3. Aal-i-Imraan

Allah then mentioned the dispute of the delegation of Najran with the Prophet (pbuh) after he explained to them that the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam, for they said to the Prophet: it is not as you say that Jesus was not Allah, his son or His partner. As response Allah said: (And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him) concerning Jesus, (after the knowledge which has come unto thee) after the exposition that has come to you that Jesus was not Allah, His son or His partner, (say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons) and you summon your sons, (and our women and your women) and you summon your women, (and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord)) and exert our effort in praying ((and (solemnly) invoke) all together (the curse of Allah upon those who lie) about Allah concerning Jesus.

(Lo! This) which We have mentioned, O Muhammad, regarding Jesus and the delegation of Najran (verily is the true narrative) the true fact that Jesus was not Allah, His son or His partner. (There is no God save Allah) without a son or partner, (and lo! Allah is the Mighty) Who is vengeful against those who do not believe in Him, (the Wise) Who has commanded that none should be worshipped except Him; it is also said (the Wise) means: Allah ruled that they should go out and invoke His curse on those who lie, but the delegation of Najran refused to do so because they knew they were liars and that Muhammad was a true Prophet and emissary whose traits and description were to be found in their own Scripture.

(And if they turn away) from joining the Prophet (pbuh) in invoking Allah's curse on those who lie about Him regarding Jesus (then Lo! Allah is Aware of (who are) the corrupters) i.e. the Christians of Najran.

After this, Allah invited them to accept Allah's divine Oneness, saying: (Say: O People of the Scripture. Come to an agreement) the agreement is: there is no god except Allah (between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah) we shall declare Allah as the only One God, (and that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him) from among created beings, (and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah) that none of us shall obey another person in that which involves a transgression against Allah. (And if they turn away) and refuse to accept Allah's divine Oneness, (then say: Bear witness) know (that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)) and acknowledge His divine Oneness and worship Him.

Then Allah mentions their dispute with the Prophet (pbuh) in that they said they are of those who have surrendered to Allah and follow the Religion of Abraham, claiming this to be in the Torah. So Allah said: (O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him?) after Abraham. (Have ye then no sense?) that it is not mentioned in them that Abraham was Jew or Christian.

(Lo! Ye) O Jews and Christians (are those who argue about that whereof ye have some knowledge) in your Scripture that Muhammad is a prophet sent by Allah and that Abraham was neither Jew nor Christian, but you rejected this: (Why then argue ye concerning that whereof ye have no knowledge) from your Scripture and say that Abraham was Jew or Christian? (Allah knoweth) that Abraham was neither Jew nor Christian. (Ye know not) that he was Jew or Christian.

Allah then denied their claim, saying: (Abraham was not a Jew) following the religion of the Jews, (nor yet a Christian) following the religion of the Christians; (but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah)) sincerely, (and he was not of the idolaters) who adhered to their religions.

Then Allah showed who follows the Religion of Abraham, saying: (Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham) to the Religion of Abraham (are those who followed him) in his time, (and this Prophet) Muhammad follows his Religion (and those who believe) in Muhammad and in the Qur'an also follow the Religion of Abraham; (and Allah is the Protecting Friend of the believers) He protects them and helps them.

Allah mentions, then, how Ka'b al-Ashraf invited some of the companions of Allah's Messenger (pbuh)-Mu'adh [Ibn Jabal], Hudhayfa [Ibn al-Yaman] and 'Ammar [Ibn Yasir]-to join their religion (Judaism) and leave Islam, after the Battle of Uhud, saying: (A party of the people of the Scripture long to make you go astray) from your Religion, Islam; (and they make none to go astray) from the religion of Allah (except themselves, but they perceive not) this; it is also said that this means: they perceive not that Allah informs His Prophet of this.