Calling the People of the Book to Embrace the Faith, Warning them Against Doing Otherwise

Allah commands the People of the Scriptures to believe in what He has sent down to His servant and Messenger, Muhammad, the Glorious Book that conforms to the good news that they already have about Muhammad. He also warns them,

Al-‘Awfi said that Ibn ‘Abbas said that ‘effacing’ here refers to blindness,

{and turn them backwards} meaning, We put their faces on their backs, and make them walk backwards, since their eyes will be in their backs. Similar was said by Qatadah and ‘Atiyah Al-‘Awfi.

This makes the punishment even more severe, and it is a parable that Allah set for ignoring the truth, preferring the wrong way and turning away from the plain path for the paths of misguidance. Therefore, such people walk backwards.

Similarly, some said that Allah’s statement,

that is a parable that Allah gave for their deviation and hindrance from guidance.

Ka'b Al-Ahbar Embraces Islam Upon Hearing this Ayah [4:47]

It was reported that Ka'b Al-Ahbar became Muslim when he heard this Ayah [4:47]. Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Isa bin Al-Mughirah said: We were with Ibrahim when we talked about the time when Ka'b became Muslim. He said, ‘Ka'b became Muslim during the reign of ‘Umar, for he passed by Al-Madinah intending to visit Jerusalem, and ‘Umar said to him, "Embrace Islam, O Ka'b.’ Ka'b said, ‘Do you not read in your Book,

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah until,

{Books} I am among those who were entrusted with the Tawrah.’ ‘Umar left him alone and Ka'b went on to Hims (in Syria) and heard one of its inhabitants recite this Ayah while feeling sad,

Ka'b said, 'I believe, O Lord! I embraced Islam, O Lord!’ for he feared that this might be struck by this threat. He then went back to his family in Yemen and returned with them all as Muslims.” Allah’s statement,

refers to those who breached the sanctity of the Sabbath, using deceit, for the purpose of doing more work. Allah changed these people into apes and swine, as we will come to know in the explanation of Surat Al-A‘raf (7). Allah’s statement,

means, when He commands something, then no one can dispute or resist His command.

Allah Does not Forgive Shirk, Except After Repenting From it

Allah said that He,

meaning, He does not forgive a servant if he meets Him while he is associating partners with Him,

of sins, even if they were major sins. There are many authentic Hadiths on this subject collected from various Companions. The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith.
Al-Bazzar recorded that Ibn ‘Umar said, “We used to refrain from begging (Allah) for forgiveness for those who commit major sins until we heard our Prophet reciting,

{Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills}, and his saying,

«I have reserved my intercession on the Day of Resurrection for those among my Ummah who commit major sins.»

Allah’s statement,

{and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin} is similar to His statement,

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas'ud said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Which is the greatest sin?’ He said,

«To make a rival with Allah, while He Alone created you.»”