Surah Al Imran Tafseer

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ مَنْ امَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَاء

Say:"O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you stop those who have believed, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it seem crooked, while you (yourselves) are witnesses!

They learned this from the previous Prophets and honorable Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on them all. They all brought the glad tidings and the good news of the coming of the unlettered, Arab, Hashimi Prophet from Makkah, the master of the Children of Adam, the Final Prophet and the Messenger of the Lord of heavens and earth.

وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

And Allah is not unaware of what you do."

Allah has warned the People of the Book against this behavior, stating that He is Witness over what they do, indicating their defiance of the knowledge conveyed to them by the Prophets. They rejected, denied and refused the very Messenger whom they were ordered to convey the glad tidings about his coming. Allah states that He is never unaware of what they do, and He will hold them responsible for their actions,

يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ

(The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail), (26:88).