( وحسبوا ) ظنوا ( ألا تكون فتنة ) أي : عذاب وقتل ، وقيل : ابتلاء واختبار ، أي : ظنوا أن لا يبتلوا ولا يعذبهم الله ، قرأ أهل البصرة وحمزة والكسائي " تكون " برفع النون على معنى أنها لا تكون ، ونصبها الآخرون كما لو لم يكن قبله لا ) ( فعموا ) عن الحق فلم يبصروه ، ) ( وصموا ) عنه فلم يسمعوه ، يعني عموا وصموا بعد موسى صلوات الله وسلامه عليه ، ( ثم تاب الله عليهم ) ببعث عيسى عليه السلام ، ( ثم عموا وصموا كثير منهم ) بالكفر بمحمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ( والله بصير بما يعملون ) .
They thought that no harm would come to them for their breaking promises and covenants and for disbelieving and killing their prophets. But the result of their actions was that they became blind and deaf to the truth and misled from guidance. Then Allah turned towards them out of His grace. They again then became blind and deaf to the truth. This happened to many of them. Allah sees what they do. Nothing is hidden from Him and He will repay them for their actions.