“O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down, confirming what is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs.” Qatadah said: Meaning, from the direction of their napes. “Or curse them as We cursed the violators of the Sabbath.” The violators of the Sabbath were transformed into apes. “And ever is the command of Allah accomplished,” meaning: if Allah intends a matter, He says to it: ‘Be,’ and it is. [Verses 48–52]
﴿يَا أَيهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ آمِنُوا بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ مِنْ قبل أَن نطمس وُجُوهًا فنزدها على أدبارها﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَة: يَعْنِي: من قِبَل أقفائها ﴿أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّا أَصْحَاب السبت﴾ مسخ أَصْحَاب السبت قردة ﴿وَكَانَ أَمر الله مَفْعُولا﴾ أَي: إِذا أَرَادَ الله أمرا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ: كُنْ فَيَكُونُ. [آيَة ٤٨ - ٥٢]
