[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:1] The people of the book referred to are the Jews and the Christians who were freed from their false beliefs when the Holy Prophet, whose advent was clearly foretold in the Tawrat and the Injil, brought the final book of Allah, the Quran, in this world. See commentary of Baqarah: 40, 89, 253 for the promised prophet in the Old and New Testaments. The people of the book strayed from the true teachings of Musa and Isa and followed devious ways and false notions. The polytheists and the pagans did not believe in any scripture. When the Holy Prophet came with clear evidence (his life, his character and his teachings) to them, all of them had an opportunity to believe in Allah and follow His religion, Islam.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:2] The Holy Prophet was sent to mankind with the pure and holy word of Allah. Refer to the commentary of Baqarah: 151 ; Ha Mim: 41 , 42 ; Waqi-ah: 77 to 80. The Quran is an inviolate book. It is a revelation from the all-wise Lord. Falsehood cannot enter it from any side.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:3] Qayyimmah means straight, definite, permanent as opposed to crooked and transitory. See Bara-at: 36 and Yusuf: 40. Through the Quran Allah has revealed the supreme law to be followed by mankind for ever. It confirms the law given to the prophets of Allah from Adam to Musa and Isa; and with decisive additions and amendments serves the purpose of regulating the individual and collective behaviours of man in all times till the day of judgement.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:4] Refer to the commentary of Ali Imran: 19 and Nisa: 163 to 165. The people of the book were in a better position than the pagans to recognise the truth of Islam, because they had been prepared for the standard and eternal religion of Allah by the revelations sent down on their prophets; but, when the clear evidence came in the person and message of the Holy Prophet, they resisted it and belied it.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:5] The Jews and the Christians were commanded through their scriptures to worship Allah, sincerely devoted only to Him. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Verse 36 of Nahl says: "Worship Allah, and keep away from all other (false) idols". So man has been ordered to worship Allah alone. It may also be interpreted that the purpose of command is to enable man to obey as well as to test his readiness and willingness to obey as stated in verse 143 of Baqarah in connection with the change of Qiblah. In carrying out the divine orders, niyyat (motive) is very important. Submission to the will of Allah and service to mankind is dinul qayyimmah (the right religion).

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:6] To reject truth and belie the truthful is the worst sin a creature, endowed with the ability to discriminate between right and wrong and to use his free will, can commit. Therefore it will necessarily bring its own punishment, because such a person is the worst of creatures.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:7] Hafiz Abu Nu-aym, in Hilyatul Awliya, reports on the authority of Ibn Abbas that when verse 7 was revealed the Holy Prophet said: "O Ali, you and your followers will be in paradise." Ibn Asakir narrates from Abu Sa-id Khudri that khayrul bariyyah refers to Ali. Haskani narrates from "Maqatul Ibn Sulayman", one of the earliest commentators of the Quran, that Ibn Abbas said: "Khayrul bariyyah was revealed for Ali and his family." Haskani; in Shawahidut Tanzil, narrates that the Holy Prophet said: "O Ali, khayrrul bariyyah is your shi-ah (follower). I will meet your shi-ahs on the cistern of kawthar when all the people will be gathered together for the final reckoning. Your followers will be called ghurral mahajjalin."

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 98:8] (see commentary for verse 7)