More than one early authority affirmed that these verses came down on their account, exactly as Muḥammad ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī. relates in his Commentary. He says:

“It was narrated to us by al-Muthannā; Isḥāq narrated to us; Ibn Abī Jaʿfar—that is, ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Jaʿfar al-Rāzī—narrated from his father, from al-Rabīʿ regarding the Most High’s words:

Alif–Lām–Mīm. Allah—there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting. (Āl ʿImrān 1–2)

He said: ‘The Christians came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and argued with him about Jesus son of Mary. They asked him, “Who is his father?” and thereby uttered lies against Allah.’”