Likewise, if the intended meaning were that they had agreed on affirming the Messenger’s truthfulness until he was sent, it would follow that they had all known of him before he was sent to them, and that they all became divided and disagreed after he was sent. Both implications are false. Many of them are unlettered and know the Scripture only through wishful notions; they were unaware of what the scriptures contained concerning his being sent and other matters. When he was sent, a great many of them believed in him; they did not all turn away from faith in him.

Thus, the verse does not contain blanket praise of them, as supposed by those who understood it to mean that they had not desisted from disbelief or come to faith until the truth became clear to them. Nor does it contain blanket condemnation of them, as supposed by those who understood that, when the Messenger came to them, they became divided and disagreed after having agreed on affirming his truthfulness. Rather, it praises those among them who believed in the Messenger, condemns those who did not believe, and declares that the Messenger would inevitably be sent to them, whereupon some would believe in him and others would disbelieve. Allah, the Exalted, says:

“We have favored some of those messengers over others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some in rank. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah willed, those who came after them would not have fought one another after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed: some believed and others disbelieved. Had Allah willed, they would not have fought one another, but Allah does whatever He wills.”