Overview (Verses 62 - 64) 

Boastful Claims by the Jews

No other nation in history has shown more intransigence and obstinacy than the Jews. They viciously and mercilessly killed and mutilated a number of prophets and messengers. They have over the centuries displayed the most extreme attitudes towards God, and towards their own religion and people.

Nevertheless, they have always boasted of their virtue and made the implausible claims of being the most rightly-guided nation, the chosen people of God and the only people that shall be saved. Such claims are totally refuted by the Qur’ān which, in this sūrah, goes on to stress the most basic and all-embracing principle of the unity of God’s religion. It establishes that belief in God is one and the same for all groups and nations, and that it will lead to righteousness and good deeds. God’s grace and mercy are not the monopoly or the privilege of any particular racial or ethnic group. They are extended to all believers at all stages of human history, in succession, until the arrival of God’s final message, which would unite all believers. “Those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians and the Sabaeans — anyone who believes in God and the Last Day, and does what is right, shall have their reward with their Lord. They have nothing to fear nor shall they grieve.” (Verse 62)

‘Those who believe’, as used here refers to the Muslims, while “Sabaeans” probably refers to a pre-Islamic religious group among the Arabs who were unhappy with idolatry and sought belief in the one God of Abraham, cutting themselves off from the pagan Arabs. Their name comes from the Arab word saba’, describing a person who has abandoned the religion of his forefathers. In some commentaries, they are confused with the followers of Sabaism, who worshipped stars.

The verse affirms that all of those religious communities who believe in God and the Last Day shall obtain their reward with God and may rest assured that they will be saved. The main criterion is religious belief rather than ethnic or national affiliation. With the advent of Islam this comes into sharper focus, because the final version of divine faith has been established.

The sūrah continues to recall to the Jews of Madinah incidents from the history of their forefathers. “We accepted your solemn pledge and raised Mount Sinai above you, saying, ‘Take with firmness and strength what We have given you, and bear in mind all its contents, so that you may remain God-fearing.’ Yet after that you turned away, and but for Gods grace and mercy you would have surely been among the losers.” (Verses 63-64)

Details of the ‘pledge’ are given later on in this sūrah and elsewhere in the Qur’ān. The emphasis here is on recalling the scene, in words that well suit the awesome atmosphere in which the covenant was delivered, and lend particular stress to the solemnity and significance of the occasion. God’s covenant with the Israelites was not a matter that could be taken lightly; no half-heartedness, equivocation or wavering. It is the most momentous, gravest enterprise that can be contracted between God and man, and it carries a heavy responsibility indeed. Those chosen to give such a pledge must have total determination and devotion to be able to fulfil its obligations. The Israelites are therefore told: “Take with firmness and strength what We have given you, and bear in mind all its contents, so that you may remain God fearing.” (Verse 63)

When Prophet Muĥammad was assigned prophethood he said to his wife Khadījah, “There is no longer any time for relaxation”, for he had already been told in the Qur’ān: “We are about to address you with grave and weighty words.” (73: 5)

Having given their pledge, it was essential that the Israelites should understand its implications, appreciate its reality and prepare to meet its demands. What is particularly important is that there should be no short-lived enthusiasm. Such a pledge means, in essence, a whole new way of life for them. As they go about implementing it, it generates new feelings, establishes a new system and observes a new morality. The end result is an attitude based on fearing God, always remembering that He sees us and knows our feelings and motives.

Alas, what a disappointment! The Israelites failed to live up to that responsibility. “Yet after that you turned away.” (Verse 64) Nevertheless, God did not withhold His grace and mercy from them: “but for God’s grace and mercy you would have surely been among the losers.” (Verse 64)