Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597 AH / 1201 CE) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr":

1. It refers to the how the People of the Book were given the description of Muḥammad (ﷺ) and commanded to follow him. [Ibn ʿAbbās, Muqātil]
2. It refers to the rulings given to them in the Qurʾān which they acknowledged, but then they disbelieved and broke the covenant. [Al-Suddī]
3. It refers to the primordial covenant that was taken from them when the offspring of Adam were extracted from his back. [Al-Zajjāj] Even though we do not remember this covenant, we have been informed of it by revelation from a truthful source, so it is obligatory to believe in it. [Q 7:172]

What is "God's covenant" that is referenced in this verse?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597 AH / 1201 CE) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr":

1. The ties of kinship and the rights of relatives. [Ibn ʿAbbās, Qatādah, al-Suddī] 
2. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him; they cut him off by disbelieving in him. [Al-Ḥasan] 
3. The command to believe in Allah and to not differentiate between any of His messengers, yet they believed in some and disbelieved in others. [Muqātil]

What is it that Allāh has commanded to be joined yet they cut it off?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597 AH / 1201 CE) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr":

1. They invite people to disbelief. [Ibn ʿAbbās]
2. They engage in sinful acts. [Al-Suddī, Muqātil] 
3. They block the path for those who seek to migrate to the Prophet ﷺ, in order to prevent people from embracing Islam.

What is meant by their spreading mischief on earth?