The Quran

Preface

وَقالَتِ اليَهودُ يَدُ اللَّهِ مَغلولَةٌ ۚ غُلَّت أَيديهِم وَلُعِنوا بِما قالوا ۘ بَل يَداهُ مَبسوطَتانِ يُنفِقُ كَيفَ يَشاءُ ۚ وَلَيَزيدَنَّ كَثيرًا مِنهُم ما أُنزِلَ إِلَيكَ مِن رَبِّكَ طُغيانًا وَكُفرًا ۚ وَأَلقَينا بَينَهُمُ العَداوَةَ وَالبَغضاءَ إِلىٰ يَومِ القِيامَةِ ۚ كُلَّما أَوقَدوا نارًا لِلحَربِ أَطفَأَهَا اللَّهُ ۚ وَيَسعَونَ فِي الأَرضِ فَسادًا ۚ وَاللَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ المُفسِدينَ

Yusuf Ali

The Jews say: “God?s hand¹ is tied up.” Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation that cometh to thee from God increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion² and blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity³ and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, God doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief⁴ on earth. And God loveth not those who do mischief.

Cf. 5:12 and 2:245, for a “beautiful loan to God”, and 3:81, for the blasphemous taunt, “Then God is poor!” It is another form of the taunt to say, “Then God’s hands are tied up. He is close-fisted. He does not give!” This blasphemy is repudiated. On the contrary, boundless is God’s bounty, and He gives, as it were, with both hands outstretched- a figure of speech for unbounded liberality.
Their jealousy-because al Muṣṭafā is chosen for God’s Message-is so great that it only confirms and strengthens their rebellion and blasphemy.
Cf. 5:14, where the eternal warring of the Christian sects, among themselves and against the Jews, is referred to. The reference is to the whole of the People of the Book, Jews and Christians- their internal squabbles and their external disputes, quarrels, and wars.
The argument of the whole verse may be thus stated. The Jews blaspheme and mock, and because of their jealousy, the more they are taught, the more obstinate they become in their rebellion. But what good will it do to them? Their selfishness and spite sow quarrels among themselves, which will not be healed till the Day of Judgment. When they stir up wars, especially against the innocent, God’s Mercy is poured down like a flood of water to extinguish them. But their wickedness continues to devise ever new mischief. And God loves not mischief or those who do mischief.