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waddat ṭāʾifatun min ʾahli l-kitābi law yuḍillūnakum wa-mā yuḍillūna ʾillā ʾanfusahum wa-mā yashʿurūna
A group of the People of the Book were eager to lead you astray; yet they lead no one astray except themselves, but they are not aware.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah 'Ali-Imran, Verse 69
69. A group among the people of the Book desire to make you go astray, while they make not astray but themselves, and they are not aware.
The Arabic term /ta'ifah/ is derived from /tawaf/ and is applied for a group or a community who, in order to be safe from the danger of savage animals and robbers, decamp tribally both in summer and in winter to continue their lives, The feature of cultural attack and ideological plots are dealt with in this verse and the following three verses. In this verse, it informs of ideological grudges. In the next verse the Quran informs of obstinacy and infidelity.
The seventy first verse of the current Surah speaks about the style of neglecting aright, overlooking justice, and intentional concealment. Verse seventy second informs of a technical cultural attack arising from inner denial and objecting the existence of weakness and instability among some groups of people.
Explanations
1- Knowing the enemy and his wants is necessary for being safe from the probable harms. 2- Those who try to pervert others may commit the sin of deceit, hypocrisy, rancour accusation, and plot.
3- One of the aims of the enemies of Islam is planning for the creation of moral and ideological deviation amongst Muslims. 4- In Judgements, do not forget justice and equity.
5. The danger of ideological and cultural attacks are the most important dangers which need an earnest awareness.
6. Do not trust in the hypocritical expressions of the opponents. They heartily desire your aberration.