Quran Crew: Tafsir Surah As-Saf: Ayah 6-10

by Ibn Kathir

As-Saf - 61:6

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم

مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاة

وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ

And when `Isa, son of Maryam, said:"O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you, confirming the Tawrah before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad."

`Isa said,

"The Tawrah conveyed the glad tidings of my coming, and my coming confirms the truth of the Tawrah. I convey the glad tidings of the Prophet who will come after me. He is the unlettered, Makkan, Arab Prophet and Messenger, Ahmad."

`Isa, peace be upon him, is the last and final Messenger from among the Children of Israel. He remained among the Children of Israel for a while, conveying the good news of the coming of Muhammad, whose name is also Ahmad, the Last and Final Prophet and Messenger. After Muhammad, there will be no Prophethood or Messengers.

How admirable the Hadith is that Al-Bukhari collected in his Sahih from Jubayr bin Mut`im, who said,

"I heard the Messenger of Allah say,

إِنَّ لِي أَسْمَاءً أَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ وَأَنَا أَحْمَدُ وَأَنَا الْمَاحِي الَّذِي يَمْحُو اللهُ بِهِ الْكُفْرَ وَأَنَا الْحَاشِرُ الَّذِي يُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ عَلَى قَدَمَيَّ وَأَنَا الْعَاقِب

I have names.

- I am Muhammad and Ahmad.

- I am Al-Mahi through whom Allah will eliminate disbelief.

- I am Al-Hashir who will be the first to be resurrected, with the people being resurrected Hereafter.

- I am also Al-`Aqib (i.e., there will be no Prophet after me)."

Also Muslim collected this Hadith from Az-Zuhri from Jubayr. Muhammad bin Ishaq recorded that Khalid bin Ma`dan said that some Companions of Allah's Messenger said,

"O Allah's Messenger! Tell us about yourself."

He said,

دَعْوَةُ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبُشْرَى عِيسَى وَرَأَتْ أُمِّي حِينَ حَمَلَتْ بِي كَأَنَّهُ خَرَجَ مِنْها نُورٌ أَضَاءَتْ لَهُ قُصُورُ بُصْرَى مِنْ أَرْضِ الشَّام

I am the (result of the) invocation made to Allah from my father Ibrahim and the good news `Isa delivered. When my mother was pregnant with me, she had a dream in which she saw a light emanating from her that radiated the palaces of Basra in Ash-Sham."

This Hadith has a good chain of narration that is supported by other similar narrations.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-`Irbad bin Sariyah said, "The Messenger of Allah said,

إِنِّي عِنْدَ اللهِ لَخَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَإِنَّ ادَمَ لَمُنْجَدِلٌ فِي طِينَتِهِ وَسَأُنَبِّيُكُمْ بِأَوَّلِ ذَلِكَ دَعْوَةُ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبِشَارَةُ عِيسَى بِي وَرُوْيَا أُمِّي الَّتِي رَأَتْ وَكَذَلِكَ أُمَّهَاتُ النَّبِيِّينَ يَرَيْن

I was written with Allah as the Last and Final of the Prophet, even when Adam was still clay. I will tell of the first good news announcing my advent, the (result of the) invocation to Allah made from my father Ibrahim, the good news `Isa conveyed, and the dream that my mother saw. The mothers of all Prophets see similar dreams."

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said,

"I said, `O Allah's Messenger! What was the first good news of your coming?'

He said,

دَعْوَةُ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبُشْرَى عِيسَى وَرَأَتْ أُمِّي أَنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا نُورٌ أَضَاءَتْ لَهُ قُصُورُ الشَّام

The (result of the) invocation to Allah made from my father Ibrahim and the good news `Isa conveyed. My mother saw a light emanating from her that filled the palaces of Ash-Sham in a dream."

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that:

the Messenger of Allah sent eighty men, including Abdullah bin Masud, Jafar bin Abi Talib, Abdullah bin Urfutah, Uthman bin Mazun, Abu Musa, and others, to An-Najashi.

