Is it conceivable that Jews and Christians at that time would proselytize for their religion by saying: "You will not become Jewish unless you incur God's wrath"?

The story is authentically narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, and its meaning does not undermine its authenticity. It does not indicate that advising and clarifying the truth was the state of all Jews or Christians; rather, it describes the state of one scholar from each group.

Many who follow a false religion know its falsity, but what prevents them from embracing the truth is their preference for worldly life or their arrogance, as Allah Almighty says: "And they rejected them, while their souls were convinced of them, out of injustice and arrogance."

It can be inferred from the Hadith that the Jews and Christians knew that they had incurred Allah's wrath. There is no impediment to finding among the people of falsehood someone who openly declares their situation and advises others, especially if they are loving and compassionate, as in the story of the Jewish boy who embraced Islam after his father told him: "Obey Abu al-Qasim [the Prophet]."

The Jews and Christians recognized the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as they recognized their own children, but envy and arrogance prevented them from believing in him.

This statement was uttered by the Jew because he was a scholar aware of the approaching Prophethood and the abrogation of their law, so he guided him to what was right.