Although the verse is addressed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, it is actually an indirect address to the disbelievers. In his commentary, Ibn ‘Ashur explains that this indirect style was used to prevent them receiving the instruction with defensiveness and indignation. \ It does not mean that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ actually experienced any doubt concerning the revelation he received. What is meant is for the disbelievers who may be skeptical of the stories mentioned in the Quran to ask the People of Scripture concerning those stories which are also found in their books. They will confirm that Allah did indeed destroy disbelieving nations before them. The fact that they can confirm this much is not an indication of the Jews and Christians being authorities, nor that the books they possessed were free of tampering or distortion.

This verse is actually a challenge to the disbelievers to check the Quran against what remained from previous revelations.