If the people of the Book are today asking you to cause a Book to come down upon them from heaven,182 they have already made even more monstrous demands from Moses. They said to him, "Make us see Allah with our own eyes." As a result of their wickedness, a thunder-bolt smote them all of a sudden.183 Then they took the calf as the object of their worship, after they had seen clear signs:184 but even after this, We forgave them. We bestowed upon Moses a clear Commandment and raised Mount Tur over them and took a Covenant from them (to obey it).185 We enjoined them to enter the gate bowing down humbly.186 We said to them, "Do not break the Sabbath," and took a solemn Covenant187 from them to observe this law strictly. But they broke the Covenant, rejected the clear signs of Allah and slew some Prophets of Allah unjustly and declared, "Our hearts are quite secure under cover"188 Nay,189 Allah has sealed their hearts because of their worship of falsehood and this is why they believe but little. Then190 they went so far in their unbelief that they uttered a monstrous calumny against Mary:191 they themselves bragged, "We have slain Jesus, son of Mary, a Messenger of Allah."192 Whereas193 in fact, they did not slay him nor did they crucify him but the matter was made dubious for them.194 And those who have differed about this matter are also in doubt concerning it. They have no knowledge of it but they follow mere conjectures,195 for it is certain that they did not kill Jesus. Nay, the fact is that Allah had raised him to Himself,196 for Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise. There shall be none among the people of the Book but will believe in him before his death,197 and he will be a witness against them on the Day of Resurrection.198 In short,199 it is because of these unjust things of those who became Jews and because they often stand in the way of Allah,200 and because they take interest, which had been prohibited,201 and because they devour unlawfully the property of others it is because of all these transgressions that We made unlawful many clean and pure things which were formerly lawful for them.202 We have prepared a painful torment for those among them who disbelieve,203 but most surely We will reward richly all those among them who have profound learning and who are honest and who believe in what has been sent down to you, and what was sent down before you,204 and who establish the Salat, pay the Zakat dues and believe sincerely in Allah and the Last Day.