Mufaddal narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us, from al-Suddi, regarding "for those who are Jews"—they were the two sons of Isriya; they followed the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) but did not submit [to Islam], and they had given him a covenant that he would not ask them about anything from the Torah without them informing him about it.

His saying, the Almighty: "and the rabbaniyyun (learned men)"

[The First Aspect]

Those who interpreted it as meaning that they are the scholars and jurists:

[6405] Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Minjab ibn al-Harith narrated to us, Bishr ibn 'Umarah narrated to us, from Abu Rawq, from al-Dahhak, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding His saying: "and the rabbaniyyun"—he said: The jurists and scholars.

[6406] My father narrated to us, Ibn Abi 'Imran ibn 'Uyaynah narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid, who said: The rabbaniyyun are the scholars and jurists, and they are above the soldiers.

[The Second Aspect]

Those who interpreted it as meaning that they are the worshippers:

[6407] al-Hasan ibn Ahmad narrated to us, Musa ibn Muhallim narrated to us, Abu Bakr al-Hanafi narrated to us, 'Abbad ibn Mansur narrated to us, who said: I asked al-Hasan about His saying: "the rabbaniyyun"—he said: The people of the worship of Allah and the people of the fear of Allah.

[6408] My father narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Wahb ibn 'Atiyyah narrated to us, al-Walid ibn Muslim narrated to us, Khulayd narrated to us, from Qatadah, regarding the rabbaniyyun, he said: The rabbaniyyun are the worshippers. A similar [report] was narrated from Fudayl ibn 'Iyad.

[The Third Aspect]

Those who interpreted it as meaning that they are the believers:

[6409] Muhammad ibn Sa'd al-'Awfi informed us in what he wrote to me: My father narrated to me, my uncle narrated to me, my father narrated to me, from his father, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding His saying: "the rabbaniyyun"—they are the believers.

[The Fourth Aspect]

Those who interpreted the rabbaniyyun as meaning that they are the companions of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), may Allah be pleased with them.