In the Holy Qur’an we read in many chapters some verses starts from “O you who have believed”, besides other verses which starts from “O Mankind”, “O Children of Israel”, “O People of the Scripture”, etc. We aware the Holy Qur’an is guidance for all (for believer and non-believer).
So my question is that why 'Almighty Allah specifically addressed “believers only” in some verses starting from “O you who have believed” differentiating “believers” from rest i.e., “Mankind”, “Children of Israel”, “People of the Scripture”, etc.
Like I said in my earlier post that there are many many verses starting from “O you who have believed”, with similar, slightly different and/or with totally different contexts. The contexts come later but ‘attentions of believers’ come first. So I would like to know that why ‘believers’ were called alone in some verses.
I have started reviewing the verses to answer your question. What I have understood so far is as follows:
I can say that Allah addressed believers as “O, those who have believed…” to communicate to them His commandments i.e., DOs and DON’Ts, manners and all that is important for them as practicing muslim.
When Allah address “O, children of Israel..”, it is to remind them of His favors on them and how did they reacted to His message and some of His messengers. and how their wrongdoings invoked wrath of Allah upon them. In these verses, there is a lesson for believers so that they may not tread on the same path that their predecessors (bani Israel) followed.
and Allah addressed “O, Mankind..” to advise them in general and to invite them to accept the TRUTH that has come to them through the holy prophet (pbuh)
to Add more; verses starting from “O, those who have believed…” are:
a) very important
b) specifically addressed to only “believers”
c) mandatory to obey in all circumstances
d) usually end with either ‘glad tidings’ or ‘strict warnings’, and
e) disobeying or not adhering to such verses bring us into ‘Gunnah Kabira’, where ‘repentance (tauba)’ is must.
