The Jews said to them, “You have no basis in religion,” and they disbelieved in Jesus and the Gospel. The Christians said to them, “You have no basis in religion,” and they disbelieved in Moses and the Torah. So Allah Most High revealed: “The Christians say, ‘The Jews have no basis,’ though they recite the Scripture.” Both groups recite the Scripture. It was said that this means: such disagreement is not found in their scriptures; thus, their recitation of the Scripture while contradicting what it contains proves that they are upon falsehood. (1) “Likewise, those who have no knowledge said the like of what they say”—that is, their forefathers who had passed on. Mujahid said: this refers to the common people among the Christians. Muqatil said: it refers to the Arab polytheists, who likewise said of their Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions that they had no basis in religion.

Ata’ said: they were nations before the Jews and Christians, such as the peoples of Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, and Shuayb, peace be upon them. They said to their prophet, “He has no basis.” (2) “Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection”: He will decide between the one who is right and the one who is false, “concerning that over which they differed”—namely, religion.

“And who is more unjust than one who prevents Allah’s mosques from having His name mentioned therein and strives toward their ruin? Such people should not enter them except in fear. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them is a tremendous punishment in the Hereafter” (114).

Regarding His words, “And who is more unjust than one who prevents Allah’s mosques from having His name mentioned therein,” the verse was revealed concerning Titus, son of Vespasian, the Roman, and his companions. They attacked the Children of Israel, killed their fighting men, took their women and children captive, burned the Torah, and destroyed the sanctuary in Jerusalem. They threw carrion into it and slaughtered swine there, and it remained in ruins until the Muslims rebuilt it during the days of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.

Qatadah and al-Suddi said: this refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his companions, who attacked the Jews and destroyed the sanctuary in Jerusalem; the Christians—Titus the Roman and his companions from among the Romans—assisted them in this. (3) Al-Suddi said: because they had killed John, son of Zachariah. Qatadah said: some of the Jews induced them to aid Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian, the Magian. (4) Thus Allah Most High revealed, “And who is more unjust”—that is, more unbelieving and more insolent—“than one who prevents Allah’s mosques,” meaning the sanctuary in Jerusalem and its prayer niches. (5) “That His name be mentioned therein, and strives”