Translation of the meanings Ayah 20 Surah Al-An‘ām - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 20

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ يَعۡرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعۡرِفُونَ أَبۡنَآءَهُمُۘ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

(20) Those to whom We gave the Book know him ˹Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)˺ as much as they know their ˹own˺ children. Those who have ˹really˺ lost their souls are the ones who would not Believe^[1328].

[1328] The People of the Book commanded much respect in the Arab collective consciousness because they were considered learned owing to their having Scriptures, whereas the Arabs of that time were overwhelmingly illiterate (62: 2). They are being brought to the fore here by way of forestalling an assumed argument of the Makkans against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The People of the Book had an exact description of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in their Scriptures yet a great many of them did not Believe: “…those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find inscribed in the Torah and the Evangel that is with them, who enjoins upon them what is right, and forbids them what is wrong, and makes good things lawful for them, and forbids them bad things, and relieves them of their burden and the shackles that were upon them. Thus those who Believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the Light that has been sent down with him; it is they who shall prosper” (7: 157).