Tafseer of The Family of Imraan · Aal-i-Imraan · 3:98
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allah while Allah is Witness over what you do?"
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the words of the Exalted: قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَى مَا تَعْمَلُونَ (98) (Say: "O People of the Book, why do you disbelieve in the signs of Allah, while Allah is witness to what you do?") (98)
Abū Jaʿfar said: By this He means: O assembly of Jews of the Banū Isrāʾīl and the rest of all those who lay claim to the religion through what Allah, Mighty and Exalted, has sent down of His books, among those who have disbelieved in Muḥammad ﷺ and denied his prophethood: "Why do you disbelieve in the signs of Allah?", that is to say: why do you deny the proofs of Allah which He gave to Muḥammad in your own books and elsewhere, which stand established against you concerning his truthfulness, his prophethood, and his proof? "While you know", that is to say: why do you deny that concerning his affair, while you know his truthfulness? Thus has He — exalted is His praise — reported about them that they deliberately disbelieve in Allah and in His messenger, with knowledge on their part and with awareness of their disbelief. And indeed:
7522 — Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī: "O People of the Book, why do you disbelieve in the signs of Allah" — as for "the signs of Allah", that is Muḥammad ﷺ.
7523 — Muḥammad ibn Sinān related to me, saying: Abū Bakr related to us, saying: ʿAbbād related to us, on the authority of al-Ḥasan concerning His words: "O People of the Book, why do you disbelieve in the signs of Allah, while Allah is witness to what you do", he said: they are the Jews and the Christians.
