“When they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because they recognize the truth. They say, ‘Our Lord, we believe, so inscribe us among the witnesses. Why should we not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us? We hope that our Lord will admit us among the righteous people.’ So Allah rewarded them for what they said with Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. That is the reward of those who do good. But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs are the inhabitants of the Hellfire.”
Another reason is that when they “hear what has been revealed to the Messenger,” Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—it affects their hearts and they humbly submit to it. Their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth they have heard and become certain of. They therefore believe in it and acknowledge it, saying, “Our Lord, we believe, so inscribe us among the witnesses.” These are the community of Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him. They bear witness to Allah’s oneness, to the messengership of His messengers, and to the truth of what they brought. They also testify concerning which of the earlier nations affirmed the truth and which denied it.
They are people of integrity whose testimony is accepted, as Allah Most High says, “Thus We have made you a just community so that you may be witnesses over humanity and the Messenger may be a witness over you.”
It is as though they had been reproached for their faith and for hastening to embrace it, so they said, “Why should we not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us? We hope that our Lord will admit us among the righteous people.” That is: What could prevent us from believing in Allah when the truth has come to us from our Lord—a truth admitting neither doubt nor misgiving? If we believe and follow the truth, we may hope that Allah will admit us into Paradise among the righteous. What obstacle, then, could prevent us? Does this not require us to hasten to faith, submit to it, and not hold back from it?
Allah Most High says, “So Allah rewarded them for what they said”—that is, for the faith they professed and their affirmation of the truth—“with Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. That is the reward of those who do good.” These verses were revealed concerning the Christians who believed in Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—such as the Negus and others among them who believed. There also continue to be those among them who choose Islam and recognize the falsity of their former beliefs. They are closer to Islam than the Jews and the polytheists are.
After mentioning the reward of those who do good, He mentions the punishment of the evildoers, saying, “But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs are the inhabitants of the Hellfire,” because they (1) disbelieved in Allah and denied His signs, which make the truth clear.