(162) “But those among them firmly grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you—especially those who establish prayer—and those who give zakah and believe in Allah and the Last Day. To them We shall grant a tremendous reward.”

After mentioning the faults of the People of the Book, Allah mentions those among them who are worthy of praise, saying: “But those among them firmly grounded in knowledge”—that is, those in whose hearts knowledge is firmly established and in whose souls certainty has taken deep root, thereby producing in them complete and comprehensive faith “in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you.”

It also produces righteous deeds in them, such as establishing prayer and giving zakah, which are the best of deeds. Together, these embody sincere devotion to the One worshipped and kindness toward His servants. They also believe in the Last Day, and so they fear the threatened punishment and hope for the promised reward.

“To them We shall grant a tremendous reward,” because they combine knowledge, faith, and righteous deeds with belief in the earlier and later scriptures and messengers.