The Quraysh sent Amr bin Al-`As and Umarah bin Al-Walid with a gift for An-Najashi. When they, Amr and `Umarah, came to An-Najashi, they prostrated before him and stood to his right and left. Amr and Umarah said,

"Some of our cousins migrated to your land; they have abandoned us and our religion."

An-Najashi said, "Where are they"

They said, "They are in your land, so send for them," so An-Najashi summoned the Muslims.

Jafar said to the Muslims, "I will be your speaker today." So, the Muslims followed Jafar and when he entered on the king he did not prostrate after greeting him.

They said to Jafar, "Why do you not prostrate before the king'?'

Jafar said, "We only prostrate for Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored."

They said, "Why?"

He said,

"Allah has sent a Messenger to us from Him, who ordered us not to prostrate to anyone except Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. He also ordered to perform prayer and give charity."

Amr bin Al-`As said, "They contradict your creed about `Isa, son of Maryam."

The king asked, "What do you say about `Isa and his mother Maryam?"

Ja`far said,

"We only say what Allah said about him, that he is Allah's Word, a soul created by Allah and sent down to the honorable virgin who was not touched by a man nor bearing children before."

An-Najashi lifted a straw of wood and said,

"O Ethiopians, monks and priests! By Allah, what they say about `Isa is no more than what we say about him, not even a difference that equals this straw. You are welcomed among us, and greetings to him who sent you. I bear witness that he is Allah's Messenger whom we read about in the Injil. He is the Prophet who `Isa, son of Maryam, foretold the good news about his advent. Live wherever you wish. By Allah, had I not been entrusted with the responsibilities of kingship, I would have gone to him, so that I could be honored by carrying his slippers and his water for ablution."

The king ordered that the gifts of the idolators be returned to them.

Abdullah bin Mas`ud soon returned and later on participated in the battle of Badr. He said that when the Prophet received the news that An-Najashi died, he invoked Allah to forgive him.

Allah said,

فَلَمَّا جَاءهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ - But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said:"This is plain magic." This refers to Ahmad, who was anticipated, in accordance with the early Scriptures and early generations, according to Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Jarir.

When the Prophet appeared bringing clear signs, the disbelievers and rejecters said,

هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ - (This is plain magic).

As-Saf - 61:7

The Most Unjust among all People

Allah said,

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَى إِلَى الاِْسْلَمِ

And who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah, while he is being invited to Islam?

Meaning, none is more unjust than he who lies about Allah and calls upon rivals and associates partners with Him, even while he is being invited to Tawhid and sincerely worshipping Him.

This is why Allah said,

وَاللَّهُ لَاا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ - And Allah guides not the people who are wrongdoers.

Allah said

As-Saf - 61:8

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِوُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ

They intend to put out the Light of Allah with their mouths.

Indicating that the disbelievers will try to contradict the truth with falsehood. Their attempts are similar to one's attempt to extinguish the sun with his mouth, which is impossible. Likewise is the case of their attempt to extinguish truth.

So Allah said,

وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ

لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

As-Saf - 61:9

But Allah will bring His Light to perfection even though the disbelievers hate (it).

He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it victorious over all (other) religions even though the idolators hate (it).

We explained the meanings of similar Ayat before, in the Tafsir of Surah Bara'ah. All praise and thanks are due to Allah

As-Saf - 61:10

The Trade that saves One from the Painful Torment

We mentioned a Hadith from Abdullah bin Salam in that the Companions wanted to ask the Prophet of Allah about the best actions with Allah the Exalted and Most Honored, so they could practice them. Allah the Exalted sent down this Surah, including this Ayah,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ اَمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

O you who believe!

Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful torment?

Allah then explained this great trade that will never fail, the trade that will earn one what he wishes and saves him from what he dislikes.

Allah the Exalted said,

تُوْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ

ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