from misguidance, and truth from falsehood. “Whoever sees does so for his own good”: that is, whoever recognizes these proofs and believes in them acts for his own benefit, and their benefit returns to him. “And whoever remains blind does so to his own harm”: that is, whoever is blind to them, neither recognizing nor affirming them, harms only himself; the consequence of such blindness falls upon him. “And I am not a guardian over you”: I am not a watcher who records your deeds against you. Rather, I am a messenger sent to you, conveying to you the messages of my Lord. He is the Guardian over you, from whom none of your deeds is hidden.

“Thus We set forth the signs in diverse ways”: We explain and clarify them from every perspective. “So that they may say”: it was said that its meaning is, “lest they say.” It was also said that this lam is the lam of outcome: that is, the outcome of their affair is that they say, “You have studied”—meaning, “You have read to others.” It was also said: “You have read the books of the People of the Book.” This is like His saying, “Then Pharaoh’s people picked him up, only for him to become their enemy and a source of grief” (al-Qasas, 8). It is known that they did not pick him up for that purpose; rather, the intended meaning is that the outcome of their affair was that he became their enemy.

Ibn Abbas said: “So that they may say” refers to the people of Mecca when you recite the Quran to them: “You have studied”—that is, “You learned from Yasar and Jabr,” two slaves from among the Roman captives; then you recite it to us, claiming that it is from Allah. This derives from the expression: “I studied the book,” meaning, “I study it by study and learning.”

Al-Farra said: They mean, “You learned from the Jews.” Ibn Kathir and Abu Amr recited it as “You studied together,” with an alif—meaning, “You studied with the People of the Book,” referring to reciprocal study between two people: you read to them, and they read to you. Ibn Amir and Yaqub recited it as “It has become effaced,” with an open sin and a silent ta—meaning, “These reports that you recite to us are ancient: they have become worn away and effaced,” as in the expression, “A trace becomes worn away.”

“And so that We may make it clear to a people who know.” Ibn Abbas said: This means His close servants, whom He has guided to the path of right guidance. It was also said that the meaning is that the diverse presentation of the signs causes one people to be wretched and others to be blessed: whoever says, “You have studied,” is wretched, while whoever recognizes the truth is blessed.

“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord: there is no god worthy of worship except Him. And turn away from the polytheists. Had Allah willed, they would not have associated others with Him. We have not made you a guardian over them, nor are you a trustee over them. Do not insult those whom they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility and ignorance. Thus We have made the deeds of every community seem fair to them. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them of what they used to do.” (106–108)

“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord”: that is, the Quran; act upon it. “There is no god worthy of worship except Him. And turn away from the polytheists”: so do not dispute with them.