Consideration of the Christians is refracted through a Christological prism in the next verse to be discussed. Allusion to the ‘followers’ is understandable only in relation to the clearly articulated name of ʿĪsā (Jesus). In fact, the opening clauses of sūrah Āl ʿImrān (3): 5 5 are cast in the form of divine direct address to Jesus:

Much of the exegetical effort expended on this verse concentrates upon God's statements to Jesus. As it unfolds, the explication of this verse section provides a fuller portrait of the Qurʾānic Jesus, in itself an indispensable propaedeutic to understanding the clauses that refer to his ‘followers’.

SŪRAH ĀL ʿIMRĀN (3):54 AS PRELUDE

The first word of this verse, the Arabic particle idh (here translated when) provokes an immediate concern for contextuality among several of the commentators. Al-Ṭabarī initiates this aspect of the exegetical investigation by pondering what connection this verse might have to the verses preceding it. The verse just before this one ends with the words “They [the Jews] plotted and God plotted but God is the best of plotters” (3:54). By taking this following verse as an instance of God's plotting, al-Ṭabarī can make the connection of signification thus: “God plotted against them when God said to Jesus. …”