The fourth Qurʾānic text to be considered is associated with the Christians not by direct name, that is, by use of the term al-naṣārā, or by reference to the person of Jesus, or by general inclusion within the abl al-kitāb, but rather by designation of a specific scripture, the Gospel (injīl). Like the preceding verse, this one climaxes in a divine promise, a promise phrased in pungent, physical language. But unlike previous passages, this verse carries a striking grammatical structure. It is formed as a hypothetical sentence or, more precisely, as a conditional contrary to fact. As such it has posed particular problems for the exegetical tradition where the need for identification and specification is enhanced by the implied negativity. The pertinent text is from sūrat al-māʾidah (5):66:

A SCRIPTURAL CONUNDRUM

An initial concern for virtually all of the commentators is the precise significance of the first verb in this verse. In his paraphrase of the opening lines al-Ṭabarī suggests a synonym that would permit the translation “if they had acted in accordance with (ʿamilū bi) the Torah and the Gospel.” Yet he is aware of the objection that could immediately be made against such an exhortation.