With this verse, the talk begins about the Jews in Medina who dealt with Islam and the Prophet (saws) with deception, conspiracy, dishonest and all kinds of abuse against Muslims.

Some may wonder about the move from forty-three verses that state the rulings to talk about the issue of the Jews! Well, it is an example, Allah (swt), when He spoke about the rulings and the laws, now presents an example of those who disobeyed after the Torah was revealed to them, the words of Allah (swt), but they plotted and deceived and did not carry out the orders.

(… أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ ) (Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture,…): Allah (swt) in this verse is addressing the Prophet (saws), (Have you not seen) is used for an eye-seen something:

 أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ

(Have you not seen, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?) (Al-Feel: 1)

Whereas, we know for certain that the Prophet (saws) had not been born yet when the (elephant event) took place, so he (saws) has not seen this incident, but Allah (swt) is the informer about this event, for that, it is more truthful than whatever seen by own eyes, which are Allah’s creation. It is said, “No where with the eye.” That is, when you say: I saw so-and-so while he was stealing, what is seen does not need evidence and witness, it is conclusive evidence, but if you say: I heard so and so saying…., Hearing needs confirmation and documentation. Therefore, by saying (Have you not seen), it is as if Allah (swt) is saying: It is as if you saw, O Muhammad, as if you had witnessed, because the saying is from the Creator, from whom nothing is hidden or absent in the heavens or on the earth.

( يَشْتَرُونَ الضَّلَالَةَ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن تَضِلُّوا السَّبِيلَ … ) (…purchasing error [in exchange for it] and wishing you would lose the way?): Why did they buy wrong path? Because they sold the faith and the Torah and the commands contained in it that Allah (swt) required they to follow, including believe in the Prophet Muhammad (saws). Hence, they sold the faith and bought misguidance instead. Misguidance means that a person deviates from the straight path, and they are not satisfied with that only, rather they want you to go astray, that is, they want others to have doubts about faith, Islam and what the Prophet (saws) has come with. This is what the Jews did.