit which God had endowed with angelic character.
The expression 'clear proofs' refers to those signs which are likely to convince a truth-seeking and truth-loving person that Jesus is a Prophet of God. 

وَقَالُوا قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ ۚ بَلْ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَقَلِيلًا مَا يُؤْمِنُونَ {2:88}

[Q2:88] Wa qaaloo quloobunaa ghulf; bal la'anahumul laahu bikufrihim faqaleelam maa yu'minoon.

[Q2:88] And they say: Our hearts are covered. Nay, ALLAH (SWT) has cursed them on account of their unbelief; so little it is that they believe.
[Q2:88] Dan mereka (kaum Yahudi) berkata pula: “Hati kami tertutup (tidak dapat menerima Islam)”. (Sebenarnya hati mereka tidak tertutup) bahkan ALLAH (SwT) telah melaknatkan mereka disebabkan kekufuran mereka, oleh itu maka sedikit benar mereka yang beriman.

Ghulf can be interpreted either to say "our hearts are covered and encased, therefore, we cannot hear and understand that which the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) says", OR "our hearts are (already) the repositories (of knowledge), therefore, we do not need any guidance".

IN EITHER CASE, DEVOID OF IMAN, THEY DESERVE TO BE CURSED.

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(2:88) They say, "Our hearts are secure." *94 Nay, the fact is that Allah has cursed them for their disbelief; so they are little disposed to believe.

*94. They said, in effect, that they were so staunch in their beliefs that their convictions would remain unaffected regardless of what was said. Such a claim is the hallmark of those bigots whose minds are seized by irrational prejudice. Nothing can be a matter of greater shame for human beings than the so-called firmness of conviction which they often boast of. What can be more foolish than adherence to inherited beliefs and convictions when their falseness is established by overwhelmingly strong arguments?
*95. Before the advent of the Prophet, the Jews were eagerly awaiting a Prophet whose coming had been prophesied by their own Prophets. In fact, the Jews used to pray for his advent so that the dominance of the unbelievers could come to an end and the age of their own dominance he ushered in. The people of Madina were witnesses to the fact that these same Jewish neighbours of theirs had yearned for the advent of such a Prophet. They often used to say: 'People may oppress us today as they wish, but when our awaited Prophet comes, we will settle our scores with our oppressors.'
Since the people of Madina had themselves heard such statements they were inclined to embrace the religion of the Prophet all the more readily lest their Jewist neighbours supersede them in acquiring this honour. It was therefore astonishing for them to find that when the promised Prophet did appear those same Jews who had so eagerly looked forward to welcoming him turned into his greatest enemies.
The statement 'and they recognized it' is confirmed by several contemporaneous events. The most authentic evidence in this connection is that of Safiyah, a wife of the Prophet, who was herself the daughter of one learned Jewish scholar (Huyayy b. Akhtab) and the niece of another (Abu Yasir). She says that when the Prophet migrated to Madina both her father and uncle went to meet him and conversed with him for quite a while. When they returned home, she heard the following conversation:
Uncle: Is he really the same Prophet whose advent has been prophesied in our Scriptures?
Father: By God, he is.
Uncle: Do you believe that?
Father: Yes.
Uncle. Then what do you intend to do?
Father: I will continue to oppose him and will not let his claim prevail as long as I live.
(Ibn Hishim, Sirah, eds., Mustafa al-Saqqa' et al., 2 vols. II edition, Cairo, 137511955, see vol. 1, pp. 518 f. See also Ibn IshAq, The Life of Muhammad, tr. and notes by A. Guillaume, London, Oxford University Press, 1955, pp. 241 f. - Ed.) 

وَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ كِتَابٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ مَا عَرَفُوا كَفَرُوا بِهِ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ {2:89}

[Q2:89] Wa lammaa jaaa'ahum Kitaabum min 'indil laahi musaddiqul limaa ma'ahum wa kaanoo min qablu yastaftihoona 'alal lazeena kafaroo falammaa jaaa'ahum maa 'arafoo kafaroo bih; fala'natul laahi 'alal kaafireen.

