Re: Christians prior to Mohammed

5. Surah al-Maida, Medina 112

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ ...

5: 78. Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected faith, by the tongue of David.

C786. The Psalms of David have several passages of imprecations against the wicked.

Cf. Psalms 109:17-18; 78:21-22 ("Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation");

Psalms 69:22-28, and Psalms 5:10.

... وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ...

and of Jesus the son of Mary:

C787. Cf. Matt. 23:33, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell?

also Matt. 12:34.

... ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٨﴾

because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.

Asad’s Version:

5: 78 Those of the children of Israel who were bent on denying the truth have [already] been cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, the son of Mary: this, because they rebelled [against God] and persisted in transgressing the bounds of what is right. They would not prevent one another from doing whatever hateful things they did: vile indeed was what they were wont to do!