61:6 As-Saff (The Ranks)

يقول تعالى مخبرا عن عناد بني إسرائيل المتقدمين، الذين دعاهم عيسى ابن مريم، وقال لهم: { يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ } أي: أرسلني الله لأدعوكم إلى الخير وأنهاكم عن الشر، [وأيدني بالبراهين الظاهرة]، ومما يدل على صدقي، كوني، { مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ } أي: جئت بما جاء به موسى من التوراة والشرائع السماوية، ولو كنت مدعيا للنبوة، لجئت بغير ما جاءت به المرسلون، ومصدقا لما بين يدي من التوارة أيضا، أنها أخبرت بي وبشرت، فجئت وبعثت مصداقا لها { ومبشرا برسول يأتي من بعدي اسمه أحمد } وهو: محمد بن عبد الله بن عبد المطلب النبي الهاشمي.فعيسى عليه الصلاة والسلام، كالأنبياء يصدق بالنبي السابق، ويبشر بالنبي اللاحق، بخلاف الكذابين، فإنهم يناقضون الأنبياء أشد مناقضة، ويخالفونهم في الأوصاف والأخلاق، والأمر والنهي { فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ } محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم الذي بشر به عيسى { بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ } أي: الأدلة الواضحة، الدالة على أنه هو، وأنه رسول الله [حقا].{ قَالُوا } معاندين للحق مكذبين له { هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ } وهذا من أعجب العجائب، الرسول الذي [قد] وضحت رسالته، وصارت أبين من شمس النهار، يجعل ساحرا بينا سحره، فهل في الخذلان أعظم من هذا؟ وهل في الافتراء أعظم من هذا الافتراء، الذي نفى عنه ما كان معلوما من رسالته، وأثبت له ما كان أبعد الناس منه؟

