“Indeed, among them is a group who twist their tongues over the Scripture so that you may think it to be part of the Scripture, though it is not part of the Scripture. They say, ‘It is from Allah,’ though it is not from Allah; and they knowingly attribute lies to Allah.” (78) “It is not for a human being, to whom Allah has given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood, then to say to people, ‘Be servants of mine instead of Allah.’ Rather, be devoted to the Lord, because you teach the Scripture and study it.” (79)

Concerning His saying, “Indeed, among them is a group”: that is, among the People of the Book is a group—a faction—namely Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf, Malik ibn al-Sayf, Huyayy ibn Akhtab, Abu Yasir, and Shu‘bah ibn ‘Umar, the poet.

“Who twist their tongues over the Scripture”: that is, they bend their tongues through distortion and alteration. This refers to their alteration of the description of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the verse prescribing stoning, and other such matters. To twist one’s tongue over something means to alter it.

“So that you may think”: that is, so that you may suppose that what they have altered ⦗62/A⦘ is part of the Scripture which Allah Most High sent down. “Though it is not part of the Scripture. They say, ‘It is from Allah,’ though it is not from Allah; and they attribute lies to Allah”: deliberately, “while they know” that they are lying.

Al-Dahhak related from Ibn ‘Abbas that this verse was revealed concerning both the Jews and the Christians, for they altered the Torah and the Gospel and added to Allah’s Book that which was not part of it.

Concerning His saying, “It is not for a human being, to whom Allah gives the Scripture,” to the end of the verse: Muqatil and al-Dahhak said: “It is not for a human being”—that is, Jesus, peace be upon him. This was because the Christians of Najran used to claim that Jesus commanded them to take him as a lord, so He said: