they differed over accepting his truthfulness, and most of them disbelieved in him out of transgression and envy, after having been united in affirming his truthfulness—out of transgression and envy. Some commentators held that all those who became divided were disbelievers.

Ibn ‘Atiyyah said:

Then the Exalted censured those among the People of the Book, from the Children of Israel, who did not believe: they did not become divided concerning Muhammad until after they had seen the clear signs. Previously, they had agreed on his prophethood and his description. But when he came from among the Arabs, they envied him.

Al-Tha‘labī likewise said:

Those who were given the Scripture did not become divided concerning Muhammad and reject him until after the clear proof had come to them—the clear statement in their scriptures that he was a prophet sent by Allah. The scholars said: From the beginning of this surah up to His saying,

“containing upright writings,”

the passage concerns those among the People of the Book and the polytheists who believed. His saying,

“They did not become divided,”

concerns those among the People of the Book who did not believe after the proof had been established against them. Abū al-Faraj said likewise.

He said:

“Those who were given the Scripture did not become divided”

—meaning those who did not believe—

“until after the clear proof had come to them.”

There are three interpretations of the clear proof. The first is that it refers to Muhammad, meaning that they remained united in believing in him until he was sent. This was the view of the majority;