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My question is regarding the ayah:

And the Jews say, "The hand of Allah is chained." Chained are their hands, and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands are extended; He spends however He wills. ...
Qur'an 5:64

It's expanded upon in the tafsir:

The Jews said when their circumstances became straitened on account of their denial of the Prophet s after having been the wealthiest of people ‘God’s hand is fettered’ withholding the sending forth of provision upon us — this was their metaphor for niggardliness — may God be exalted above this. ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn

It feels like there's a hidden background story here: how the Jews became wealthy, but somehow lost their wealth, thereby getting frustrated at Allah.

Question: What is the background to Jews saying "the hand of Allah is chained" in Qur'an 5:64?

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    Are you reading surat al-Maidah in reverse-mode ;)
    – Medi1Saif
    Commented Feb 20, 2018 at 9:18
  • Actually, there is not much of a story beyond what you mentioned already by As-Suyuti. The only addition is that Ibn 'Abbas said the man's name was Shās ibn Qays, while 'Ikrimah said it was Finhās ibn 'Āzūrā'.
    – III-AK-III
    Commented Apr 12, 2018 at 0:20

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That there is no بدا ie our destiny is set and it can't be changed.

In Arabic, the word hand implies power/ability.


و في التّوحيد عن الصّادق عليه السلام: في هذه الآية لم يعنوا انّه هكذا و لكنّهم قالوا قد فرغ من الأمر فلا يزيد و لا ينقص قال اللَّه جلّ جلاله تكذيباً لقولهم‏ غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ لُعِنُوا بِما قالُوا بَلْ يَداهُ مَبْسُوطَتانِ يُنْفِقُ كَيْفَ يَشاءُ ا لم تسمع اللَّه تعالى يقول‏ يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ ما يَشاءُ وَ يُثْبِتُ وَ عِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتابِ‏

From: Tawhid al-Saduq (The most important Shia book on Tawhid, written by Shaikh Saduq):

About this verse...it doesn't mean that the Jews said that his hands are physically tied, rather what they said was that Allah is free from giving orders and settings things and there is no addendum to his work nor anything is to be removed.

To Refuse them Allah had said: "(verilly) they are the ones who their hands are tied (can't change things) and because of this lie they became helpless. Indeed Allah hands are free to give away (انفاق) however he pleases. Have you not heard of Allah in Quran saying: Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.


So basically (with a mocking tone) they were saying Gods can't change things. Why?

The Muslims were in a terrible financial shape. So the Jews were mocking Allah and saying his hands are tied and he can't help the Muslims. That year itself was also a year of drought, so the it was painful to the jews as well. Additionally when the heard the verse of Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over (Baqara verse 245) They started mocking the Muslims and saying what kind of a God is he that he needs to borrow from his servants?

Hence came the answer and the curse. That Allah hands are extended. Later things flourished for Muslims and it got worse for the Jews.

I found the story from Tafsir Shaikh Tusi

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