سورة البقرة

Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): Meaning the Jews who persisted [in sin], outwardly displaying faith, concealing their hypocrisy, scheming against the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and his family with what they thought would bring about their ruin.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): Bani Israel said [these words].

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): The Jews [said these words].

Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): Because they had sons-in-law and foster brothers among the Muslims, and they concealed their disbelief in Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and his companions. Their relatives also knew that they were hypocrites, but on account of kinship they did not reveal it; however, in private they would say to them: "Why do you live in hypocrisy and expose yourselves to the wrath and anger of Allah and make yourselves deserving of punishment?" They would say: "The duration of that punishment is very short and is no more than a few days. Those few days will pass and after that we shall enter Paradise and enjoy the blessings there; we shall not put ourselves in trouble in this world just to escape being punished for a few days in the next world. Those punishments will come to an end, and we, in the meantime, will occupy ourselves with the pleasures of freedom and enjoyment in this world and with benefiting from its blessings. After that, whatever comes will come. We shall have no fear or worry over them, for those punishments are not everlasting."

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): We will not be punished except for the numbered days in which we worshipped the calf.

Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! Say [to the Jews]: "Have you taken a covenant from Allah?! that your punishment for disbelief in Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and his successor and his heirs is little and limited — no [it is not so]; rather a lasting and everlasting punishment [awaits you] in exchange for committing sins and ugly deeds and disbelief in Allah and His Messenger and the wali of Allah, that same wali of Allah who was appointed after His Prophet to take on the leadership and guidance of the Prophet's Ummah; [a leadership] like the guiding of a compassionate, kind and noble father toward his child, and like the direction of a caring and kind man over the members of his own household."

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): Allah the Exalted said: 'Say, O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family): Have you received a covenant from Allah [that He will not punish you, O Jews]?'

Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): So then, are you assured in your claim that the punishment for these sins of yours will end? Or do you say about Allah what you do not know? Have you taken a covenant [from Him], or do you speak out of ignorance? In any case, whichever of these you claim, you are liars.