The Hopes of the People of the Book

Allah made the confusion of the Jews and the Christians clear, since they claim that no one will enter Paradise, unless he is a Jew or a Christian. Similarly, Allah mentioned their claims in Surat Al-Md’idah:
{We are the children of Allah and His loved ones } (5:18).
Allah refuted this false claim and informed them that they will be punished because of their sins. Previously we mentioned their claim that the Fire would not touch them for more than a few days, after which they would be put in Paradise. Allah rebuked this claim, and He said about this baseless claim,
{These are their man desires }. Abu Al-'Aliyah commented, “These are wishes that they wished Allah would answer, without basis.” 11 * Similar was stated by Qatadah and Ar-RabT bin Anas. 12 * Allah then said,
{Say} meaning, “Say O Muhammad:”
{ " Produce your Burhati ..."} meaning, “Your proof’, as Abu Al- 'Aliyah, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Ar-RabI' bin Anas stated. 131 Qatadah said that the Ayah means, “Bring the evidence that supports your statement,
{ifyou are truthful} in your claim.” 141
Allah then said,
{Yes! But whoever subtnits his face (himself) to Allah (i.e. follows Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin}

meaning, “Whoever performs deeds in sincerity, for Allah alone without partners.” In a similar statement, Allah said,
{So if they dispute with you (Muhamtnad say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me."} (3:20)
Abu Al-'Aliyah and Ar-RabI' said that,
{Yes! But whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah} means, “Whoever is sincere with Allah. ”’ sl
Also, Said bin Jubayr said that,
{Yes! But whoever submits } means, he is sincere.
{this face (himself)} meaning, in his religion.* 1 '
{atid he is a Muhsin } following the Messenger jg. For there are two conditions for deeds to be accepted; the deed must be performed for Allah’s sake alone and conform to the SharYah. When the deed is sincere, but does not conform to the Shari'ah , then it will not be accepted. The Messenger of Allah jfe said,
“Whoever performs a deed that does not conform with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected .»
This Hadith was recorded by Muslim. 121 Therefore, the good deeds of the priests and rabbis will not be accepted, even if they are sincerely for Allah alone, because these deeds do not conform with the method of the Messenger who was sent for all mankind. Allah said regarding such cases,
{And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.} (25:23)
{As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing.} (24:39) and,
{Some faces, that Day will be humiliated. Laboring, weary. They will enter in the hot blazing Fire. They will be given to drink from a boiling spring} (88:2-5).
When the deed conforms to the Shari'ah outwardly, but the person did not perform it sincerely for Allah alone, the deed will also be rejected, as in the case of the hypocrites and those who do their deeds to show off. Similarly, Allah said,
{Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Alldlt, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salah (the prayer ), they stand with laziness to be seen by people, and they do not remember Allah but little.} (4:142) and,
{So woe unto those performers of Saldh (prayers) (hypocrites). Those who delay their Saldh (from their stated fixed times). Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men). And withhold Al-Md'tin (small kindnesses)} (107:4-7).
This is why Allah said,
{So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord} (18:110).
He also said in this Ayah,
{Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah (follows Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Multsin}.

Allah’s statement,
{Shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve}

guaranteed them the rewards and safety from what they fear and should avoid.
{There shall be no fear on them} in the future,
{nor shall they grieve } about what they abandoned in the past. Moreover, Said bin Jubayr said,
{There shall be no fear on them} in the Hereafter, and
{nor shall they grieve} about their imminent death.” 1 11

The Jews and Christians dispute among Themselves out of Disbelief and Stubbornness

Allah said,
{The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); though they both recite the Scripture.}

Allah explained the disputes, hatred and stubbornness that the People of the Book have towards each other. Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “When a delegation of Christians from Najran came to the Messenger of Allah jfe, the Jewish rabbis came and began arguing with them before the Messenger of Allah 5^. Rafi‘ bin Huraymilah said, *You do not follow anything,’ and he reiterated his disbelief in Jesus and the Injll. Then a Christian man from Najran’s delegation said to the Jews, ‘Rather, you do not follow anything,’ and he reiterated his rejection of Musa’s prophethood and his disbelief in the Torah. So Allah revealed the Ayah,
{The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); though they both recite the Scripture .y^
Allah made it clear that each party read the affirmation of what they claimed to reject in their Book. Consequently, the Jews disbelieve in Jesus, even though they have the Torah in which Allah took their Covenant by the tongue of Moses to believe in Jesus. Also, the Gospel contains Jesus’ assertion that Moses’ prophethood and the Torah came from Allah. Yet, each party disbelieved in what the other party had.
Allah said,
{Like unto their word, said those who know not}

thus exposing the ignorance displayed by the Jews and the Christians concerning their statements that we mentioned. There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of Allah’s statement,
{who know not}

For instance, Ar-Rabl‘ bin Anas and Qatadah said that,
{Like unto their word, said those said those who know not }

means, “The Christians said similar statements to the Jews .” 121 Ibn Jurayj asked ‘Ata’ “Who are those “who know not?” ‘Ata’ said, “Nations that existed before the Jews and the Christians and before the Torah and the Gospel .” 131 Also, As- Suddi said that,