26/04/2026
Quran 2:146
(“The people of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know.”)
What does “know this” refer to?
Classical commentators generally say it refers to:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself (his identity and signs), or
The truth of his message (the Qur’an)
The dominant view is that it points to recognition of the Prophet ﷺ based on descriptions found in earlier scriptures like the Torah and Gospel.
“As they know their own sons”
This is a powerful Arabic simile expressing certainty beyond doubt:
Just as a father unmistakably recognizes his own child,
Some among the People of the Book recognized the Prophet ﷺ with clarity and confidence
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