The Address “O People of the Book” (Yā Ahl al-Kitāb)

The blessed Sūrat al-Māʾida contains many rulings concerning the People of the Book (ahl al-kitāb). For this reason, a number of its verses begin with the address “O People of the Book”,(130) which sometimes refers to Jews and Christians together, sometimes specifically to Jews, and sometimes only to Christians.

On this basis, sometimes shared rulings between Jews and Christians are stated, and sometimes the specific rulings for each group. This verse, which belongs to the first category, forbids Jews and Christians from false excess (ghuluww) in religion and from following the misguided and misleading desires (hawāhā) of the soul (nafsānī).