فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ لَعَنَّـٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَـٰسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ ۙ وَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 13
Translations
So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hardened. They distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
Transliteration
Fabima naqdhihim mithaqahum laaannāhum wa jaʿalnā qulūbahum qāsiyah, yuḥarrифūn al-kalim ʿan mawāḍiʿih, wa nasū ḥaẓẓan mimmā dhukkirū bih, wa lā tazāl tatṭaliʿ ʿalā khāʾinah min hunm illā qalīlan min hunm, faʿfu ʿanhum waṣfaḥ, inna Allāh yuḥibb al-muḥsinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the punishment that befell the Children of Israel for breaking their covenant with Allah: their hearts became hardened, they distorted the meanings of Scripture, and forgot portions of the revelations they were given. Despite their persistent treachery, Prophet Muhammad is commanded to exercise forgiveness and clemency toward them, as Allah loves those who do good—demonstrating that even in the face of broken covenants and distortion, the path of forbearance and righteousness remains open. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that the hardening of hearts was a consequence of their deliberate covenant-breaking, while Al-Qurtubi highlights the divine wisdom in commanding forgiveness as a moral standard for believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'idah (the Table Spread), a Medinan surah revealed during the Prophet's time in Medina when interactions with the People of the Book—Jews and Christians—were more frequent. The surah addresses issues of covenant, dietary laws, and the integrity of religious teachings. This particular ayah contextualizes the historical pattern of some among the Children of Israel who violated their divine covenant and altered scriptural meanings, while simultaneously instructing the Muslim community on the proper response: forgiveness combined with wisdom.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of hardened hearts and covenant-breaking: 'The example of the guidance and the knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth...' (Sahih Bukhari 79). For the theme of forgiveness and clemency: 'The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1924).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while consequences for covenant-breaking are severe (hardened hearts, spiritual loss), believers are commanded to respond with forgiveness and ihsan (excellence in conduct) rather than vengeance—reflecting that true moral strength lies in clemency, and that Allah's love encompasses those who choose goodness despite witnessing others' failures.
Related Ayahs
أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنۢبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَءَاتَىٰكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.
فَإِنْ عُثِرَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنَّهُمَا ٱسْتَحَقَّآ إِثْمًا فَـَٔاخَرَانِ يَقُومَانِ مَقَامَهُمَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَوْلَيَـٰنِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ لَشَهَـٰدَتُنَآ أَحَقُّ مِن شَهَـٰدَتِهِمَا وَمَا ٱعْتَدَيْنَآ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But if it is found that those two were guilty of sin [i.e., perjury], let two others stand in their place [who are] foremost [in claim] from those who have a lawful right. And let them swear by Allāh, "Our testimony is truer than their testimony, and we have not transgressed. Indeed, we would then be of the wrongdoers."
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
[Be warned of] the Day when Allāh will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen" -