Coherence of Verses

This verse addresses the exclusivism and ugly prejudice of the People of the Book who, despite all their deviation, polytheism, and misguidance, presented becoming Jewish or Christian as the way and criterion of guidance.

In response to them, in the verse under discussion, the religion and faith of Abraham, which is monotheism and submission to truth, is introduced as the measure of salvation and guidance.

If the way and religion of Abraham had not been explained before the verse under discussion, it might have been assumed that the phrase “Rather, [ours is] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth” (bal millat Ibrāhīm ḥanīfan) was a general answer whose details would follow. However, the apparent context of the debate suggests that the mentioned phrase is stated to draw a conclusion from the discussions presented in the previous verses.