Zaid bin Thabit read (Ahtajjoona) with the merging of the noon. The meaning is: Do you argue with us regarding Allah and His choosing the Prophet from the Arabs over you? And you say: If Allah were to send down to anyone, He would have sent down to us. And you see yourselves more deserving of prophethood than us, while He is our Lord and your Lord. We all share in that we are His servants. He is our Lord, and He bestows His mercy and honor upon whomever He wills from His servants. They are chaotic in this matter, not exclusive to a non-Arab over an Arab if he is worthy of honor. And we have our deeds, and you have your deeds, meaning that deeds are the foundation of the matter, and it is by them that one is judged. Just as you have deeds that Allah considers in granting or withholding honor, so do we. Then He said, 'And we are sincerely devoted to Him,' thus coming with what is the cause of honor, meaning we are monotheists for Him, dedicating our faith to Him. So do not be surprised that those who are sincere to Him may be qualified for His honor of prophethood. They used to say: We are more deserving of prophethood among us, for we are the people of the Book, while the Arabs are idolaters. Or do you say, it is possible for those who read with the 'taa' that 'am' is equivalent to the 'hamzah' in: (Ahtajjoona) meaning which of the two matters do you come with: the argument regarding Allah's wisdom or the claim of Judaism and Christianity against the Prophets? The purpose of the inquiry about both is to deny them together, and it could be disjointed meaning: rather do you say, and the 'hamzah' is also for denial. And for those who read with the 'yaa,' it can only be disjointed. Say: Are you more knowledgeable or is Allah? This means that Allah bore witness for them with the religion of Islam in His saying: (Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a monotheist, a Muslim). And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? This means he concealed Allah's testimony that he bore witness to, which is His testimony for Ibrahim regarding monotheism. It has two possible meanings: one is that the people of the Book are the most unjust, because they concealed this testimony while they are aware of it. The second is that if we were to conceal this testimony, no one would be more unjust than us, so we do not conceal it. And it implies their concealment of Allah's testimony for Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, regarding prophethood in their books and all His other testimonies. (And) in His saying: (a testimony that he has from Allah) is similar to your saying: this is a testimony from me for so-and-so if I bear witness for him, and similar to (a declaration from Allah and His Messenger).