'It is Ahmed, stunning on 'one chord to two bows' (qasida 19:10)

This is the motto of this section, which is for talking about our beloved prophet Mohammad [PPBUH].

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Those who follow The Messenger [PPBUH]

[Those who follow the Messenger the Prophet the Ommey, Whom they found mentioned in in their own Torah and Bible, ordering them to do what is right, forbidding them to do the abomination, legalizing to them the good things, prohibiting them from the offensive, He releases them from their heavy burden and from the yokes that were upon them; For those who believed in him, revered Him, supported Him and followed in the Light that was sent down with Him, Those are the successful ones] al-A'raf 7:157. This verse is one of the praising verses for the Messenger of Allah [PPBUH] by stating His precedence. As the speech in this verse was about Bani Israel, the Jew, the people of  Torah, then it extended to include them after Bible was inspired then they became the Christians. Allah, Almighty, described the quality of the salvaged ones of them in the verse before this one saying [I befall My Torture to whom I will and My Mercy encompasses everything, however I will give it to who fears Me, gives alms and believe in our verses] al-A'raf 6:156, then The Almighty confirms to people that those salvaged ones who believe in Allah's verses are [Those who follow The Messenger], Muhammad [PPBUH] the holder of the Message that He [PPBUH] said about it (I was sent to all people) Sahih Al-Game', Al-Bazzar, at-Tabarany, Ibn Haban and Al-Haythami. A Messenger is to be sent necessarily to those who receive his message, however originaly He [PPBUH] was a "Prophet" since ancient times, they found Him [mentioned in in their own Torah and Bible], this is a confirmation of His [PPBUH] saying, when He was asked "when was the prophecy rightfully yours?" He [PPBUH] said (I was a prophet while Adam was between the clay and water). Narrated by Al-Hakem and Imam Ahmed. So His being [PPBUH] as a previous Prophet is a quality that was pertained to Him only [PPBUH]. This means that Allah, Almighty, praises (Al-Mustafa) The Chosen One [PPBUH] with The degree of "the Message", as He is the Last of Messengers and the degree of the Prophecy which is a stand alone degree and a previous one that does not need receivers to it, like the Message. At the same time Allah indicated the fact that they found Him [mentioned in in their own Torah and Bible].

As for [the Ommey]: Its direct meaning is: who cannot read nor write in reference to the miracle of His knowledge of the predecessors and the successors in spite of that. Same word in Arabic indicates His nationhood [superiority] for the Divine Lights and Knowledge, as the Almighty said about the father of the Prophets "Ibrahim" [PBUH] [Ibrahim was a nation, submissive for Allah and an orthodox] an-Nahl 16:120. This Verse means that Ibrahim [PBUH] is a whole nation in his self, it also indicates his nationhood and origin [as Imam] for the Divine Lights and Knowledge.

This is a confirmation of the Prophet's saying [PPBUH], when Gaber [AAH] asked him "O, Messenger of Allah, what is the first thing that Allah created? He [PPBUH] said (The Light of your Prophet, O, Gaber!" the classified of abdar-Razeq, Al-Bayhaqi and was said to be correct by Al-Qattan, Al-Quasstalani, az-Zaraqani, Ibn Hajar and Al-Haythami.

As long as the verse here was for glorifying the Messenger with the priority of his light and his mentioning in the earlier scriptures, so [the Ommey] here is from the word nation or origin, and also from the word Imam. Then the three words are like a praising for him [PPBUH] and definition of his rank [the Messenger the Prophet the Ommey] As for the remaining of the verse [ordering them to do what is right, forbidding them to do the abomination, legalizing to them the good things, prohibiting them from the offensive], it shows the fact that all Prophets' Sharia [religious law] is derived from the Sharia of the Prophet [PPBUH].

As the judge Imam Abo-Bakr Mohamed ibn at-Tayib said in his book "Al-Insaf" by al-Baaqlani "every prophet from Adam to the last prophet, none of them was given except from the lantern of the last of the Prophets [PPBUH], even though his worldly clay existence was late, as He existed with his reality, as was mentioned in His Hadith [PPBUH] (I was a Prophet while Adam was between the clay and water). Narrated by Imam Ahmad and al-Hakem. The other Prophets [PBUT] were not prophets except when they were sent at their times". the saying of the judge ended.

