4 Preface ذٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُم شاقُّوا اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ ۖ وَمَن يُشاقِّ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَديدُ العِقابِYusuf AliThat is because they resisted God and His Messenger. and if any one resists God,1 verily God is severe in Punishment. The punishment of Banū al Nadir was because in breaking their plighted word with the Messenger and in actively resisting God’s Message and supporting the enemies of that Message, they rebelled against His Holy Will. For such treason and rebellion the punishment is severe, and yet in this case it was seasoned with Mercy.