“We certainly know that they say, ‘It is only a human being who teaches him.’ Yet the language of the one to whom they allude is foreign, while this is a clear Arabic tongue.” (103)

Regarding His saying, “Say, ‘The Holy Spirit has brought it down’”: that is, the Quran; “the Holy Spirit” means Gabriel; “from your Lord in truth,” that is, truthfully; “to make firm those who believe,” meaning, to strengthen the hearts of the believers so that they may increase in faith and certainty; “and as guidance and glad tidings for the Muslims.”

“We certainly know that they say, ‘It is only a human being who teaches him’”: that is, a human being, and that it is not from Allah. They differed over the identity of this person. Ibn Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to teach a blacksmith in Mecca named Bal'am. He was a Christian whose language was not Arabic. The polytheists would see the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entering and leaving his presence, and they would say, “Bal'am is merely teaching him.” (1)

Ikrimah said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to teach the Quran to a young servant of Banu al-Mughirah called Ya'ish, who used to read the Scriptures. Quraysh therefore said, “Ya'ish is merely teaching him.” (2)

Al-Farra' said: The polytheists said, “He is only learning from Aish, a slave belonging to Huwaytib ibn Abd al-Uzza.” He had embraced Islam and his Islam was sound, but his language was not Arabic. (3)

Ibn Ishaq said: According to what has reached me, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would often sit near al-Marwah with a Christian Byzantine youth named Jabr, a slave belonging to some of Banu al-Hadrami. He used to read the Scriptures. (4)

Abdullah ibn Muslim al-Hadrami said: We had two slaves from Ayn al-Tamr. One of them was called Yasar and was known as Abu Fakihah, while the other was called Jabr. They used to make swords in Mecca and would read the Torah and the Gospel. At times, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would pass by them while they were reading, and he would stop and listen.

Al-Dahhak said: Whenever the disbelievers harmed the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he would sit with the two of them and find comfort in their speech. So the polytheists said, “Muhammad is only learning from them,” and this verse was revealed. (5)