( وأقسموا بالله جهد أيمانهم ) يعني : كفار مكة لما بلغهم أن أهل الكتاب كذبوا رسلهم قالوا : لعن الله اليهود والنصارى أتتهم الرسل فكذبوهم ، وأقسموا بالله وقالوا لو أتانا رسول لنكونن أهدى دينا منهم ، وذلك قبل مبعث النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ، فلما بعث محمد كذبوه ، فأنزل الله - عز وجل - : ( وأقسموا بالله جهد أيمانهم لئن جاءهم نذير ) رسول ( ليكونن أهدى من إحدى الأمم ) يعني : من اليهود والنصارى ( فلما جاءهم نذير ) محمد - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ( ما زادهم إلا نفورا ) أي : ما زادهم مجيئه إلا تباعدا عن الهدى .
These denying disbelievers swore a solemn and affirmed oath that if a messenger from Allah came to them to warn them of His punishment, they would be more guided and follow the truth more than the Jews, Christians and others. Yet when Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to them after being sent by His Lord, and he warned them of Allah’s punishment, his coming only increased them in aversion to the truth and adherence to falsehood. They did not fulfil the solemn oaths that they took that they will be more guided than those who preceded them.