Then He—exalted be He—said:
“Had the People of the Book believed, it would surely have been better for them; among them are believers, yet most of them are defiantly disobedient.” (Āl ʿImrān 110)

Thus He divides them into two groups: a group of believers and another—who are the majority—of sinners. His words, “among them are believers,” include those who had faith before the mission of Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—just as they are included in His statement:

“We placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him … yet many of them are defiantly disobedient.” (al-Ḥadīd 27)

Likewise His—exalted be He—saying:

“We certainly sent Noah and Abraham, and We placed in their descendants prophethood and scripture; some of them are rightly guided, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.” (al-Ḥadīd 26)

And His words about Abraham, the intimate friend:

“We blessed him and Isaac; but among their descendants are those who do good and others who openly wrong themselves.” (al-Ṣāffāt 113)

Then, after saying, “yet most of them are defiantly disobedient” (Āl ʿImrān 110), He said:

“They will not harm you except for a trifling annoyance; and if they fight you, they will turn and flee, nor will they receive any help.” (Āl ʿImrān 111) ⦗111⦘

“Ignominy has been stamped upon them wherever they are found, unless they are bound to a covenant with Allah and a covenant with people. They have incurred the wrath of Allah, and wretchedness has been imposed upon them because they used to deny the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and persistently transgressed.” (Āl ʿImrān 112)