وقوله تعالى وإذ قال عيسى ابن مريم يا بني إسرائيل إنى رسول الله إليكم مصدقا لما بين يدي من التوراة ومبشرا برسول يأتي من بعدي اسمه أحمد يعني التوراة قد بشرت بي وأنا مصداق ما أخبرت عنه وأنا مبشر بمن بعدي وهو الرسول النبي الأمي العربي المكي أحمد فعيسى عليه السلام وهو خاتم أنبياء بني إسرائيل وقد قام في ملإ بني إسرائيل مبشرا بمحمد وهو أحمد خاتم الأنبياء والمرسلين الذي لا رسالة بعده ولا نبوة وما أحسن ما أورد البخاري الذي قال فيه حدثنا أبو اليمان حدثنا شعيب عن الزهري قال أخبرني محمد بن جبير بن مطعم عن أبيه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول " إن لي أسماء أنا محمد وأنا أحمد وأنا الماحي الذي يمحو الله به الكفر وأنا الحاشر الذي يحشر الناس على قدمي وأنا العاقب" ورواه مسلم من حديث الزهري به نحوه. وقال أبو داود الطيالسى حدثنا المسعودي عن عمرو بن مرة عن أبي عبيدة عن أبي موسى قال سمى لنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نفسه أسماء منها ما حفظنا فقال " أنا محمد وأنا أحمد والحاشر والمقفي ونبي الرحمة والتوبة والملحمة " ورواه مسلم من حديث الأعمش عن عمرو بن مرة به وقد قال الله تعالى الذين يتبعون الرسول النبي الأمي الذي يجدونه مكتربا عندهم في التوراة والإنجيل الآية وقال تعالى " وإذا أخذ الله ميثاق النبيين لما آتيتكم من كتاب وحكمة ثم جاءكم رسول مصدق لما معكم لتؤمنن به ولتصرنه قال أأقررتم وأخذتم على ذلكم إصري قالوا أقررنا قال فاشهدوا وأنا معكم من الشاهدين " قال ابن عباس: ما بعث الله نبيا إلا أخذ عليه العهد لئن بعث محمد وهو حي ليتبعنه وأخذ عليه أن يأخذ على أمته لئن بعث محمد وهم أحياء ليتبعنه وينصرنه وقال محمد بن إسحاق حدثني ثور بن يزيد عن خالد بن معدان عن أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنهم قالوا يا رسول الله أخبرنا عن نفسك قال " دعوة أبي إبراهيم وبشرى عيسى ورأت أمي حين حملت بي كأنه خرج منها نور أضاءت له قصور بصرى من أرض الشام " وهذا إسناد جيد وروي له شواهد من وجوه أخر فقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عبدالرحمن بن مهدي حدثنا معاوية بن صالح عن سعيد بن سويد الكلبي عن عبد الأعلى بن هلال السلمي عن العرباض بن سارية قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إنى عند الله لخاتم النبيين وإن آدم لمنجدل في طينته وسأنبئكم بأول ذلك دعوة أبي إبراهيم وبشارة عيسى بي ورؤيا أمي التي رأت وكذلك أمهات النبيين يرين " وقال أحمد أيضا حدثنا أبو النضر حدثنا الفرج بن فضالة حدثنا لقمان بن عامر قال سمعت أبا أمامة قال: قلت يا رسول الله ما كان بدء أمرك؟ قال " دعوة أبي إبراهيم وبشرى عيسى ورأت أمي أنه يخرج منها نور أضاءت له قصور الشام ". وقال أحمد أيضا حدثنا حسن بن موسى سمعت خديجا أخا زهير بن معاوية عن أبي إسحاق عن عبدالله بن عتبة عن عبدالله بن مسعود قال بعثنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى النجاشي ونحن نحو من ثمانين رجلا منهم عبدالله بن مسعود وجعفر وعبدالله بن رواحة وعثمان بن مظعون وأبو موسى فأتوا النجاشي وبعثت قريش عمرو بن العاص وعمارة بن الوليد بهدية فلما دخلا على النجاشي سجدا له ثم ابتدراه عن يمينه وعن شماله ثم قالا له إن نفرا من بني عمنا نزلوا أرضك ورغبوا عنا وعن ملتنا قال فأين هم؟ قالا هم في أرضك فابعث إليهم فقال إليهم فقال جعفر أنا خطيبكم اليوم فاتبعوه فسلم ولم يسجد فقالوا له مالك لا تسجد للملك؟ قال إنا لا نسجد إلا لله عز وجل قال وما ذاك؟ قال إن الله بعث إلينا رسوله فأمرنا أن لا نسجد لأحد إلا لله عز وجل وأمرنا بالصلاة والزكاة قال عمرو بن العاص: فإنهم يخالفونك في عيسى ابن مريم قال ما تقولون في عيسى ابن مريم وأمه؟ قال: نقول كما قال الله عز وجل هو كلمة الله وروحه ألقاها إلى العذراء البتول التي لم يمسها بشر ولم يعترضها ولد قال فرفع عودا من الأرض ثم قال يا معشر الحبشة والقسيسين والرهبان والله ما يزيدون على الذي نقول فيه ما يساوي هذا مرحبا بكم وبمن جئتم من عنده أشهد أنه رسول الله وأنه الذي نجد في الإنجيل وأنه الذي بشر به عيسى ابن مريم انزلوا حيث شئتم والله لولا ما أنا فيه من الملك لأتيته حتى أكون أنا أحمل نعليه وأوضئه وأمر بهدية الآخرين فردت إليهما ثم تعجل عبدالله بن مسعود حتى أدرك بدرا وزعم أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم استغفر له حين بلغه موته وقد رويت هذه القصة عن جعفر وأم سلمة رضي الله عنهما وموضع ذلك كتاب السيرة والمقصد أن الأنبياء عليهم السلام لم تزل تنعته وتحكيه في كتبها على أممها وتأمرهم باتباعه ونصره وموازرته إذا بعث وكان ما اشتهر الأمر في أهل الأرض على لسان إبراهيم الخليل والد الأنبياء بعده حين دعا لأهل مكة أن يبعث الله فيهم رسولا منهم وكذا على لسان عيسى ابن مريم ولهذا قالوا أخبرنا عن بدء أمرك يعني في الأرض قال " دعوة أبى إبراهيم وبشارة عيسى ابن مريم ورؤيا أمي التي رأت " أي ظهر في أهل مكة أثر ذلك والإرهاص فذكره صلوات الله وسلامه عليه. وقوله تعالى فلما جاءهم بالبينات قالوا هذا سحر مبين قال ابن جريج وابن جرير فلما جاءهم أحمد أي المبشر به في الأعصار المتقادمة المنوه بذكره في القرون السالفة لما ظهر أمره وجاء بالبينات قال الكفرة والمخالفون هذا سحر مبين.

