that is, the Jewish and Christian scholars to whom We gave the Torah and the Gospel. It was also said that they are the believing People of the Book. ‘Ata’ said: They are the leading Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him; and what is meant by “the Book” is the Quran. “They know that it has been sent down”—that is, the Quran. Ibn ‘Amir [and Hafs] (1) recited “sent down” in the intensified form, because it was revealed gradually, in separate portions; the others recited it in the simple form of “sending down,” in accordance with His saying, Exalted is He: “He is the One who has sent down to you the Book.” “From your Lord in truth; so do not be among those who doubt”: that is, do not doubt that they know this.

His saying, Exalted is He, “The word of your Lord has been fulfilled”: the Kufan reciters and Ya‘qub recited “word” in the singular, while the others recited “words” in the plural. By “words” He meant His commands and prohibitions, His promise and His warning. “In truth and justice”: that is, true in promise and warning, and just in command and prohibition. Qatadah and Muqatil said: True in what He has promised, and just in what He has decreed. “None can alter His words.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: None can repel His decree, alter His ruling, or cause His promise to fail. “And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” It was also said that “words” here means the Quran: none can alter it; those who fabricate lies can neither add to it nor diminish it.

“If you obey most of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah”: that is, from the religion of Allah. This is because most of the people of the earth were upon misguidance. It was also said that they disputed with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the believers concerning the eating of carrion, saying, “Do you eat what you kill, yet not eat what Allah has killed?” So He said: “If you obey most of those on earth”—that is, if you obey them in eating carrion, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. “They follow nothing but conjecture”: meaning, the religion they follow is mere conjecture [and caprice] (2), which they did not adopt upon clear knowledge. “They do nothing but speculate”: that is, they lie.

“Indeed, your Lord knows best who strays from His way.” It was said that the grammatical position of “who” is accusative, with the preposition omitted; that is, He knows best concerning those who stray. Al-Zajjaj said: Its grammatical position is nominative, as the subject; its form is interrogative, and the meaning is: Indeed, your Lord knows best which people stray from His way. “And He knows best those who are rightly guided.” He informs that He knows best both groups—the misguided and the transgressors—and will recompense each according to what he deserves.

“So eat of that over which Allah’s name has been mentioned, if you believe in His verses.” (118)