33:45 Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

هذه الأشياء، التي وصف الله بها رسوله محمدًا صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، هي المقصود من رسالته، وزبدتها وأصولها، التي اختص بها، وهي خمسة أشياء: أحدها: كونه { شَاهِدًا } أي: شاهدًا على أمته بما عملوه، من خير وشر، كما قال تعالى: { لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا } { فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا } فهو صلى اللّه عليه وسلم شاهد عدل مقبول.الثاني، والثالث: كونه { مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا } وهذا يستلزم ذكر المبشر والمنذر، وما يبشر به وينذر، والأعمال الموجبة لذلك.فالمبشَّر هم: المؤمنون المتقون، الذين جمعوا بين الإيمان والعمل الصالح، وترك المعاصي، لهم البشرى في الحياة الدنيا، بكل ثواب دنيوي وديني، رتب على الإيمان والتقوى، وفي الأخرى بالنعيم المقيم.وذلك كله يستلزم، ذكر تفصيل المذكور، من تفاصيل الأعمال، وخصال التقوى، وأنواع الثواب.والْمنْذَر هم، هم: المجرمون الظالمون، أهل الظلم والجهل، لهم النذارة في الدنيا، من العقوبات الدنيوية والدينية، المترتبة على الجهل والظلم، وفي الأخرى، بالعقاب الوبيل، والعذاب الطويل.وهذه الجملة تفصيلها، ما جاء به صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، من الكتاب والسنة، المشتمل على ذلك.

قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا موسى بن داود حدثنا فليح بن سليمان حدثنا هلال بن علي عن عطاء بن يسار قال لقيت عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما فقلت أخبرني عن صفة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في التوراة قال أجل والله إنه لموصوف في التوراة ببعض صفته في القرآن "يا أيها النبي إنا أرسلناك شاهدا ومبشرا ونذيرا "وحرزا للأميين فأنت عبدي ورسولي سميتك المتوكل ليس بفظ ولا غليظ ولا سخاب في الأسواق ولا يدفع السيئة بالسيئة ولكن يعفو ويصفح ويغفر ولن يقبضه الله حتى يقيم به الملة العوجاء بأن يقولوا لا إله إلا الله فيفتح بها أعينا عميا وآذانا صما وقلوبا غلفا وقد رواه البخاري في البيوع عن محمد بن سنان عن فليح بن سليمان عن هلال بن علي به ورواه في التفسير عن عبد الله قيل ابن رجاء وقيل ابن صالح عن عبد العزيز بن أبي سلمة عن هلال عن عطاء بن يسار عن عبد الله بن عمرو به ورواه ابن أبي حاتم عن أبيه عن عبد الله بن رجاء عن عبد العزيز بن أبي سلمة الماجشون به وقال البخاري في البيوع وقال سعيد عن هلال عن عطاء عن عبد الله بن سلام رضي الله عنه وقال وهب بن منبه إن الله تعالى أوحى إلى نبي من أنبياء بني إسرائيل يقال له شعياء: أن قم في قومك بني إسرائيل فإني منطق لسانك بوحي وأبعث أميا من الأمين أبعثه ليس بفظ ولا غليظ ولا سخاب في الأسواق لو يمر إلى جنب سراج لم يطفئه من سكينته ولو يمشي على القصب لم يسمع من تحت قدميه أبعثه مبشرا ونذيرا لا يقول أفتح به أعينا كمها وآذانا صما وقلوبا غلفا أسدده لكل أمر جميل وأهب له كل خلق كريم وأجعل السكينة لباسه والبر شعاره والتقوى ضميره والحكمة منطقة والصدق والوفاء طبيعته والعفو والمعروف خلقه والحق شريعته والعدل سيرته والهدى إمامه والإسلام ملته وأحمد اسمه أهدي به بعد الضلال وأعلم به بعد الجهالة وأرفع به بعد الخمالة وأعرف به بعد النكرة وأكثر به بعد القلة وأغني به بعد العيلة وأجمع به بعد الفرقة وأؤلف به بين أمم متفرقة وقلوب مختلفة وأهواء متشتتة وأستنقذ به فئاما من الناس عظيمة من الهلكة وأجعل أمته خير أمة أخرجت للناس يأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكر موحدين مؤمنين مخلصين مصدقين لما جاءت به رسلي ألهمهم التسبيح والتحميد والثناء والتكبير والتوحيد في مساجدهم ومجالسهم ومضاجعهم ومنقلبهم ومثواهم يصلون لي قياما وقعودا ويقاتلون في سبيل الله صفوفا وزحوفا ويخرجون من ديارهم ابتغاء مرضاتي ألوفا يظهرون الوجوه والأطراف ويشدون الثياب في الأنصاف قربانهم دماؤهم وأنا جيلهم في صدورهم رهبان بالليل ليوث بالنهار وأجعل في أهل بيته وذريته السابقين والصديقين والشهداء والصالحين أمته من بعده يهدون بالحق وبه يعدلون وأعز من نصرهم وأيد من دعا لهم وأجعل دائرة السوء على من خالفهم أو بغى عليهم أو أراد أن ينتزع شيئا مما في أيديهم أجعلهم ورثة لنبيهم والداعية إلى ربهم يأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكر ويقيمون الصلاة ويؤتون الزكاة ويوفون بعهدهم أختم بهم الخير الذي بدأته بأولهم ذلك فضلي أؤتيه من أشاء وأنا ذو الفضل العظيم هكذا رواه ابن أبي حاتم عن وهب بن منبه اليماني رحمه الله ثم قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن صالح حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن عبيد الله القرشي عن شيبان النحوي أخبرني قتادة عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: لما نزلت "يا أيها النبي إنا أرسلناك شاهدا ومبشرا ونذيرا "وقد كان أمر عليا ومعاذا رضي الله عنهما أن يسيرا إلى اليمن فقال انطلقا فبشرا ولا تنفرا ويسرا ولا تعسرا إنه قد أنزل علي "يا أيها النبي إنا أرسلناك شاهدا ومبشرا ونذيرا "ورواه الطبراني عن محمد بن نصر بن حميد البزار البغدادي عن عبد الرحمن بن صالح الأزدي عن عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن عبيد الله العرزمي بإسناده مثله وقال في آخره فإنه قد أنزل علي يا أيها النبي إنا أرسلناك شاهدا على أمتك ومبشرا بالجنة ونذيرا من النار وداعيا إلى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله بإذنه وسراجا منيرا بالقرآن فقوله تعالى: "شاهدا "أي لله بالوحدانية وأنه لا إله غيره وعلى الناس بأعمالهم يوم القيامة وجئنا بك على هؤلاء شهيدا كقوله: "لتكونوا شهداء على الناس ويكون الرسول عليكم شهيدا "وقوله عز وجل "ومبشرا ونذيرا "أي بشيرا للمؤمنين بجزيل الثواب ونذيرا للكافرين من وبيل العقاب.

The Attributes of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ata' bin Yasar said that he met `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As, may Allah be pleased with him, and said to him:

"Tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah in the Tawrah." He said, "Yes, by Allah, he was described in the Tawrah with some of the qualities with which he was described in the Qur'an: `O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, a saviour to the illiterate. You are My servant and My Messenger and I have called you Al-Mutawakkil (reliant). You are not harsh or severe, or noisy in the marketplaces. You do not repay evil with evil, but you overlook and forgive. Allah will not take your soul until you make straight those who have deviated and they say La ilaha illallah, words with which blind eyes, deaf ears and sealed hearts will be opened'." It was also recorded by Al-Bukhari in the Books of Business and At-Tafsir. Wahb bin Munabbih said: "Allah revealed to one of the Prophets of the Children of Israel whose name was Sha`ya' (Isaiah); `Stand up among your people the Children of Israel and I shall cause your tongue to utter (words of) revelation. I shall send an unlettered (Prophet) from among the illiterate (people). He will not be harsh or severe, or noisy in the marketplaces. If he were to pass by a lamp, it would not be extinguished, because of his tranquillity. If he were to walk on reeds no sound would be heard from under his feet. I will send him as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner, who will never utter immoral speech. Through him I will open blind eyes, deaf ears and sealed hearts. I will guide him to do every good deed and I will bestow upon him every noble characteristic. I will make tranquillity his garment, righteousness his banner, piety his conscience, wisdom his speech, truthfulness and loyalty his nature, tolerance and goodness his character, truth his way, justice his conduct, guidance his leader, Islam his nation. Ahmad is his name and through him I will guide people after they have gone astray, teach them after they have been ignorant, raise their status after they were nothing, make them known after they were unknown, increase the number (of followers of the truth) after they have been few, make them rich after they have been poor, and bring them togther after they have been divided. Through him I will bring together different nations and hearts, and reconcile opposing desires. Through him I will save great numbers of people from their doom. I will make his Ummah the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; they will enjoin good and forbid evil, sincerely believing in Me Alone and accepting as truth all that My Messengers have brought. I shall inspire them to glorify, praise and magnify Me Alone in their places of worship and in their gatherings, when they lie down and when they return home. They will pray to Me standing and sitting. They will fight for the sake of Allah in ranks and armies. They will go forth from their homes by the thousand, seeking My pleasure, washing their faces and limbs, girding their loins. Their sacrifice will be their blood and their holy Book will be in their hearts. They will be like monks by night and like lions by day. Among the members of his family and his offspring I will make those who are foremost (in faith) and believers in the truth and martyrs and righteous people. His Ummah after him will lead people with truth and establish justice therewith. I will give strength to those who support them and help those who pray for them, and I will inflict defeat upon those who oppose them or transgress against them or seek to take something from their hands. I will make them the heirs of their Prophet, calling people to their Lord, enjoining what is good, forbidding what is evil, establishing regular prayer, paying the Zakah and fulfilling their promises. Through them I will complete the goodness which I started with the first of them. This is My bounty which I bestow upon whomsoever I will, and I am the Possessor of great bounty."'

شَاهِداً

(as witness) means, a witness to Allah's Oneness, for there is no God except He, and a witness against mankind for their deeds on the Day of Resurrection.

وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَـؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً

(and We bring you as a witness against these people) (4:41). This is like the Ayah:

لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا

(that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger be a witness over you) (2:143).

وَمُبَشِّراً وَنَذِيراً

(and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner.) means, a bearer of glad tidings to the believers of a great reward, and a warner to the disbelievers of a great punishment.

وَدَاعِياً إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ

(And as one who invites to Allah by His leave,) means, `you call mankind to worship their Lord because He has commanded you to do so. '

وَسِرَاجاً مُّنِيراً

(and as a lamp spreading light.) means, `the Message that you bring is as clear as the sun shining brightly, and no one can deny it except those who are stubborn.'

وَلاَ تُطِعِ الْكَـفِرِينَ وَالْمُنَـفِقِينَ وَدَعْ أَذَاهُمْ

(And obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and harm them not.) means, `do not obey them and do not pay attention to what they say.'

وَدَعْ أَذَاهُمْ

(and harm them not.) means, `overlook and ignore them, for their matter rests entirely with Allah and He is sufficient for them (to deal with them).' Allah says:

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلاً

(And put your trust in Allah, and sufficient is Allah as a Trustee.)

O Prophet! Indeed We have sent you as a witness against those to whom you have were sent and as a bearer of good tidings for those who affirm your sincerity of Paradise and as a warner for those who deny you of the punishment of the Fire

Special Attributes of the Holy Prophet ﷺ

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْ‌سَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرً‌ا وَنَذِيرً‌ا ﴿45﴾ وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّـهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَ‌اجًا مُّنِيرً‌ا ﴿46﴾

O prophet, We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of good news and a warner and as one who calls (people) towards Allah with His permission, and as a luminous lamp. (33:45-46)

