[1808] They used to take the offer of a worldly, lowly life, i.e. bribes and unlawful money, and did not abide by the Torah, which forbade such unholy gains (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī): “Woe betides those who write the Book with their own hands, then say: “This is from Allah!”, so that they may exchange it for a pittance. Woe betides them for what their hands have written, and woe betides them from what they earn. *They say: “The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days”. Say ˹Muhammad˺: “Have you ˹got˺ a promise from Allah? For Allah never breaks His promise. Or do you say about Allah that of which you have no knowledge?” (2: 79-80).
[1809] This shows how adamant and self justifying they were in sticking to their devious ways (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Abū Ḥayyān, Ibn Kathīr).
[1810] “˹Mention˺ When Allah took the pledge of those who were given the Book that you should make it plain to people rather than suppress it; they tossed it behind their backs and traded it off for a pittance—miserable indeed is what they buy” (3: 187).
[1811] “And whatever thing you ˹people˺ have been given is ˹only for˺ the enjoyment of this worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?” (28: 60).