(52–55) “Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it believe in it. * When it is recited to them, they say, ‘We believe in it. It is indeed the truth from our Lord. Even before it, we were Muslims.’ * They will be given their reward twice because they remained steadfast, repel evil with good, and spend from what We have provided them. * When they hear idle speech, they turn away from it and say, ‘Our deeds are ours, and your deeds are yours. Peace be upon you. We do not seek the ignorant.’”
Allah Most High speaks of the Quran’s greatness and truth, and explains that those who truly possess knowledge recognize it, believe in it, and affirm that it is the truth: “Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it”—namely, the people of the Torah and the Gospel who neither altered nor changed them—“believe in it,” meaning this Quran and the one who brought it.
“When it is recited to them,” they listen to it and submit, and “they say, ‘We believe in it. It is indeed the truth from our Lord,’” because it accords with what the messengers brought, corresponds to what is mentioned in the Scriptures, and contains truthful accounts and commands and prohibitions that accord with the highest wisdom.
It is the testimony of such people that carries weight and their words that are beneficial, for they speak only with knowledge and insight: they belong to that class (1) and are people of the Scriptures. By contrast, the rejection of others and their opposition to the truth do not establish even a specious argument, much less a proof, for they are either ignorant of it or feign ignorance while obstinately opposing the truth.
Allah Most High said: “Say, ‘Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall upon their faces in prostration,’” and the verses that follow.
As for their words, “Even before it, we were Muslims,” they mean: For that reason, we remained firm upon the faith with which Allah favored us. We affirmed the truth of this Quran and believed in both the former and the latter Scripture. Others, however, invalidate their faith in the former Scripture by denying this one.
“They”—those who believed in both Scriptures—“will be given their reward twice”: one reward for their first faith and another for their second faith, “because they remained steadfast” in faith and remained constant in righteous deeds. No specious argument unsettled them (2), nor did the love of leadership or any desire turn them away from faith.
Among their virtuous traits, which are fruits of their sound faith, is that they “repel evil with good.” That is, their constant practice and way is to show kindness to everyone—even to those who mistreat them in word or deed—responding with gracious words and noble conduct. They know the excellence of this sublime character and that none is enabled to attain it except one granted a tremendous share of goodness.
“When they hear idle speech” directed at them by an ignorant person, “they say” the words of the servants of the Most Compassionate, people of sound understanding: “Our deeds are ours, and your deeds are yours.” That is, each person will be recompensed solely for the deeds he himself performed and will bear none of another’s burden. This necessarily means that they disavow the idle speech, falsehood, and useless talk practiced by the ignorant.
“Peace be upon you.” That is, you will hear nothing but good from us, and we will not address you as your ignorance would dictate. Although you are content with this vile pasture for yourselves, we hold ourselves above it and safeguard ourselves from engaging in it. “We do not seek the ignorant” in any respect.