Transliteration:( Wa hasibooo allaa takoona fitnatun fa'amoo wa sammoo summa taabal laahu 'alaihim summa 'amoo wa sammoo kaseerum minhum; wallaahu baseerum bimaa ya'maloon )
71. And they imagined that there would be no trial (for them). As a result, they became blind and deaf. Then Allah accepted their repentance (212); yet again, most of them became blind and deaf (213). And Allah is All-Seer of what they do.
Allah Almighty accepted the repentance of some of the Children of Israel, saving them from the cruelty of King Bakht Nasr. This oppressive ruler had disgraced and persecuted them severely. Subsequently, another Persian king overthrew Bakht Nasr and freed them.
It is crucial to understand that Allah accepted the repentance of the children — the new generation — whose parents were responsible for the martyrdom of the Prophets. The repentance of the actual killers of the Prophets was not accepted, nor is repentance accepted by religious law from those who insult the Prophets.
Later, many of them again became “blind and deaf” by refusing faith, specifically by intending to martyr Hazrat Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him), although they ultimately failed in their attempt.
The word “most” here refers back to "them" — meaning that while initially some repented, later the majority again fell into disbelief and spiritual blindness. This subtle linguistic point clarifies that not all became deaf and blind at once, but a large part did so subsequently.
The tafsir of Surah Maidah verse 71 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Maidah ayat 70 which provides the complete commentary from verse 70 through 71.
(5:71) thinking that no harm would come from it. Thus they became blind and deaf (to the Truth). Thereafter Allah turned towards them in gracious forgiveness; but many of them became even more deaf and blind (to the Truth). Allah sees all that they do.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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