It is well known that the description contained in His words, “That is because they used to reject Allah’s revelations and kill the prophets without right” (Al ʿImrān 3:112), is a description of the Jews—just as is His statement, “and destitution was laid upon them” (Al ʿImrān 3:112). Accordingly, His subsequent words, “among the People of the Scripture is a community standing firm” (Al ʿImrān 3:113), must necessarily include the Jews.

Moreover, Muslims and even Christians agree that, since the Jews deny the Messiah and Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—there is not a single believer among them; this is something known by certainty in the religion of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Consequently, if the verse were taken to apply to the Christians, they would share the same ruling as the Jews.

Allah, Exalted is He, praised only those among the People of the Scripture who truly believed, as He says: “Yet among the People of the Scripture there are those who believe in Allah and what has been revealed to you and what was revealed to them; they are humble before Allah, and they do not trade Allah’s signs for a paltry price. Such people shall have their reward with their Lord. Surely Allah is swift in reckoning” (Al ʿImrān 3:199).

Most scholars state that this other verse in Sūrat Āl ʿImrān was revealed concerning the Negus and others who believed in the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, but were unable to emigrate to him, nor to put their belief into practice.