the people of Mecca great distress. Ibn al-Zib'ara said: "O Muhammad, what about the verse you just recited? Does it concern us and our gods specifically, or does it concern the nations and their gods?" He replied: "No, rather it is concerning you and your gods, and the nations and their gods." He said: "I have bested you, by the Ka'bah! You know that the Christians worship Jesus and his mother, and a group of people worship the angels; are these not with our gods in the Fire?" The Messenger of Allah fell silent, and the Quraysh laughed and persisted in their dispute. Then Allah revealed the answer to their statement: "Indeed, those for whom the best has preceded from Us, they from it shall be distanced" – meaning: Ezra, Jesus, and the angels.