rather, a person may understand yet fail to act upon his knowledge, and thus derive no benefit from it and have no good in him. The verse also indicates that making someone hear so that he understands is to be sought only for someone in whom there is good, for he is the one who benefits from it. As for someone who does not benefit from it, bringing him to understand is not to be sought.

The “third category” consists of those who hear the words and understand them, but neither accept them nor obey their command, like the Jews of whom Allah said:

“Among the Jews are those who distort words from their proper places and say, ‘We hear and disobey,’ and ‘Listen, may you never hear,’ and ‘Attend to us,’ twisting their tongues and disparaging the religion. Had they said, ‘We hear and obey,’ and ‘Listen,’ and ‘Look after us,’ it would have been better for them and more upright. But Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe but little.”

And He, Exalted is He, said:

“Do you then hope that they will believe you, when a group of them used to hear the words of Allah and then knowingly distort them after understanding them?”

Continuing to His words:

“And among them are unlettered people who know nothing of the Scripture except recitation.”

That is, merely reciting it. These belong to the “first category”: those who hear and read but neither comprehend nor understand. The passage continues to His words:

“And when We took the covenant of the Children of Israel: ‘Worship none but Allah, and be good to parents.’”

Continuing to His words:

“We certainly gave Moses the Scripture and sent messengers after him in succession. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever a messenger came to you with something your souls did not desire, you grew arrogant, rejecting some and killing others?”

“And they said, ‘Our hearts are covered.’ Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little do they believe.”

Just as