“They are not all alike. Among the People of the Book is an upright community who recite Allah’s verses during the night and prostrate themselves.”

“They believe in Allah and the Last Day, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and hasten to do good deeds. They are among the righteous.”

It has been said that this verse was revealed concerning ‘Abd Allāh ibn Salām and his companions. It has also been said that His words, “Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient,” refer to ‘Abd Allāh ibn Salām and his companions. This interpretation, and Allah knows best, is of the same kind as the preceding one: these men no longer belonged to the People of the Book. Rather, what is meant is someone who outwardly belongs to them and yet is a believer, but cannot do what the believers who emigrate and fight in Allah’s cause are able to do. Such was the believer from Pharaoh’s household: he belonged to Pharaoh’s household, yet he was a believer. Hence Allah Most High said:

“A believing man from Pharaoh’s household, who concealed his faith, said, ‘Would you kill a man merely for saying, “My Lord is Allah,” when he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord?’”

He belonged to Pharaoh’s household, yet he was a believer. Likewise, among these people there are believers. Hence He said:

“But most of them are defiantly disobedient.”

Before this, He had said:

“If the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.”

Then He said:

“They will cause you no more than annoyance.”

This refers to all of them, not merely to the majority of them. Hence He said:

“If they fight you, they will turn their backs and flee; then they will receive no help.”

They may fight while among them is a believer who conceals his faith, joins them on the battlefield, is unable to emigrate, is compelled to fight, and will be resurrected