So that when the Almighty mentioned the Prophets' Convenant, we find Him making the Choosen One (Al-Mustafa) precede the rest of the prophets, so He says [We have taken from the prophets their convenant also from you, Noah, Ibrahim, Moses and from 'Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam] al-Ahzab 33:4. This is not but for His priority and his mentioning in all their books. This means that Allah, Almighty, took their convenant for believing each other and for declaring that Muhammad [PPBUH] is the Messenger of Allah. from the interpretation of al-Alosy, so Allah has confirmed and proved the Honor and Grace of the Messenger [PPBUH] above all.

This is supported by what Imam Tageddin as-Subki in his message which he named "the veneration and gratitude in [you would believe in him and support him]" Allah Almighty said [When Allah took the Prophets' Convenant, saying: I bestowed upon you the book and wisdom, then came to you a Messenger, confirming what is with you, you shall believe in Him and support Him] Aal-Imran 3:81. The interpreters said: the Messager here is our Prophet "Muhammad" [PPBUH] and there is no prophet unless Allah, Almighty, took his convenant (i.e. every prophet accepted and admitted) that if Muhammad [PPBUH] was sent at their time, they would believe in Him and support him. And every prophet would advise his people (nation) that they must believe in Muhammad [PPBUH] and support Him. This is a very clear praising for the Prophet [PPBUH] and indicating his grace, glory and high ranking. This also means, if we supposed that He [PPBUH] was sent in their time, that He was sent to them, so His Prophecy and Message would be general to all creation, from Adam's time until the Day of Resurrection. Thus His saying [PPBUH] (I was sent to all people). Sahih Al-Game', al-Bazzar, at-Tabarany, Ibn Habban and al-Haithami, does not pertain to the people from His [PPBUH] time to the Judgment Day only, but also it pertains to the people before them. And Thus the meaning of His [PPBUH] saying is shown (I was a Prophet while Adam was between the soul and body). Al-Bukhary, Al-Hakem and Al-Baihaqy. The saying of Imam as-Subky ended.

What confirms this too is the verse after that verse, where Allah, Almighty, says commanding His Prophet [PPBUH] [Say: O, people I'm the Messenger of Allah, sent unto you all; for Allah has the reign of the heavens and earth, no God but Him, who gives life back and puts to death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet, and the Ommey, who believe in Allah and His words, and follow Him so you may be guided] al-A'raf 7:158. Here the speech is for all people. And al-Mostafa (the Chosen One) [PPBUH] is a Messenger, a Prophet, and Ommey to all people and to the previous nations that He [PPBUH] and His people are witnesses on them [And in this; that the Messenger will be a witness for you and you will be witnesses for the people] Al-Hajj 22:87. Here [the people] means: the previous nations as we mentioned before.

All of what was mentioned is supporting the fact that He [PPBUH] is mentioned in their books [Torah and Bible] ordering and forbidding them. That is also supported by the interpretation of the knowledgeable Imam ar-Razy who said that Allah Almighty described Muhammad [PPBUH] in this verse with nine properties:

-The first property: Being a Messenger, this expression, by custom, pertains to whom Allah sent to His creation to inform them of His orders (His message).

-The second property: Being a Prophet, that indicates to His high rank with Allah, Almighty.

-The third property: being Ommey, az-Zaggag said: the meaning of "the Ommey" is that He has the quality of Arab nation, the Prophet [PPBUH] said (We are an illiterate nation as we do not write nor calculate). Most of the Arabs were not writing nor reading and the Prophet [PPBUH] was like them, so He was described as an illiterate . The people of invistigation said that His being as an illiterate was interpreted that it was one of His Miracles, and this is shown from the following three phases:

* Firstly: The Prophet [PPBUH] was reading for His people the Holy Qur'an with a systemic way, time after time, without any changing in its expressions nor its words, however it's known that the public speaker or preacher from the Arabs if he improvised a speech and tried to say it again, it was inevitable that he would decrease it or increase it somehow. However He [PPBUH] in spite of being not writing nor reading, He was reciting the Holy Qur'an without decreasing, increasing nor changing in It. That was one of the Miracles and here is the hint in the Almighty saying [We will make you read so that you never forget] al-A'la 87:6.

