Thus the Quran accorded with faith, and the subsequent signs accorded with both the Quran and faith. Hence His words:

“And before it was the Book of Moses, a guide and a mercy.”

The pronoun in “And before it” refers to the witness, namely the Quran, as Allah Most High says:

“Say: Have you considered: if it is from Allah and you disbelieve in it, while a witness from the Children of Israel testifies to its like”—to the end of the verse.

Then He says:

“And before it was the Book of Moses, a guide and a mercy”—to the end of the verse.

The pronoun in “And before it” refers to the Quran: that is, before the Quran, as Ibn Zayd stated. It has also been said that it refers to the Messenger, as Mujāhid stated. The two interpretations necessarily go together.

There are two grammatical interpretations of His words, “And before it was the Book of Moses.” According to one, a single constituent is coordinated with another; according to the other, an entire clause is coordinated with another clause. On the first interpretation, the meaning is: “and a witness from Him follows it,” and the Book of Moses, which preceded it, likewise follows it in support. For it bears witness to the same thing as the Quran, and it is a witness from Allah. On the other interpretation, “And before it was the Book of Moses” is a separate clause, but its content confirms the Quran, as He states in Sūrat al-Ahqāf.

His words, “Those believe in it,” indicate that “Is one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord” encompasses the believers, just as it encompasses the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for they believe in both the earlier and the later Scripture. The pronoun “those” refers back to them, for they believe in it—in the witness from Allah. Believing in it is therefore believing in the Messenger and the Scripture that preceded it.