And when it was that there remained from their challenges that they claim that their ancestors were upon their religion, so their claim of exclusivity to Paradise would be valid, it was refuted by Him, glorified is He, by His saying: "Or" meaning: Have they recanted from their saying: "Be Jews or Christians, you will be guided" [Al-Baqarah: 135] due to what has been established of the contradiction of that to the religion of Ibrahim and his family. "Or do you say" and it is clear that the implication is based on the reading of Ibn 'Amir, Hamzah, Al-Kisai, and others, including Hafs and Ruways, with the address: Have you recanted from your saying: "Indeed, Ibrahim" is the friend of Allah, "and Isma'il and Ishaq" his sons, "and Yaqub" the son of Ishaq, "and the tribes" the sons of Yaqub, "were Jews or Christians" so that their claims would be valid that Paradise is exclusive to the people of their religion. It is as if it were said: So what is to be said to them if they say that? It was said: "Say, are you more knowledgeable" of that and of other than it, "or is Allah" who has complete knowledge, more knowledgeable? So they cannot say: We are, and if they say: Allah, then Ibrahim has been absolved from that, thus their claims are invalidated.

And when knowledge with them about Allah is that the friend and those mentioned with him, peace be upon them, were upon the religion of Islam, and they were concealing what they had of that while Allah was confirming for them and inquiring from them about it and prohibiting them from concealing it and what is similar to it by His saying: "And do not mix truth with falsehood" [Al-Baqarah: 42], and the implication is: So who is more unjust than one who claims that he is more knowledgeable than Allah regarding his claim, either explicitly or by adhering to it while informing him of what contradicts what has been established in the Quran, whose truth is known by its miraculous nature! Allah, the Exalted, said, addressing this implication: "And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has" meaning: existing and entrusted with him, "from Allah" meaning: he concealed it from the greatest king, or it is with him from Him while he is inquiring about it, knowing that he will be exposed because He is the Knower of the secrets. And when the implication is: Indeed, He knows what he has done of concealing it, He added to it what is more general than it, so He said: "And Allah" who encompasses everything in power and knowledge, "is not unaware of what you do" indicating by the present tense of their continuation after all this upon their evil deeds and warning against such.