“And indeed, it is mentioned in the scriptures of the earlier peoples. (196) Is it not a sign for them that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognize it? (197) Had We sent it down to some of the non-Arabs, (198) and he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it. (199) Thus We have caused it to enter the hearts of the guilty. (200)”

“And indeed, it”—that is, the mention of the Quran’s being sent down, according to most exegetes. Muqatil said: it means the mention and description of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him—“is in the scriptures of the earlier peoples.”

“Is it not a sign for them?” Ibn Amir recited it as “would she not be,” with “a sign” in the nominative case, making “a sign” the subject and “that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognize it” its predicate. The other reciters recited it as “would it not be,” with “a sign” in the accusative case, making “a sign” the predicate of “be.” (1) Its meaning is: Was not the knowledge possessed by the Children of Israel a sign—that is, an indication and proof—of the prophethood of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, for the scholars among the Children of Israel used to report that his mention was found in their books? They were Abdullah ibn Salam and his companions. (3)

Ibn Abbas said: The people of Mecca sent word to the Jews in Medina and asked them about Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. They replied, “This is indeed the time of his coming, and we find his description and qualities in the Torah.” Thus, this was a sign of his truthfulness. (4)

His saying, exalted is He, “that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognize him,” means that they recognize Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Atiyyah said: They were five: Abdullah ibn Salam, Ibn Yamin, Thalabah, Asad, and Usayd. (5)

“Had We sent it down”—meaning the Quran—“to some of the non-Arabs.” The term a'jami is the plural of a'jami, meaning one who does not speak clearly and does not speak Arabic well, even if he is of Arab lineage. An ajami, on the other hand, is one attributed to the non-Arabs, even if he speaks eloquently. The meaning of the verse is: Had We sent it down to a man whose tongue was not Arabic, “and he recited it to them” in a language other than Arabic, “they would not have believed in it,” and would have said, “We do not understand what you are saying.” Similar to this is His saying, exalted is He: “Had We made it a non-Arabic Quran, they would have said, ‘If only its verses had been explained clearly!’” (Fussilat 44).

It was also said that its meaning is: Had We sent it down to a man who was not an Arab, they would not have believed in it, out of disdain for following him.

“Thus We have caused it to enter.” Ibn Abbas, al-Hasan, and Mujahid said: We have placed idolatry and denial “in the hearts of the guilty.”