Among those who mentioned this was Abū al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzī. He said:

“‘Those who disbelieved among the People of the Book’—meaning the Jews and Christians—and the polytheists, who worship idols, ‘would not break away,’ meaning separate or desist. One says, ‘I detached something, and it became detached,’ meaning that it separated. The meaning is that they would not abandon their disbelief and polytheism until the clear proof came to them. The wording is in the future tense, but its meaning is past. The clear proof is the Messenger, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who made clear to them their misguidance and ignorance. This describes Allah’s favor upon those of the two groups who believed, since He delivered them through him.”

Al-Baghawī’s wording is similar. He said:

“They would not desist from their disbelief and polytheism. The linguists say that ‘breaking away’ means separating or departing. One says, ‘I detached something, and it became detached,’ meaning that it separated. ‘Until the clear proof comes to them’ is worded in the future tense, but its meaning is past: until the clear proof—the manifest evidence—came to them. This means Muhammad, who brought them the Quran, made clear to them their misguidance and ignorance, and called them to faith. Thus Allah delivered them through him from ignorance and misguidance.”

He mentioned no other interpretation.

Abū al-Faraj said:

“Some commentators held that the verse means that they did not disagree that Allah would send them a prophet until He sent him; then they became divided. Others said: They were not free of Allah’s proofs until the clear proof was established against them.”