The verse means that among the people of the Scripture were people who could not read or write.

The food of the people of the scripture is lawful for you.

Those who disbelieve among the people of the scripture and the idolaters could not change until the clear proof came unto them.

It also cites the Koran's specific instruction that these "people of the Scripture" worship the same God as Muslims.

It calls for peace between Muslims and Christians and tries to work for common ground and understanding between both religions, in line with the Qur'anic commandment to "Say: 'O People of the Scripture!"

Abu Hurairah, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad had narrated, "The people of the Scripture (Jews) used to recite the Torah in Hebrew and they used to explain it in Arabic to the Muslims."

You are the best community that has been raised up for mankind: You enjoin What is right and forbid What is evil, and You believe in Allah; if the people of the scripture deary it, it had been better for them, some of them believers, but most of them are evil-livers.