Al-Ankabut: (49) "Nay, it is [clear] verses..."

"Nay, it is"—meaning the Quran; this is a disjunction from their skepticism, meaning the Quran is not something to be doubted due to the clarity of its matter. "Nay, it is [clear] verses"—manifest, firm, and deeply rooted "in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge," without being extracted from a book they memorize in such a way that they would be unable to alter it, unlike other scriptures. It has been said in describing this nation: "Their chests are their gospels."

The pronoun "it" referring to the Quran is the most apparent interpretation, and it is supported by the recitation of Abdullah [ibn Mas’ud]: "Nay, they are clear verses." Qatadah said: The pronoun refers to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; he recited: "Nay, he is a clear sign," in the singular. Some have applied it to him, peace be upon him, regarding the plural recitation, meaning: "Nay, the Prophet and his affairs are verses." It is also said: The pronoun refers to what is understood from the preceding negation—that is, his not reading or writing is a clear sign in the breasts of the scholars among the People of the Scripture, because that is the description of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in their book. All of these are as you see.

In the latter [interpretation], "those who have been given knowledge" is taken to mean the scholars of the People of the Scripture, which is narrated from al-Dahhak. The majority hold that they are the scholars among the Companions, or the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the scholars among his Companions; this has been narrated from al-Hasan. Some of the Imamiyyah have narrated from Abu Ja'far and Abu Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them both, that they are the Imams from the family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

"And none reject Our verses"—despite their being as mentioned—"except the wrongdoers"—those who transgress the limits in evil, stubbornness, and corruption.