That is, until you uphold the rulings of the two and what you are required to do concerning them. “And what has been sent down to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in rebellion and disbelief. So do not grieve for the disbelieving people.”

“Indeed, those who believe, the Jews, the Sabians, and the Christians”—grammatically, it would ordinarily be “the Sabians” in the accusative case; we have previously explained in Surah al-Baqarah the reason for its being in the nominative case (1). Sibawayh said: There is inversion here; its intended sense is: Indeed, those who believe, the Jews, and the Christians—whoever believes in Allah, to the end of the verse—and likewise the Sabians. His words, “those who believe,” mean: those who profess faith with the tongue; and His words, “whoever believes in Allah,” mean: whoever believes with the heart. It has also been said that “those who believe” refers to those who truly possess faith, while “whoever believes in Allah” means: whoever remains steadfast upon faith—“and in the Last Day and does righteous deeds: no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.”

His words, exalted is He: “We certainly took the covenant of the Children of Israel,” concerning tawhid and prophethood, “and We sent messengers to them. Whenever a messenger came to them with what their souls did not desire, they denied a group”—Jesus and Muhammad, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them both—“and they killed a group”—John and Zechariah.