Surah An-Nisa, Verse 51 and 52

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*Surah An-Nisa, Verse 51:*

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَبِيلًا

Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Sorcery and Taghut and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims).

*COMMENTARY*

The word I have translated Sorcery is "jibt", which may mean divination, sorcery, magic, or any false object of belief or worship, such as an idol. The word I have translated Evil (here and in Sūra Al-Baqara, verse 256) is Tāgūt, which means the evil one, the one who exceeds all bounds, Satan: or it may refer to some idol worshipped by the Pagan Arabs, with whom the Jews of Madīnah were intriguing against the Holy Prophet. The Jews had taken much to sorcery, magic, divination, and such superstitions.

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*Surah An-Nisa, Verse 52:*

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَمَن يَلْعَنِ اللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ نَصِيرًا

They are those whom Allah has cursed, and he whom Allah curses, you will not find for him (any) helper.

*COMMENTARY*

The Jews were then seeking the aid of the Makkan Pagans against Muhammad, but far from getting any help from them, they and the Pagans were both overthrown. That was the immediate occasions, but the words have a perfectly general - a universal meaning.