The verse warns against those—whether non-Muslims or misguided Muslims—who drive others away from faith through envy, injustice, or bad example.
**A verse on the Forehead of the Revolution
With the Head of the Syrian Future Movement – Dr. Zaher Baadarani
Title: "They Wish to Turn You Back to Disbelief"**
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
*“Many of the People of the Book wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves, even after the truth has become clear to them.”* (Al-Baqara: 109)
According to many commentators, "People of the Book" refers to Jews and Christians. But in a broader sense, it includes anyone to whom Allah has sent a book to be recited and followed. Therefore, Muslims are also considered people of the book.
However, through wrong practices and violations of divine teachings—whether intentional or not—some Muslims present a distorted image of Islam. This causes others to turn away from the religion.
Two examples illustrate this:
1. A young man recited to the tyrant Al-Hajjaj, altering a verse to say people "exit" Islam in his time instead of "enter" it, criticizing his oppressive rule.
2. A Christian woman who converted to Islam said she was thankful she learned about Islam before meeting her Muslim husband, who abused her.
Otherwise, she would never have embraced Islam.
Allah said:
"Every time they make a covenant, a group of them throws it away. Rather, most of them do not believe." (Al-Baqarah 2:100)