The text here reverts to the special perfect attributes of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Five attributes have been mentioned here - 'Shahid', 'mubashshir', "nadhir', da` i ila Allah'. 'siraj munir'. 'Shahid' (a witness) means that the Holy Prophet ﷺ will be a witness of the ummah on the Day of Judgment according to a hadith narrated by Sayyidna Abu Said al-Khudri ؓ and reported by Bukhari, Nasa` i and Tirmidhi. It is mentioned in some parts of that Hadith that on the Day of Judgment when Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) will be presented before Allah, he will be asked whether he had conveyed Allah's Message to his Ummah. He will reply that he did. Then his Ummah will be presented and they will deny having received any message of Allah. Then Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) will be asked whether he has any witness to his claim of having conveyed the message of truth, and he will reply that Muhammad and his Ummah are witnesses. Some narrations have it that he will present the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ as witness and this Ummah will give evidence in his favour. At this, the Ummah of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) will argue 'How can they, who were not even born at that time, give evidence in our case?'

Now the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ will be asked to substantiate their evidence and they will answer that no doubt they were not born at that time but they were told about it by their Holy Prophet ﷺ in whom they believe and trust. At this time the Holy Prophet ﷺ will be asked to give testimony regarding the veracity of his Ummah's statement.

Briefly, the Holy Prophet ﷺ through his testimony, will confirm and verify the statement of his Ummah that, of course, he had given them that news.

Another general meaning of being a witness for the Ummah may be that the Holy Prophet ﷺ will give evidence about the good and bad deeds of all the individuals of his Ummah. And this evidence would be on the basis that the deeds of the Ummah are presented before the Holy Prophet ﷺ every morning and evening daily; some narrations state that the deeds are presented once a week. The Holy Prophet ﷺ thus recognizes each and every individual of his Ummah by their deeds and as such he will be made witness for the Ummah on the Doomsday. (Ibn al-Mubarak from Sa'id Ibn al- Musayyab, Mazhari)

'Mubashshshir' means bearer of good news, and as such the Holy Prophet ﷺ is the announcer of the good news of Paradise for the righteous people of his Ummah.

'Nadhir' means the one who warns; thus the Holy Prophet ﷺ also puts the fear of Allah's punishment in the hearts of his Ummah in case they violate or disobey the injunctions of Shari'ah.

O Prophet! Surely We sent thee as a witness, a good-news bringer, and a warner, inviting to God by His leave, and a light-giving lamp. “O paragon of the world! O master of the children of Adam! O pride of the Arabs and the Per-sians! O caressed by the gentleness of eternity! O foremost in earth and honored in heaven! You are a paragon whose explications are the arrangement of the necklace of salvation, whose proofs are the untying of the knots of difficulties, whose sayings are the edict of felicities, whose doings are the guidebook of generous acts, whose utterances are the capital of noble qualities, whose glances are the adornment of beautiful deeds”-upon him be the most excellent of prayers and the most ample of felicitations! Surely We sent thee with the truth [2:119]. “We, who are unique in divinity and peerless in unity, separate from creation in Essence and attributes, qualified by magnificence, creator of earth and heaven, shelter of every beggar and comfort of everyone familiar, knower of the secrets of cre- ation and witness of the deeds of all, We sent thee as a witness, a good-news bringer, and a warner. We sent you to the creatures to give news of Our gentleness to the familiar, for they are worthy of caresses, and to warn the strangers, for they are worthy of being melted. Give good news to the friends that the house of felicity has been decorated for them and warn the enemies that the prison of hell has been heated up for them.” And a light-giving lamp. “O paragon! The sun is the lamp of heaven, and you are the lamp of earth. The sun is the lamp of this world, and you are the lamp of the religion. The sun is the lamp of the spheres, and you are the lamp of the kingdom. The sun is the lamp of water and clay, and you are the lamp of spirit and heart. The sun is the lamp of this world, and you are the lamp of both this world and that world. “O Adam, though you are the chieftain in the register of the chosen and the title-page of the book of the prophets, how can you be on the same road with MuḤammad? For you were struck by the pain of the address of Fall down from it, all together [2:38], and he is celebrating the joy of who took His servant by night [17:1].