[628] The Book meant here is the Torah. “Twist their tongues with the Book”, means they distort it by either muddling the pronunciation of its words or manipulating and misinterpreting its meaning. (al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī)
[629] al-Bayhaqī in al-Dalā’il (quoted in al-Tafsīr al-Ṣaḥīḥ, 2:43) documents that Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated that Abū Rāfiʿ al-Qaraẓī said: “When the learned Jews and Christians came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he called them to Islam, they replied: “Do you Muhammad want us to worship you just like the Christians worship Jesus, son of Mary?”… The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I seek refuge by Allah that I shall call to the worship of any other besides Him. This is not what He sent me for!”
[630] Worshipped besides God.
[631] Ibn ʿAṭiyyah (1: 463) says: “It is possible that this oath was taken at the time the offspring of Adam were taken out of his back as breaths ˹cf. 7: 172˺, or taken from each Prophet at the time of his mission”.
[632] al-Wāḥidī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr, Ibn Taymiyyah (al-Zuhd wa al-Waraʿ wa al-ʿIbādah, p. 157) are of the opinion that this Messenger is Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Alternatively, but less plausibly, because unlike Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) most Prophets were sent for a specific nation and only for a specified period of time, it could mean that each and every Prophet was made to take a solemn oath, and in turn bid his followers to Believe in and support any Prophet that comes with the like of what they have. The theme carries on from earlier ayas highlighting that although the People of the Book were fully aware of the Truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), because he was specifically mentioned in their books, they nonetheless hid the Truth for ulterior motives fearing to lose their privileged status. The Qur’an brings the scenario to a close as follows: “Those who follow the illiterate ˹gentile˺ Prophet whom they find written in the Torah and the Evangel; he calls them to what is virtuous and warns them against vile deeds, makes lawful to them good things and forbids for them what is impure, and relieves them from their burdens and shackles. Those who Believe in him, bolster and support him and follow the Light that came with him, these are the Successful” (7: 157).
[633] This pledge is to be honoured not only by the Prophets but, by extension, their followers too. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Saʿdī)