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wadda kathīrun min ʾahli l-kitābi law yaruddūnakum min baʿdi ʾīmānikum kuffāran ḥasadan min ʿindi ʾanfusihim min baʿdi mā tabayyana lahumu l-ḥaqqu fa-ʿfū wa-ṣfaḥū ḥattā yaʾtiya llāhu bi-ʾamrihī ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun
Many of the People of the Book are eager to turn you into unbelievers after your faith, out of their inner envy, [and] after the truth had become manifest to them. Yet excuse [them] and forbear until Allah issues His edict. Indeed Allah has power over all things.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 109-110
Many of the people of the (earlier) Book wish they could turn you back to be infidel, after you have believed, out of their own envy, even after the truth was manifest to them. (Nevertheless) forgive and overlook till Allah brings about His command, truly Allah has power over all things. (2:109)
And keep up the prayer, and pay the poor-rates; whatever good you shall forward for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah; surely Allah sees what you do. (2:110)
Envy And Obstinacy
There were many members of the People of the Book, especially those of the Jews, who not only disbelieved in Islam but they also urged the believers to abandon their Faith. Their motive, for this action, was nothing but envy. Through the above-mentioned verses, the Qur’an addresses this matter by saying:
Many of the people of the (earlier) Book wish they could turn you back to be infidel, after you have believed, out of their own envy, even after the truth was manifest to them.... (2:109)
Here, the Qur’an bids the believers to forgive them their evil endeavours aiming at the destruction of Faith until Allah sends His command:
…(Nevertheless) forgive and overlook till Allah brings about His command, truly Allah has power over all things. (2:109)
This is, in fact, a tactical instruction given to Muslims that they should stand firm before the intense pressure of the enemies; and in this particular circumstance utilize the weapon of forgiveness while they focus their abilities upon constructing themselves and their Islamic society and wait for the command of Allah. As a great many of the commentators have said, the purpose of ‘the command of Allah’ here, is ‘the command for the Holy War’ which at that time had not been revealed yet.
The reason for the delay may have been that their conditions were not completely appropriate for that command. That was why, according to many of the commentators, the idea in this verse was changed by the subsequent verses regarding ‘the Holy War’, which will be referred to later. The verse following the above one bids the believers to perform two great constructive commands. One of them is about ‘prayer’ which establishes a firm relationship between the servant and his Lord. The second is almsgiving, which is the secret of cohesiveness among the members of societies. These two are necessary for defeating enemies. It says:
And keep up the prayer, and pay the poor-rates… (2:110)
By these two deeds you may strengthen both your spirit and body. Then, it adds that you should not think that the good deeds you do and the material wealth you pay as poor-rates in the way of Allah will be lost totally. It is not so, but:
…whatever good you shall forward for yourselves, you shall find it with Allah; surely Allah sees what you do. (2:110)
Thus, He definitely knows which deeds you have done for His sake and which ones for the sake of other than Him.