Nevertheless it should be kept in mind that the base of...

Nevertheless it should be kept in mind that the base of exegesis of some single verse is not on that other verses should be neglected and overlooked. And relationship of this verse should be cut-off from them. But to understand the meaning of one verse, other than the circumstances of revelation, the verse preceding and the verse following that verse and other verses of the Holy Quran should also be kept in view.

If after the advent of Islam following other religions was allowed then there was no justification in continuing some other religions law in the name of Islam. This was also not at all necessary that the Prophet of Islam (a.s.) should be the chief of all the races of the world and write to the leaders and rulers inviting them all towards his religion, and put forward his religion as a universal religion and the last divine law.

The letters of the Prophet (a.s.) and his repeatedly inviting towards Islam in his days and after that Muslims waged holy war that which was wearing away their strength against the People of the Book and narrations concerning this which have reached us from Imams of (a.s.), all bear testimony that with the advent of Islam the period of the apostleship of the previous great Prophets (a.s.) came to an end and divine law other than Islam and the prophethood other than that of Muhammad (a.s.) do not have a standing anymore.

Now let us see what the purpose of those verses is. In the above-mentioned verses two facts are mentioned. One is brief and the other detailed.

(1) If the Jews and the Christians are truly by heart the followers of Tawheed (Unity of God) and Qiyamat (day of Judgment) and do not show off they should according to Taurah (Old Testament) and Injeel (New Testament) believe in the Prophet of Islam (a.s.), because Taurah (Old Testament) and Injeel (New Testament) had conveyed the good news of coming of Prophet (a.s.) and described his signs, like: you know him as you know your sons.

It is a thing worth attention that, the Holy Quran in Surah al-Maidah just before the verse, which is under discussion says: Say: O followers of the Book! You follow no good till you keep up the Taurah (Old Testament) and the Injeel (New Testament) and that which is revealed to you from your Lord [Surah Maidah 5:68] There is no need to show that the meaning to keep up those Heavenly Books is to act on what is in them.