According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the Quranic phrase 'they believe in but few things' (falā yu'minūna illā qalīlā) found in Surah An-Nisa 4:155, describes a state of profound spiritual deficiency resulting from divine judgment. Tafsir authorities such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this concept in two primary ways: either it signifies that only a very small number of individuals among the group (the Children of Israel in this context) held genuine faith, or it denotes that the faith professed by some was qualitatively insignificant, shallow, and incomplete. This state is presented as a direct consequence of their major sins, including breaking their covenant with Allah, rejecting His signs, and killing prophets. The verse contextually links this deficient belief to Allah having 'sealed their hearts' (ṭabaʿa Allāhu ʿalayhā), a divine action that renders them unreceptive to complete and sincere faith. This synthesis establishes the concept not merely as weak faith, but as a terminal spiritual condition resulting from persistent rebellion.