Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings
Ayah: (81) Surah: Āl-‘Imrān
وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكُم مِّن كِتَٰبٖ وَحِكۡمَةٖ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولٞ مُّصَدِّقٞ لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ لَتُؤۡمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥۚ قَالَ ءَأَقۡرَرۡتُمۡ وَأَخَذۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمۡ إِصۡرِيۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَقۡرَرۡنَاۚ قَالَ فَٱشۡهَدُواْ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ
(81) ˹Mention˺ When Allah took the oath of ˹all˺ the Prophets[631]: “For the Book and Wisdom I granted you, when a Messenger[632] comes to you confirming what you have, you should Believe in him and support him”. ˹Allah˺ Said: “Do you affirm and take My solemn pledge for it?” They ˹the Prophets˺ said: “We approve”. He ˹Allah˺ said: “Then bear witness[633] and I bear witness with you ˹to this˺”.
[631] Ibn ʿAṭiyyah (1: 463) says: “It is possible that this oath was taken at the time the offspring of Adam were taken out of his back as breaths ˹cf. 7: 172˺, or taken from each Prophet at the time of his mission”.
[632] al-Wāḥidī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr, Ibn Taymiyyah (al-Zuhd wa al-Waraʿ wa al-ʿIbādah, p. 157) are of the opinion that this Messenger is Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Alternatively, but less plausibly, because unlike Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) most Prophets were sent for a specific nation and only for a specified period of time, it could mean that each and every Prophet was made to take a solemn oath, and in turn bid his followers to Believe in and support any Prophet that comes with the like of what they have. The theme carries on from earlier ayas highlighting that although the People of the Book were fully aware of the Truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), because he was specifically mentioned in their books, they nonetheless hid the Truth for ulterior motives fearing to lose their privileged status. The Qur’an brings the scenario to a close as follows: “Those who follow the illiterate ˹gentile˺ Prophet whom they find written in the Torah and the Evangel; he calls them to what is virtuous and warns them against vile deeds, makes lawful to them good things and forbids for them what is impure, and relieves them from their burdens and shackles. Those who Believe in him, bolster and support him and follow the Light that came with him, these are the Successful” (7: 157).
[633] This pledge is to be honoured not only by the Prophets but, by extension, their followers too. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Saʿdī)
[632] al-Wāḥidī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr, Ibn Taymiyyah (al-Zuhd wa al-Waraʿ wa al-ʿIbādah, p. 157) are of the opinion that this Messenger is Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Alternatively, but less plausibly, because unlike Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) most Prophets were sent for a specific nation and only for a specified period of time, it could mean that each and every Prophet was made to take a solemn oath, and in turn bid his followers to Believe in and support any Prophet that comes with the like of what they have. The theme carries on from earlier ayas highlighting that although the People of the Book were fully aware of the Truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), because he was specifically mentioned in their books, they nonetheless hid the Truth for ulterior motives fearing to lose their privileged status. The Qur’an brings the scenario to a close as follows: “Those who follow the illiterate ˹gentile˺ Prophet whom they find written in the Torah and the Evangel; he calls them to what is virtuous and warns them against vile deeds, makes lawful to them good things and forbids for them what is impure, and relieves them from their burdens and shackles. Those who Believe in him, bolster and support him and follow the Light that came with him, these are the Successful” (7: 157).
[633] This pledge is to be honoured not only by the Prophets but, by extension, their followers too. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, al-Saʿdī)
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings
Ayah: (81) Surah: Āl-‘Imrān
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.