Say: �O people of the scripture why do you disbelieve in God's verses when God is witness of what you doḍ� The divine address in this verse is meant to confirm the obligation of the pilgrimage [for the people of the scripture]. With respect to the law the pilgrimage is obligatory for them166 but with respect to the true state of affairs ḥaqīqa and [divine] subjugation qahr the pilgrimage is barred to them. They are called by the law and command hum madʿuwūna sharʿan wa-amran but banished by the decree and the subjugation maṬrūdūna ḥukman wa-qahran.