Evvel is interpreted in four ways:
1. By the word evvel, what is meant is the first among the Jews in the time of the Prophet who denied the Prophet [i.e., Muhammad]; as in the following verse which addresses the Jews of Medina:
Do not be the first of those who disbelieve in it (that is, do not be the first among the Jews to deny the Prophet) and
have taqwa (God-consciousness) of Me alone! (al-Baqara/41)
2. By evvel, what is meant is the first among the people of Mecca who had iman (faith) in Allah; as in the following verses:
Say: "If the Most Merciful had a son, I would be the first of the worshippers" (that is, I would be the first of the muwahhid (those who affirm tawhid—the oneness of God) among the people of Mecca). (az-Zukhruf/81)
Say: "Indeed, I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit" (that is, the first among the people of Mecca to submit). (al-Anʿām/14)
3. By evvel, what is meant is the first among those who have iman (faith) that Allah cannot be seen in this world; as in the following verse:
He said: "My Lord, show Yourself to me so that I may look at You." He said: "You will never see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place, then you will see Me." When his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble to dust, and Moses fell down unconscious. When he recovered, he said: "Glory be to You! I turn to You in repentance, and I am the first of the believers (that is, the first among those who affirm that You can never be seen in this world)." (al-Aʿrāf/143)
4. By the word evvel, what is meant is the first among the Children of Israel who had iman (faith) in Moses and Aaron; as in the following verse:
{When they were threatened with being killed by Pharaoh for believing in Moses, the magicians said:} "Indeed, we hope that our Lord will forgive us because we are the first of the believers (that is, the first among the Children of Israel to affirm what Moses brought)." (ash-Shuʿarāʾ/51)