Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): This word رَاعِنَا was among the expressions of the Muslims by which they addressed the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family); they would say: رَاعِنَا, meaning: "Have regard for our condition and listen to our words so that we may hear your words." But in the language of the Jews, رَاعِنَا meant "listen, may you never hear" (a term of contempt). When the Jews heard this manner of address by the Muslims to the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), that they were saying رَاعِنَا, they said: "Until now we used to insult him secretly; now let us come and insult him openly." From that time onward, whenever they met the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), they would say رَاعِنَا, intending it as an insult. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh became aware of this trick of the Jews. He said to them: "Enemies of Allah! May Allah curse you! I understand that with this behaviour of yours, you are insulting the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and making your speech resemble ours. By Allah! If I hear such an address from any one of you, I will strike off your neck; and were it not that I consider it wrong to act before seeking permission from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and his brother and successor Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), who is the guardian of the Islamic ummah and his deputy, I would have struck off the neck of every one of you whom I have heard saying this." Allah revealed this verse: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! Some of the Jews distort the words from their proper places, and [instead of saying: 'We heard and obeyed,'] they say: 'We heard and disobeyed!' and [they also say:] 'Hear! May you never hear!' and [in mockery they say:] 'رَاعِنَا [make fools of us]'! twisting the truths with their tongues and taunting the religion. But if they [instead of all this obstinacy] had said: 'We heard and obeyed, and hear us and grant us respite [so we may grasp the truths],' it would have been better for them and more upright. But Allah has removed them from His mercy because of their disbelief, so they will not believe except a few." (Nisa/46) And He also revealed this verse: یا أَیُّهَا الَّذینَ آمَنُوا لا تَقُولُوا راعِنا وَ قُولُوا انْظُرْنا وَ اسْمَعُوا وَ لِلْکافِرینَ عَذابٌ أَلیمٌ [O you who believe! Do not say Raina and say Unzurna and listen, and for the unbelievers there is a painful chastisement]. Do not say the word رَاعِنَا, because the Jews use this word as a means to insult the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and to insult you and to reproach and reprove you.