of what you do.” Ibn Kathīr, Nāfiʿ, and Abū Bakr (1) recited it with the yāʾ (the third-person form), while the remaining reciters read it with the tāʾ (the second-person form).

His saying, Exalted is He: “Those are the ones who have purchased the life of this world at the cost of the Hereafter.” That is, they have exchanged it. “So the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be helped”—that is, they will not be shielded from Allah’s punishment.

“And We certainly gave Moses the Book, and after him We sent messenger after messenger. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Whenever a messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, did you then act arrogantly? Some you denied, and some you killed. And they said, ‘Our hearts are wrapped.’ Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief; so little do they believe.”