The second approach is to say: If the term “polytheists” in Sūrat al-Baqarah includes them, just as Allah has described them as associating partners with Him, this can be understood by distinguishing between the term’s meaning when used alone and its meaning when used alongside another term. When “polytheists” is used alone, it includes the People of the Book; when mentioned alongside the People of the Book, it does not include them. A similar distinction has been made concerning the terms “the poor” and “the needy,” and other such expressions.

On this basis, the verse in al-Baqarah is general, whereas the other verse is specific, and the specific takes precedence over the general.

The third approach is to say: The verse in al-Mā’idah abrogates the verse in al-Baqarah, because al-Mā’idah was revealed after al-Baqarah, by scholarly consensus. It is related in the hadith:

“Al-Mā’idah was among the last portions of the Quran to be revealed, so regard as lawful what it declares lawful, and as forbidden what it declares forbidden.”

A later verse abrogates an earlier verse when the two conflict.

As for His words:

“Do not hold on to marriage bonds with unbelieving women,”

this verse was revealed after the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyah, when people emigrated from Mecca to Medina, and Allah revealed Sūrat al-Mumtahanah and commanded that the emigrants be examined. It addresses anyone who had an unbelieving wife. The lām of the definite article indicates a known referent, and the unbelieving women referred to were polytheistic women. Moreover, “disbelievers” may also be distinguished from the People of the Book in certain passages, as in His words:

“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in superstition and false deities, and say of those who disbelieve, ‘These are better guided than the believers.’”

For the original foundation of their religion is faith; yet they