This is likewise the position of the Qur’ānic exegetes, and the very wording of the verse supports it.

The Exalted says:

“Humiliation has been stamped upon them wherever they are found, unless they are bound by a covenant with Allah or a covenant with people, and they incurred anger from Allah.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:112) (1)

He also states in Sūrah Āl ʿImrān (2):

“and they incurred anger from Allah.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:112) (3)

This makes it plain that the Jews are the ones upon whom wrath has fallen.

Concerning the Christians He says:

“Those who say, ‘Allah is the third of three’ have certainly disbelieved …” (al-Māʾidah 5:73) up to His words: “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, do not go to extremes in your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the whims of a people who went astray before, caused many to stray, and themselves strayed from the straight path.’” (al-Māʾidah 5:77) (5)

This passage, as the context shows, addresses the Christians, and for that reason He forbade them excess—that is, overstepping the proper bounds—just as He forbade them elsewhere when He said:

“O People of the Scripture, do not go to extremes in your religion” (al-Māʾidah 5:77) (6)

and when He said:

“and do not say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah and His word …” (an-Nisāʾ 4:171) (7).

The Jews fall short of the truth, whereas the Christians exceed it. As for designating the Jews “those who have incurred wrath” and the Christians “those who are astray,” there are both evident and subtle reasons for this; a detailed discussion is not intended here. (8)