“How can you disbelieve while Allah’s verses are recited to you and His Messenger is among you? Whoever holds fast to Allah has surely been guided to a straight path.” (101)

“How can you disbelieve?” That is, “Why do you disbelieve?” “While Allah’s verses”—the Quran—“are recited to you, and His Messenger”—Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him—“is among you.”

Qatadah said concerning this verse: “There are two clear signs: the Book of Allah and the Prophet of Allah. As for the Prophet of Allah, he has passed on; but as for the Book of Allah, He has left it among you as a mercy and a blessing from Allah.”

Abu Sa'id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-'Abbas al-Humaydi informed us; Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah al-Hafiz informed us; Abu al-Fadl al-Hasan ibn Ya'qub ibn Yusuf al-'Adl informed us; Abu Ahmad Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab al-'Abdi informed us; Abu Ja'far ibn 'Awf informed us; Abu Hayyan Yahya ibn Sa'id ibn Hibban informed us [from Yazid ibn Hayyan] (1), who said: “I heard Zayd ibn Arqam say: ‘One day, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, stood among us to deliver a sermon. He praised Allah and extolled Him, then said: “To proceed: O people, I am only a human being. Soon the messenger of my Lord will come to me, and I shall answer his call. I am leaving among you the two weighty matters, the first of which is the Book of Allah, containing guidance and light. So hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it.” He urged adherence to it and encouraged them regarding it. Then he said: “And my household: I remind you of Allah concerning my household.”’” (2)

His saying, “Whoever holds fast to Allah,” means: whoever seeks protection through Allah and holds firmly to His religion and obedience. “Has surely been guided to a straight path”—that is, to a clear way. Ibn Jurayj said, “Whoever holds fast to Allah” means: whoever believes in Allah. The fundamental meaning of protection is prevention; thus, anything that prevents something is its protector.