(1–8) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists would not abandon their unbelief until clear proof came to them: a Messenger from Allah reciting purified pages containing upright writings. Those who were given the Scripture did not become divided until after clear proof had come to them. Yet they were commanded only to worship Allah, devoting the religion sincerely to Him, inclining to truth; to establish prayer; and to give zakāh. That is the upright religion. Indeed, those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein forever. They are the worst of creation. Indeed, those who believe and perform righteous deeds are the best of creation.”
The Most High says: “Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture”—meaning [among] the Jews and Christians—“and the polytheists” from all the other classes of nations,
“would not abandon” the unbelief and error they followed. That is, they would persist in their transgression and error, with the passing years (1) only increasing them in unbelief,
“until clear proof came to them”—evident proof and a manifest demonstration. He then explained that proof, saying: “A Messenger from Allah,” meaning one whom Allah sent to call people to the truth. He sent down to him a Book that he recited so that he might teach people wisdom, purify them, and bring them out of darkness into light. Hence He said: “reciting purified pages,” meaning pages safeguarded from the devils’ approach and touched only by those who are purified, for their contents are of the loftiest speech.
He therefore said of them: “containing”—that is, within those pages—“upright writings,” meaning truthful reports and just commands that guide to the truth and to a straight path. When this clear proof comes to them, those who seek the truth are distinguished from those who have no genuine intention of seeking it. Thus, whoever perishes does so upon clear proof, and whoever lives does so upon clear proof.
If the People of the Scripture do not believe in this Messenger and submit to him, this is nothing unusual given their misguidance and obstinacy. They became divided, differed, and split into factions only “after clear proof had come to them”—proof that should have brought its recipients together in unity and agreement. Yet because of their wickedness and baseness, guidance only increased them in error and insight only in blindness, even though all the Scriptures brought one foundation and one religion. Throughout all the revealed laws, they were commanded only to worship “Allah, devoting the religion sincerely to Him”—that is, ⦗932⦘ seeking the countenance of Allah through all their outward and inward acts of worship and seeking nearness to Him—“inclining to truth,” meaning turning [inclining] away from every religion contrary to the religion of monotheism. Prayer and zakāh were singled out [for mention], although both are included in the words “to worship Allah, devoting themselves sincerely,” because of their excellence and distinction, and because they are the two acts of worship which, when duly upheld, entail upholding all the prescriptions of religion.
“That”—namely, monotheism and sincerity in religion—is “the upright religion”: the straight religion that leads to the Gardens of Bliss. Everything else consists of paths leading to Hellfire.
He then mentioned the recompense of the disbelievers after clear proof had come to them, saying: “Indeed, those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell.” Its punishment will encompass them, and its torment will be severe upon them. They will be “abiding therein forever”; the punishment will never be lightened for them, and they will remain there in utter despair. “They are the worst of creation” because they recognized the truth but abandoned it, thereby losing both this world and the Hereafter.
“Indeed, those who believe and perform righteous deeds are the best of creation” because they worshipped Allah and knew Him, and they attained the bliss of this world and the Hereafter.