[Q2:89] And when there came to them a Book from ALLAH (SWT) verifying that which they have, and aforetime they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieve, but when there came to them (Prophet) that which they did not recognize, they disbelieved in him; so ALLAH (SWT) 's curse is on the unbelievers.
[Q2:89] Dan ketika datang kepada mereka sebuah Kitab dari ALLAH (SwT) (Al Quran), yang mengesahkan apa yang ada pada mereka (Kitab Taurat), sedang mereka sebelum itu sentiasa memohon (kepada ALLAH (SwT)) kemenangan atas kaum kafir musyrik (dengan kedatangan seorang Nabi pembawa Kitab itu). Setelah datang kepada mereka apa yang mereka sedia mengetahui kebenarannya (Nabi Muhammad dan Al Quran), mereka mengingkarinya; maka (dengan yang demikian), laknat ALLAH (SwT) menimpa orang-orang yang kafir ingkar itu.

IN ISLAM EMPTY DECLARATION OF FAITH CARRIES NO WEIGHT. THOSE WHO BELIEVE MUST TRANSLATE THEIR INTENTIONS AND LOVE OF TRUTH INTO CORRECT ACTIONS. People who do so shall dwell in the eternal land of bliss and fulfilment.

As has been explained in the commentary of verse 40 of this surah, and further elaborated in verses 75 to 79, the Jews should have known and accepted that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was the promised prophet of ALLAH (SWT) AND he was preaching the truth, since his message was similar in form and language to that which they already had. But the Jews, had more of arrogance and pride in them than faith, and so belied him, thus earning ALLAH (SWT)'s curse.

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(2:89) And how are they behaving now towards a Book which has come to them from Allah? Inspite of the fact that it confirms the Scriptures which they already possessed and, inspite of the fact that, before it came, they used to pray for a signal victory over the disbelievers, they rejected it when it came, although they recognized it. *95 May Allah's curse be upon such disbelievers!

بِئْسَمَا اشْتَرَوْا بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بَغْيًا أَنْ يُنَزِّلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ عَلَىٰ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۖ فَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٍ ۚ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ {2:90}

[Q2:90] Bi'samash taraw biheee anfusahum ai yakfuroo bimaaa anzalal laahu baghyan ai yunazzilal laahu min fadlilhee 'alaa mai yashaaa'u min ibaadihee fabaaa'oo bighadabin 'alaa ghadab; wa lilkaafireena 'azaabum muheen.

[Q2:90] Evil is that for which they have sold their souls-- that they should deny what ALLAH (SWT)  has revealed, out of envy that ALLAH (SWT) should send down of His grace on whomsoever of His servants He pleases; so they have made themselves deserving of wrath upon wrath, and there is a disgraceful punishment for the unbelievers.
[Q2:90] Sejahat-jahat perkara (yang mereka lakukan) ialah perbuatan mereka membeli kesenangan dirinya sendiri dengan mengingkari Al-Quran yang telah diturunkan oleh ALLAH (SwT), kerana dengki bahawa ALLAH (SwT) menurunkan dari limpah kurniaNya (wahyu) kepada sesiapa yang dikehendakiNya di antara hamba-hambaNya (iaitu Nabi Muhammad s.a.w). Dengan sebab itu sudah sepatutnya mereka mendapat kemurkaan ALLAH (SwT) bertalu-talu, dan orang-orang yang kafir itu akan beroleh azab sengsara yang menghinakan.

THESE VERSES ARE IN REPLY TO THE ARROGANCE OF THE JEWS. The Jews, out of envy, denied that ALLAH (SWT) had sent down [*]Injil on the prophet Isa and the [*]Qur’an on the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). ALTHOUGH they said that they only believed in what was revealed to the Israelite prophets, DESPITE the prophecy of the promised prophet in their book (see verse 40 of this surah), they still killed their own prophets.

There is no end to the wrath brought about on them which they themselves had earned.

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(2:90) What a mean thing it is with which they delude their minds. *96 They reject the Guidance which Allah has sent down merely because of their grudge why Allah has in His bounty sent it to whom He chose from amongst His servants. *97 They have thus incurred wrath after wrath, and for such disbelievers there is a disgraceful doom.

*96. Another possible rendering of the same verse is: 'And how evil is that for the sake of which they have sold themselves', i.e. for the sake of which they have sacrificed their ultimate happiness and salvation. 
*97. They had longed for the promised Prophet to arise from among their own people. But when he arose among a diffirent people, a people they despised, they decided to reject him. It was as if they thought God was duty-bound to consult them in appointing Prophets, and since in this case He had failed to do so they felt they had a right to be offended by God's 'arbitrariness'.