And when it is said to them (the Jews), "Believe in what Allah has sent down," they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us." And they disbelieve in that which came after it, while it is the truth confirming what is with them. Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to them): "Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers? (91)And indeed Musa came to you with clear proofs, yet you worshipped the calf after he left, and you were Zalimun (92)
Although The Jews denied the Truth, They claimed to be Believers!
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ
(And when it is said to them), meaning, the Jews and the People of the Book,
آمِنُوا بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ
(Believe in what Allah has sent down) to Muhammad ﷺ, believe in and follow him,
قَالُوا نُؤْمِنُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا
(They say, "We believe in what was sent down to us.") meaning, it is enough for us to believe in what was revealed to us in the Tawrah and the Injil, and this is the path that we choose,
وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا وَرَاءَهُ
(And they disbelieve in that which came after it).
وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ
(while it is the truth confirming what is with them) meaning, while knowing that what was revealed to Muhammad ﷺ,
الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ
(it is the truth confirming what is with them). This means that since what was sent to Muhammad ﷺ conforms to what was revealed to the People of the Book, then this fact constitutes a proof against them. Similarly, Allah said,
الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ
(Those to whom We gave the Scripture (Jews and Christians) recognize him (Muhammad ﷺ) as they recognize their sons)(2:146). Allah said next,
فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنبِيَاءَ اللَّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
("Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?").
This means, "If your claim that you believe in what was revealed to you is true, then why did you kill the Prophets who came to you affirming the Tawrah's Law, although you knew they were true Prophets? You killed them simply out of transgression, stubbornness and injustice with Allah's Messengers. Therefore, you only follow your lusts, opinions and desires." Similarly, Allah said,
أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ
(Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some you disbelieved and some you killed.)
Also, As-Suddi said, "In this Ayah, Allah chastised the People of the Book,
قُلْ فَلِمَ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنبِيَاءَ اللَّهِ مِن قَبْلُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
(Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to them): "Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?")."
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكُم مُّوسَىٰ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ
(And indeed Musa came to you with clear proofs) meaning, with clear signs and clear proofs that he was the Messenger of Allah and that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. The clear signs - or miracles - mentioned here are the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, the blood, the staff and the hand. Musa's miracles also include parting the sea, shading the Jews with clouds, the manna and quails, the gushing stone, etc.
ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ
(yet you worshipped the calf) meaning, as a deity instead of Allah, during the time of Musa. Allah's statement,
مِن بَعْدِهِ
(after he left) after Musa went to Mount Tur to speak to Allah. Similarly, Allah said,
وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِن بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُ خُوَارٌ
(And the people of Musa made in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf (for worship). It had a sound (as if it was mooing))(7:148).
وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
(and you were Zalimun) meaning, you were unjust in this behavior of worshipping the calf, although you knew that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. Similarly, Allah said,
وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا قَالُوا لَئِن لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
(And when they regretted and saw that they had gone astray, they (repented and) said: "If our Lord have not mercy upon us and forgive us, we shall certainly be of the losers")(7:149).
The "clear signs" mentioned in the verse refers to the miracles which- had manifested themselves even before the Torah was given to Sayyidna Musa (Moses علیہ السلام) -- for example, his staff that turned into a .snake, the palm of his hand which shone brightly, the splitting of the sea to make a path for the Israelites, etc. These miracles were meant to affirm the Oneness of Allah and His omnipotence, and to provide an evidence for the prophethood of Sayyidna Musa۔ (علیہ السلام)
In refutation of the Jews, the verse points out that although they lay a claim to 'Iman ایمان (faith), yet have been falling into the sin of Shirk شرک (association), which involves a denial not only of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) but even of Allah Himself.
Although the Jews who were the contemporaries of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، did not themselves take part in the worship of the golden calf, yet they respected such of their forefathers as had done so, and took their side. So, for all practical purposes, they too were guilty of the same sin.
The verse also suggests that no wonder if these people, whose forefathers denied Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) ، should now be denying the Holy Prophet ﷺ .