How can the phrase "those who followed you" in the Almighty’s saying, "And [mention] when Allah said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you in that wherein you used to differ," be interpreted in a way that does not contradict the current reality of Muslims and Christians, or lead to considering non-Christians disbelievers?

The superiority mentioned in the verse is conditioned upon following the Messiah, peace be be upon him. If his following is disrupted, or if those who claim allegiance to him deviate, the promise ceases, and then their enemy will be given power over them. This promise of dominance and empowerment is conditional upon the realization of faith and righteous deeds, and adherence to the limits of servitude to God.

The superiority may be moral, through argument, proof, and goodness, or worldly, through might and dominance, or both. Some believe it is a superiority of argument and proof, while others believe it is a superiority of subjugation and power over the Jews. Some scholars have interpreted the verse as specifically applying to the Children of Israel, meaning that God elevated the Christians who believed in the Messiah over the Jews who disbelieved in him.