Are all people of Scripture unjust for not believing in the Quran according to [29:46]

Question

Sahih International translation of [29:46]:

And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."

Word used here is ظَلَمُوا۟. Another word with same root is used in another place in a way similar to "those who sin have commited injustice to themselves".

Therefore not believing in Qur'an is unjust meaning there can be no just person of book/scripture.

Is the injustice in 29:46 a specific form? is there any tafseer on this?

Remember that prefix "al-" is not used in 29:46. The prefix "al-" means "The" for example "al-Malik" means "The King" .

Answer 1

You are correct that disbelieving the Quran is itself an act of injustice / wrongdoing.

ومن أظلم ممن افترى على الله كذبا أو كذب بآياته إنه لا يفلح الظالمون

And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah a lie or denies His verses? Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.

^{— Quran 6:21}

There are three major interpretations of verse 29:46:

• 'People of the Scripture' here means those who have accepted Islam and believed in the Quran. Such as Abdullah ibn Salam, Salman al-Farsi, Adi ibn Hatim etc. Similar to how it is used in the verse:

  وإن من أهل الكتاب لمن يؤمن بالله وما أنزل إليكم وما أنزل إليهم خاشعين لله لا يشترون بآيات الله ثمنا قليلا أولئك لهم أجرهم عند ربهم إن الله سريع الحساب

  And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allah and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to Allah . They do not exchange the verses of Allah for a small price. Those will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allah is swift in account.

  ^{— Quran 3:199}

  Hence it is possible for a person to be from the 'People of Scripture' and to not commit any injustice, including kufr. So the verse is to be interpreted as follows:

  do not argue with the People of the Scripture (i.e. the Muslims among them) ... except for those who commit injustice among them (i.e. the non-Muslims among them)

• 'Injustice' here means being a Harbi. If the 'people of the scripture' mentioned here are the disbelievers then it is implicitly understood that this verse means injustices other than kufr.

  do not argue with the People of the Scripture (i.e. the Dhimmis) ... except for those who commit injustice (apart from disbelief) among them (e.g. the Harbis)

• This verse is abrogated by 9:29.

Ref: Tafsir al-Qurtubi , Tafsir al-Tabary