his companion, and each would be made hateful to his companion. Allah Most High says: “Yet they could not harm anyone by it”—that is, by magic—“except by Allah’s permission.” It was said that this means: by His knowledge and His bringing it into being; thus, the magician performs magic, while Allah brings it into being.

Sufyan al-Thawri said: This means, except by His decree, power, and will. “And they learned what harmed them and did not benefit them”: that is, magic harms them and does not benefit them. “They certainly knew”—meaning the Jews—“that whoever purchased it,” that is, chose magic, “would have no share in the Hereafter,” meaning no portion in Paradise. “How evil was that for which they sold themselves”: they sold their own due portion when they chose magic and disbelief over religion and truth—“if only they knew.”

If it is asked: Has He not said, “They certainly knew that whoever purchased it,” so what is the meaning of His saying, “if only they knew,” after informing us that they knew? It is said: By His words, “They certainly knew,” He meant the devils; while His words, “if only they knew,” refer to the Jews. It was also said that both refer to the Jews: although they possessed this knowledge, they did not act upon it, so it was as though they did not know.

“And if they had believed”—in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Quran—“and guarded themselves”—against Judaism and magic—“a reward from Allah would have been better for them, if only they knew.”

“O you who believe, do not say, ‘Rāʿinā,’ but say, ‘Unẓurnā,’ and listen. For the disbelievers is a painful punishment. Those who disbelieve among the People of the Book, nor the polytheists, do not wish for any good to be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allah singles out for His mercy whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of immense bounty.” (104–105)

Allah Most High says: “O you who believe, do not say, ‘Rāʿinā.’” The Muslims used to say, “Rāʿinā, O Messenger of Allah,” deriving it from the sense of giving heed; that is, “Give your hearing to us,” meaning, devote your hearing to our words. One may say, “arʿā to something,” “raʿā it,” or “rāʿā it,” all meaning: he listened attentively to it. This expression was offensive in the language of the Jews (1). It was also said that, in their usage, it meant: “Listen—may you never hear!”

It was also said that it derives from foolishness: when they wished to call someone stupid, they would say to him, “Rāʿinā,” meaning, “O fool!” When the Jews heard the Muslims use this expression, they said among themselves, “We used to insult Muhammad secretly, so now do so openly.” Thus, they would come to him and say, “Rāʿinā, O Muhammad,” laughing among themselves. Saʿd ibn Muʿadh (2) heard it and understood its implication, for he knew their language. He said to the Jews, “If I hear any one of you say it to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, I will strike off his head.” They replied, “Do you not say it yourselves?” Thereupon Allah Most High revealed: “Do not say, ‘Rāʿinā.’”