(97–98) “Say, ‘Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel—it is he who brought it down upon your heart by Allah’s permission, confirming what came before it, and as guidance and glad tidings for the believers. Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His angels, His messengers, Gabriel, and Michael—then Allah is indeed an enemy to the disbelievers.’”

That is, say to those Jews who claimed that what prevented them from believing in you was that Gabriel (peace be upon him) was your ally, and that had it been any other of Allah’s angels, they would have believed in you and affirmed your truth: This claim of yours is contradictory, incoherent, and an arrogant affront to Allah. Gabriel (peace be upon him) is the one who brought the Quran down from Allah upon your heart, just as he brought revelation to the prophets before you. Allah is the One who commanded and sent him to do so; he is a messenger, pure and simple.

Moreover, this Book brought down by Gabriel confirms the Books that preceded it and neither differs from nor contradicts them. It contains complete guidance away from every form of misguidance and glad tidings of good in this world and the Hereafter for those who believe in it. Thus, hostility toward Gabriel, who possesses these qualities, constitutes disbelief in Allah and His signs, as well as hostility toward Allah, His messengers, and His angels. Their hostility toward Gabriel is not directed at him personally, but at the truth he brings down from Allah to Allah’s messengers.

It therefore entails disbelief in and hostility toward the One who revealed it and sent him, the message with which he was sent, and the messenger to whom he was sent. This explains why that is so.