and he gives no interpretation of “one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord” other than that it means the Messenger, while mentioning several views concerning the witness.

More surprising still, he says concerning “Those believe”: “Those are Muhammad’s Companions.” Another view is that it means those among the People of the Book who embraced Islam. Yet, according to his interpretation, they have not previously been mentioned. How, then, can they be referred to in His words, “believe in it”?

Abū al-Faraj mentioned the view that they are the Muslims, but did not mention that the verse encompasses both the Prophet and the believers. When mentioning the view that they are the Muslims, he said: “This accords with al-Dahhāk’s interpretation that the clear evidence is Allah’s Messenger.”

Four interpretations of “clear evidence” have been mentioned: that it is the religion, as Abū Sālih reported from Ibn ‘Abbās; that it is Allah’s Messenger, as al-Dahhāk said; that it is the Quran, as Ibn Zayd said; and that it is clarification, as Muqātil said.

He then said: “If we say that ‘one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord’ means the Muslims, the meaning is that they follow the Messenger, who is the clear evidence, and that this Prophet is followed by a witness from Him who confirms his truthfulness.”

But when the Muslims stand upon clear evidence, that evidence is faith in the Messenger; the clear evidence is not the Messenger himself. Moreover, the Messenger is not mentioned in the wording. Thus, the pronoun in His words, “and follows him,” must refer back to “from Him” (1), although referring it back to the clear evidence is more appropriate.