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Ayah
Word by Word
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
who
ءَامَنُواْ
believe[d]!
لَا
(Do) not
تَقُولُواْ
say
رَٰعِنَا
Raina
وَقُولُواْ
and say
ٱنظُرۡنَا
Unzurna
وَٱسۡمَعُواْۗ
and listen
وَلِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
And for the disbelievers
عَذَابٌ
(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٞ
painful
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
who
ءَامَنُواْ
believe[d]!
لَا
(Do) not
تَقُولُواْ
say
رَٰعِنَا
Raina
وَقُولُواْ
and say
ٱنظُرۡنَا
Unzurna
وَٱسۡمَعُواْۗ
and listen
وَلِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
And for the disbelievers
عَذَابٌ
(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٞ
painful
Translation
O you who have believed, say not [to Allāh's Messenger], "Rāʿinā" but say, "Unẓurnā"1 and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
Footnotes
1 - The word "rāʿinā" in Arabic literally means "consider us," i.e., give us time to hear you and listen to us. The Jews used to use the same word with the meaning of an insult. Therefore, the believers were ordered to avoid this expression and use instead the word "unẓurnā," i.e., "wait for us [so that we may understand]."
Tafsir
O you who believe, do not say, to the Prophet may peace and salutation be upon him, 'Observe us', (raa'inaa is an imperative form from muraa'aat) which they used to say to him, and this was a derogatory term in Hebrew, derived from the noun al-ru'oona ['thoughtlessness']. They found this very amusing and used to address the Prophet may peace and salutation be upon him in this way, and so the believers were forbidden to use it; but say, instead, 'Regard us', that is, look at us, and give ear, to what you are commanded and be prepared to accept it; and for disbelievers awaits a painful chastisement, that is, the Hellfire.
"Manners in Speech
Allah says;
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ لَا تَقُولُواْ رَاعِنَا وَقُولُواْ انظُرْنَا وَاسْمَعُواْ
وَلِلكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who believe! Say not (to the Messenger) Ra`ina but say Unzurna (make us understand) and hear. And for the disbelievers there is a painful torment. (2:104)
Allah forbade His believing servants from imitating the behavior and deeds of the disbelievers. The Jews used to use devious words that hide what they really meant. May Allah's curse be upon them.
When they wanted to say, `hear us,' they would use the word Ra`ina, which is an insult (in Hebrew, but means `hear us' in Arabic).
Allah said,
مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَعِنَا لَيّاً بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْناً فِى الدِّينِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانْظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَ يُوْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً
Among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places and say:""We hear your word (O Muhammad) and disobey,"" and ""Hear and let you (O Muhammad) hear nothing.""
And Ra`ina with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion (Islam). And if only they had said:""We hear and obey,"" and ""Do make us understand,"" it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few. (4:46)
Also, the Hadiths stated that;
when they would greet Muslims, they would say, `As-Samu alaykum,' meaning, `death be to you'. This is why we were commanded to answer them by saying, `Wa alaykum,' meaning, `and to you too', then our supplication against them shall be answered, rather than theirs against us.
Allah forbade the believers from imitating the disbelievers in tongue or deed.
Allah said,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ لَا تَقُولُواْ رَاعِنَا وَقُولُواْ انظُرْنَا وَاسْمَعُواْ
وَلِلكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who believe! Say not (to the Messenger) Ra`ina but say Unzurna (make us understand) and hear. And for the disbelievers there is a painful torment.
Also, Imam Ahmad narrated that Ibn Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
بُعِثْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ بِالسَّيْفِ حَتَّى يُعْبَدَاللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَجُعِلَ رِزْقِي تَحْتَ ظِلِّ رُمْحِي وَجُعِلَتِ الذِّلَّةُ وَالصَّغَارُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرِي وَمَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَومٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُم
I was sent with the sword just before the Last Hour, so that Allah is worshipped alone without partners. My sustenance was provided for me from under the shadow of my spear. Those who oppose my command were humiliated and made inferior, and whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.
Abu Dawud narrated that the Prophet said,
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُم
Whoever imitates a people is one of them.
These Hadiths indicate, along with their threats and warnings, that we are not allowed to imitate the disbelievers in their statements, deeds, clothes, feasts, acts of worship, etc., whatever actions of the disbelievers that were not legislated for us.
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas commented on the Ayah,
لَا تَقُولُواْ رَاعِنَا
(Say not (to the Messenger) Ra`ina),
""They used to say to the Prophet, Ar`ina samak(which is an insult).""
Ibn Abu Hatim said that it was reported that Abu Al-Aliyah, Abu Malik, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Atiyah Al-Awfi and Qatadah said similarly.
Further, Mujahid said,
""`Do not say Ra`ina' means, `Do not dispute'.""
Mujahid said in another narration,
""Do not say, `We hear from you, and you hear from us.""'
Also, Ata'said,
""Do not say,
رَاعِنَا
(Ra`ina), which was a dialect that the Ansar used and which was forbidden from use by Allah.""
Also, As-Suddi said,
""Rifaah bin Zayd, a Jewish man from the tribe of Qaynuqa, used to come to the Prophet and say to him, `Hear, Ghayr Musma'in (let you hear nothing).'
The Muslims used to think that the Prophets are greeted and honored with this type of speech, and this is why some of them used to say, `Hear, let you hear nothing,' and so on, as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa.""
Thereafter, Allah forbade the believers from uttering the word Ra`ina.""
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam also said similarly.
The extreme Enmity that the Disbelievers and the People of the Book have against Muslims
Allah said next,
مَّا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَلَا الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
Neither those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) nor Al-Mushrikin (the idolaters), like that there should be sent down unto you any good from your Lord.
Allah described the deep enmity that the disbelieving polytheists and People of the Scripture, whom Allah warned against imitating, have against the believers, so that Muslims should sever all friendship with them.
Also, Allah mentioned what He granted the believers of the perfect Law that He legislated for their Prophet Muhammad.
Allah said,
وَاللّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
But Allah chooses for His mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty. (2:105)"
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