Musa admonishes His People for annoying Him

Allah states that His servant and Messenger Musa, son of `Imran, to whom Allah spoke directly, said to his people,

لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِى وَقَد تَّعْلَمُونَ أَنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ

(Why do you annoy me while you know certainly that I am the Messenger of Allah to you) meaning, `why do you annoy me even though you know my truth regarding the Message that I brought you' This brings consolation for Allah's Messenger for what the disbelievers among his people and others did to him. And it orders him to be patient. This is why he once said,

«رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَى مُوسَى لَقَدْ أُوذِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ هَذَا فَصَبَر»

(May Allah have mercy with Musa: he was annoyed more than this, yet he was patient.) By it believers are prohibited from harming or bothering the Prophet in any way or form. As Allah the Exalted said,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَكُونُواْ كَالَّذِينَ ءَاذَوْاْ مُوسَى فَبرَّأَهُ اللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُواْ وَكَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَجِيهاً

(O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable before Allah.) (33:69) And His saying:

فَلَمَّا زَاغُواْ أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ

(So, when they turned away, Allah turned their hearts away.), means, when the Jews turned away from following the guidance, even though they knew it, Allah turned their hearts away from the guidance. Instead, Allah placed doubts, suspicion and failure in their hearts, just as He said,

وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْئِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

(And We shall turn their hearts and vision away, as they refused to believe therin for the first time, and we shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly.) And His saying;

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيراً

(And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and enter him in Hell, what an evil destination it is!) (4:115), and, Similarly Allah said;

وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفَـسِقِينَ

(And Allah guides not the people who are rebellious.) (9:24)

The Good News of `Isa about Our Prophet and that His Name is Ahmad

Allah said;

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّراً بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِى مِن بَعْدِى اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ

(And when `Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 ﷺ, whose name is also Ahmad, the Last and Final Prophet and Messenger. After Muhammad ﷺ, 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 ﷺ 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 Busra 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 ﷺ said,

«إِنِّي عِنْدَ اللهِ لَخَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَإِنَّ آدَمَ لَمُنْجَدِلٌ فِي طِينَتِهِ، وَسَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِأَوَّلِ ذَلِكَ: دَعْوَةُ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبِشَارَةُ عِيسَى بِي، وَرُؤْيَا 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 ﷺ sent eighty men, including `Abdullah bin Mas`ud, Ja`far bin Abi Talib, `Abdullah bin `Urfutah, `Uthman bin Maz`un, 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. Ja`far said to the Muslims, "I will be your speaker today." So, the Muslims followed Ja`far and when he entered on the king he did not prostrate after greeting him. They said to Ja`far, "Why do you not prostrate before the king" Ja`far 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 ﷺ 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 جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ قَالُواْ هَـذَا 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,

هَـذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

(This is plain magic)

And mention when Jesus son of Mary said ‘O Children of Israel — he did not say ‘O my people’ as did Moses because he was not related to them in any way — I am indeed God’s messenger to you confirming what is before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger who will come after me whose name is Ahmad.’ God exalted be He says Yet when he brought them when Ahmad brought the disbelievers the clear signs the revelations and the indications they said ‘This namely what has been brought is manifest sorcery!’ sihrun a variant reading has sāhirun ‘a sorcerer’ meaning the one who has brought them is a manifest sorcerer.

