How can the Qur’an’s mention of the triumph of the Children of Israel who believed in Jesus be interpreted, given the subsequent loss of their beliefs, the corruption of the Gospel, and the dominance of those who worship Jesus as God over them?

The statement of Allah the Almighty: “O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah, as Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, ‘Who are my supporters for Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are supporters of Allah.’ So a faction of the Children of Israel believed and another faction disbelieved. Then We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant.” (Surat As-Saff/14) resembles Allah's saying: “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 concerning that in which you used to differ.’” (Surat Al-Imran/55).

Al-Tabari clarified that "those who followed you" are those who followed Jesus's path of Islam, and Allah made them superior to the disbelievers. Dominance and superiority can be through the sword or through argumentation, and this has occurred. The followers of Jesus remained dominant despite Jewish attempts to extinguish his call, and factions among them continued to spread his message.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah explained that the belief of some of the disciples in Jesus's crucifixion does not undermine their faith if they affirmed that he was a servant and messenger of Allah. He likened this to the belief of some Muslims in meeting the Prophet (peace be upon him) while awake.

Despite the distortion of the Gospel, remnants of truth remain within it, guiding those who seek guidance, including the prophecy of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as stated in Allah's saying: “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in the Torah and the Gospel with them...” (Surat Al-A'raf/157).

Allah supported the believing faction of Jesus through the advent of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Muslim community, because Muslims are closer to Jesus, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I am the closest of people to Jesus." This dominance and prevalence will continue until the Day of Judgment, when Jesus (peace be upon him) will descend among this nation as a just ruler, break the cross, kill the swine, and abolish the jizyah.

Ibn Kathir pointed out that the believing faction of Jesus was guided by him, while a faction of the Children of Israel went astray and disbelieved in him, and another faction exaggerated in him, raising him above his rightful station. And that Allah supported those who believed against their enemies through the advent of Muhammad (peace be upon him), so the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him) has remained manifest upon the truth until the command of Allah comes.