(19) “O People of the Book, Our Messenger has indeed come to you, making matters clear to you after an interval without messengers, lest you say, ‘No bearer of glad tidings or warner came to us.’ A bearer of glad tidings and a warner has now come to you, and Allah has power over all things.”

Because He had favored the People of the Book with His Book, the Most High calls upon them to believe in His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and to thank Allah Most High for sending him to them at a time when there had been an interval without messengers and the need for him was acute.

This itself calls for believing in him, for he makes clear to them all that Allah requires and all the rulings of the Sacred Law.

Allah thereby left them no excuse, lest they say: “No bearer of glad tidings or warner came to us. A bearer of glad tidings and a warner has now come to you.” He brings glad tidings of reward in this life and the Hereafter, of the deeds that lead to it, and of the qualities of those who perform them. He also warns of punishment in this life and the Hereafter, of the deeds that incur it, and of the qualities of those who commit them.

“And Allah has power over all things.” Everything yields willingly and submissively to His power, and nothing can defy Him. Among the manifestations of His power are that He sent the messengers and revealed the Books, and that He rewards those who obey them and punishes those who disobey them.