Chapter: Reports affirming that the reason the descendants of Adam fell into disbelief and abandoned their religion was their exaggerated veneration of the righteous.

And the saying of Allah, Most High: “O People of the Scripture, do not exaggerate in your religion.” [4:171]

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Monotheism: After the author—may Allah have mercy on him—clarified some of the acts of shirk practised by those who worship at graves, acts that contradict tawḥīd, he now wishes in this chapter to explain the underlying cause so that it may be avoided: excess (ghulūw) in regard to the righteous.

“What has been reported” means: the proofs that follow.

“and their abandonment” (turkihim) is in the genitive because it is coordinated with the genitive noun “kufr.”

“Ghulūw” (excess, extremism) is to overstep the limit and indulge in immoderate glorification through speech, belief, or practice, thereby transgressing what Allah, exalted is He, has prescribed.

“in the righteous” refers to prophets, saints, and others.

“The People of the Book” denotes the Jews and the Christians.

“Do not exaggerate in your religion” means: do not go beyond the bounds Allah has set for you. The Christians exaggerated concerning the Messiah, while the Jews exaggerated concerning ‘Uzayr.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah forbids the Jews and the Christians to transgress the limits He has laid down by raising a created being above the rank Allah has assigned him and by lowering him