Quran 4: 153-157
[Ka'ab son of Ashraf, together with a group of other Jews, said: "Mohammed, if you are a prophet as do you claim, then bring down on us a book from heaven written on some stone tablets, like those which had been brought by Moses; and then we will believe you. Therefore, this aya was revealed:]
153. The people of the Bible a [: the Jews] demand of you [Mohammed] to bring down upon them a book from heaven [written on the stone tablets b];
[So God replied about their words:]
but they did demand of Moses [aforetime] for [something] greater than this [demand], when they said: "Show to us God conspicuously c "
so the thunderbolt seized them d because of their wrong-doing.
Then they took to themselves the calf [as an idol to worship], even after the clear [miracles] came to them [with Moses e]; yet We pardoned [them concerning] that f, and We gave to Moses an obvious authority [to indicate the truthfulness of his apostle-hood.] g
154. And We made Mount [Sinai] to tower above them because of [the breaking of] their covenant h,
[Then God – be glorified – told about their ignorance and stubbornness in another incident:]
and We said to them:"Enter [by] the gate [of Jericho] 'complying and submissive'!i "
[Then God – be glorified – told about their disobedience in another affair:]
and We said to them: "Transgress not on the Sabbath!" j
and We took from them a binding covenant. k
155. Then [We cursed them] because of their [frequent] breaking of their covenant l,
and their denial of the revelations of God m,
and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully n,
and their saying: "Our hearts are surrounded with covers o."
Not so, but God has sealed upon their [hearts] because of their blasphemy p, so that they will not believe [in you, Mohammed] except a few [of them q] –
156. And because of: that they [moreover] disbelieved [in Jesus], and that they uttered against Mary [his mother] a grave calumny r.
157. And [We cursed them because of] their saying [in a way of boasting]: "We slew the Christ, Jesus son of Mary, the apostle of God s."
But they did not slay him in fact, nor did they crucify him; they were only deluded by a similitude t,}
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a Lit. "Scripture."
b As did Moses bring before.
c i.e. so as to see Him with their eye-sight.
d Over the mount Hor (El-Tor) and they died.
e Their prophet.
f In order that they might be steadfast with the "exclusive devotion to God alone" and that they might reform their acts, but they afterwards increased in their stubbornness and arrogance.
g The meaning: Those who demand from you to bring down a written book from heaven, they in fact did not comply to Moses their prophet, even after they saw his miracles; and when he brought them the tablets, they denied him and said: "Who can believe these tablets are from God!?"
Therefore, Mohammed, don't hope for their conversion and believing, and don't believe their words.
h When Moses went to the Mount Sinai to bring the Torah, together with a group of his people; he said to them: "Wait for me here at the base of the mountain, and I will go up and bring to you the Torah."
Afterwards, he returned back to them, holding by his hand two stone tablets on which the Torah was inscribed, then those waiting for him said: "Who will believe this Torah is from God!?"
While they had given him the covenant and pact that they would accept it from him and work according to its instructions; so when they said such words the mountain above them split, and the split-portion was about to fall on them so as to kill them altogether; but when they saw it, they feared and cried out: "We believe!" Therefore, the split-portion settled in its place and did not fall on them.
This [event] is also mentioned in the Quran 7: 171, which means:
(And [remember] We caused the Mount [Sinai] to tower above them, as if it were a canopy, and they thought it falling upon them.)
i But they did not enter it; they disobeyed, rebelled and said to Moses: " Go you and your Lord and fight [for our behalf!] We, here, are sitting."
j i.e. don't violate the commands which We commanded you with and the forbidden things which We forbade you from; but they transgressed, contradicted the commands of God and started to buy, sell and fish on the Sabbath.
k To obey God, not to disobey Him; and to worship Him alone, not to worship anyone else.
But they betrayed their covenants, broke the pacts, worshipped the idols: Baalim, Astaroth and others and they disobeyed their Lord's commands; therefore, such were their acts and their shame; so, Mohammed, don't pay attention to their words of demanding the impossibilities from you, and never care about their condition.
l i.e. because of the frequent breaking of their many covenants and the many pacts which We ratified with them.
In fact, almost every book of the Torah Bible includes the ratification of the pact and covenant with them: to ‘the exclusive devotion and worship of God alone’, and to abandon the worship of idols.
m Brought by their prophets and by the Christ, in addition to those brought by Mohammed.
n i.e. like Zachariah and John Baptist, without any sin requiring such killing.
o i.e. our hearts are surrounded with covers, so that they do not understand what you, Mohammed, are saying.
p Therefore, they do not understand any admonition.
q Like Abdullah son of Salam and his companions.
r When they accused her with adultery.
s Mocking the word "the apostle of God."
t i.e. God made someone similar to him: a man whom they crucified.
The interpretation is by Mohammed-Ali Hassan Al-Hilly.