(89–90) “When a Book came to them from Allah confirming what they already possessed—though previously they had sought victory over the disbelievers—when there came to them what they recognized, they disbelieved in it. So may Allah’s curse be upon the disbelievers. Wretched indeed is that for which they sold themselves: disbelieving in what Allah has revealed, resentful that Allah should bestow His bounty upon whomever He wills among His servants. Thus they incurred ⦗59⦘ wrath upon wrath, and the disbelievers will suffer a humiliating punishment.”

That is, when a Book came to them from Allah at the hands of the best of creation and the Seal of the Prophets, confirming the Torah they possessed, they already knew of it and were certain of it. Indeed, whenever wars arose (1) between them and the polytheists during the pre-Islamic period, they would seek victory through this Prophet, threaten them with his advent, and declare that they would fight the polytheists alongside him. Yet when this Book and the Prophet whom they recognized came to them, they disbelieved in him out of resentment and envy that Allah should bestow His bounty upon whomever He wills among His servants. Allah therefore cursed them and became angry with them—wrath upon wrath—because of their repeated disbelief and their successive doubt and polytheism.

“And the disbelievers will suffer a humiliating punishment.” That is, a painful and agonizing punishment: burning in the Hellfire and being deprived of everlasting bliss. How wretched is their condition, and how wretched the exchange they made: replacing faith in Allah, His Books, and His messengers with disbelief in Him, His Books, and His messengers, despite their knowledge and certainty. Their punishment will therefore be all the greater.