The Faith of the People of the Book in Jesus the Messiah

God informs His Prophet with Unseen news that all the People of the Book will believe in Jesus before their death and his truth will become clear to everyone: “There is none among the People of the Book but will surely believe in him before his death” (4:159).(60)

From the context of the verse (especially the end of the verse) in conjunction with the preceding verses, it becomes clear that what is important is the establishment and manifestation of the truth of the Messiah, not the believing of the People of the Book. Therefore, from the verse “When God said, ‘O Jesus, I shall take your soul, and I shall raise you up toward Myself, and I shall clear you of the calumnies of the faithless, and I shall set those who follow you above the faithless until the Day of Resurrection” (3:55), it is understood that the People of the Book become two groups regarding Jesus, and some remain disbelievers until the Day of Resurrection. It becomes clear that it is not the case that all the People of the Book bring voluntary and beneficial faith in him before their death, but rather some bring compulsory and non-beneficial faith at the time of distress; like someone for whom the truth becomes clear at the time of death throes (iḥtiḍār) and then believes.

Based on this, if it is stated in the verse under discussion that all the People of the Book believe in the truth of the Messiah before their death, it is because no prophet like the Messiah has been subject to disagreement to the extent of excess and deficiency (ifrāṭ wa-tafrīṭ) from birth to death.