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْ‌صُوصٌ (Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in firm rows, as if they were a solid edifice...61:4) The main subject of this Surah for which it was revealed is to mention the dearest action in the sight of Allah. This verse states that it is jihad in Allah's way, and that the best row of battle in the sight of Allah is the one firmly established against Allah's enemies to make Allah's word prevail, and which, on account of the valor and unshaken determination of Mujahidin, looks like a strong structure cemented with molten lead.

This is followed by a description of the Jihads which Prophets Musa and ` Isa (علیہما السلام) fought in Allah's Cause, and how they suffered at the hands of the enemies. After this description, the Muslims are directed to undertake jihad. The stories of Prophets Musa and ` Isa (علیہما السلام) have many academic and practical lessons and guidance to offer. For instance, it is described in the story of ` Isa (علیہ السلام) that when he invited the Children of Israel to accept his prophethood and obey him, he mentioned two things in particular. First, he said that he was not a unique Prophet who came with unique teachings. In fact, his teachings were the same as those of the previous prophets. They are mentioned in the earlier celestial scriptures, and the same teachings will be imparted later by the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ . From among the earlier Scriptures, Torah is specially mentioned in this context, probably because that was the latest Scripture that was revealed to the Children of Israel. Otherwise belief in the Prophets embraces all the previous Scriptures of Allah. This also points out that the Shari’ ah of ` Isa (علیہ السلام) was, though an independent Shari’ ah, its most rules conformed to the sacred laws of Musa (علیہ السلام) and the Torah. Only a few laws had been changed. This theme covered the subject of belief in the previous Prophets and their Books.

The second thing ` Isa (علیہ السلام) mentioned in particular was the good news of the advent of the Final Messenger ﷺ . This too points out that his teachings will also be the same as those of the previous Prophets (علیہم السلام) ، and therefore it is the demand of reason and honesty to believe in him.

Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) foretold the Children of Israel that a Final Messenger ﷺ will come after him by the name of Ahmad. When he appears, it would be obligatory for them to embrace faith in him and obey him مُبَشِّرً‌ا بِرَ‌سُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ (…and giving you the good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad."...6) The name of the Final Messenger ﷺ is given here as Ahmad. The name of the Final Messenger ﷺ was Muhammad and Ahmad. He had some other names as well. However, the name given in Injil is Ahmad rather than Muhammad, perhaps because Muhammad was a common name in Arabia since time immemorial. There was a possibility that the people might take the reference to some other person, rather than the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ . The name Ahmad, on the other hand, was an uncommon name in Arabia, and was exclusive to the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ .

Prophecy of The Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Injil

It is a known fact that the previously revealed Divine scriptures have been changed and distorted. The Jews and the Christians themselves had to admit that Torah and Injil have been subjected to changes and distortion. As a matter of fact, the distortions made in these scriptures are so drastic that it is hardly possible to make out the original texts of the scriptures. Based on the distorted version of Injil, the Christians today challenge the correctness of the Qur'anic version of the prophecy, asserting that no prophecy in the name of Ahmad is found in the Injil. An elaborate response to Christian challenge has been prepared by Maulana Rahmatullah Kairanwi (رح) . The name of his book is Izhar-ul -Haqq. He has thoroughly analyzed Christianity and changes made in the Bible. He concludes that despite drastic changes in the present Biblical version the prophecy about the Prophet Ahmad ﷺ is still available.

This book was originally written in Arabic, later its translations appeared in Turkish and English. Christian missionaries attempted their utmost to destroy it. Its Urdu translation was not available until recently. A little while back, Maulana Akbar ` Ali, a lecturer at Darul Uloom Karachi, translated it into Urdu, with in-depth research into current versions of the Bible by Maulana Muhammad Taqi, lecturer at Darul Uloom, and published in three volumes. Volume [ 3] from pages 182 to 362 elaborates on the prophecies pertaining to the Holy Prophet ﷺ with reference to the currently published Bibles, and rebuts their doubts and allays their suspicions.