* Secondly: If He [PPBUH] was able to read and write He would be accused of reading the earliers books and obtaining this knowledge, but when he got the Holy Qur'an, that includes all great knowledge, without any learning nor reading, it was one of the miracles and this is the purpose of the Almighty saying [You never read a book before it and never write it with your right hand, that if you did, the wrongdoers would be suspicious] al-'Ankaboot 29:48.

* Thirdly: Learning how to write is an easy purpose that the least men in intelligence and acumen can learn writing with a fewest endeavour, so not learning indicates a great fewness in the understanding. However, Allah, Almighty, bestowed upon Him [PPBUH] the knowledge of the predecessors and the successors. Allah also gave Him from the facts and knowledge what no other one of the humans obtained. So with all that great power in Mind and understanding, Allah made Him in a way that he did not learn writing which is a lot easier purpose, even for the least creature in understanding and mind. So combining between these two opposites is like combining two contradictories. This is also one of the extraordinary things that goes to the class of miracles. We Also say that: why does He [PPBUH] need to learn reading and writing while He knows all the knowledge!

-The fourth property: The saying of the Almighty [Whom they found mentioned in their own Torah and Bible] this indicated that His description and His prophecy was written in Torah and Bible. For if this was not really mentioned, that would have been one of the strong repulsive saying to be accepted by the Jews and Christians, because insistence to lying and falsehood are some of the greatest repulsive things. A rational one would not seek what may lowers his credibility and alienate people from accepting his words. So when He [PPBUH] said that, it indicated that this description was mentioned in Torah and Bible and this is from the greatest signs of His prophecy.

-The fifth property: The Almighty's saying [ordering them to do what is right], az-Zaggag said "This saying might be a resuming of the speech. So the meaning would be: [Whom they found mentioned in their own Torah and Bible] [ordering them to do what is right]" . And I say that The summary of "ordering to do what is right" is limited in the saying of the Prophet [PPBUH] (glorifying Allah's commands, and the pitying Allah's creatures).

-The sixth property: The Almighty's saying [forbidding them to do the abomination], the purpose of this is the opposites of the mentioned things, like worshiping the idols, talking about Allah's Attributes without any knowledge, disbelief in what Allah inspired to the Prophets, cutting the relations with the relatives and the impiety of the parents.

-The seventh property: The Almighty's saying [legalizing to them the good things]. Some people said: The meaning of (the good things) is the things that Allah legalized it. However this interpretation is not close for two reasons:

* The first reason: According to this estimation the meaning of the verse will be (He legalizes to them the lawful things) which would be a pure repetition. 

* The second reason: according to this estimation this verse will be useless as we don't know what are these things that Allah legalized and how much are they? But it's necessary that the meaning of (the good things) to be the things that are good by nature as the original rule about the useful things is that they are lawful. So this Verse is indicating to that the original rule about everything that likeable to the soul and acceptable by nature is being lawful, except for a separate evidence (verse or Hadith).

-The eighth property: The Almighty's saying [prohibiting them from the offensive]. 'Ata' narrated from Ibn 'Abbas [AAT] "it means that the dead animals, blood and all what was mentioned in Surat al-Ma'idah untill the Almighty's saying [and those are debauchery]. And I say, every thing offensive and abomination that is repulsive by the soul and nature, will cause harm. And the original rule about the harmful things is to be forbidden, so it's required that every thing the nature and self consider to be offensive, that it should be forbidden, except for a separate evidence (verse or Hadith).

-The nineth property: [lHe releases them from their heavy burden and from the yokes that were upon them], this is for those who were present in His time and embraced His religion [PPBUH], however, there are two cases:

* The first: Ibn 'Amer only read the verse like this [... their heavy burdens...] , that is in a plural wording, however the others read it [... their heavy burden... ] that is in a singular wording.

* The second: the burden is the heavy thing that onerous its owner, that is limits him from movement because of being unbearable. The meaning of this is that Moses' Sharia [PBUH] was hard, the Almighty says [he yokes that were upon them], its meaning is that the hard yokes that they were doing like: removing the trace of the urine, killing themselves while repenting, cutting the organs that commited an offense and following up the veins from the flesh. Allah described it as yokes, because the prohibition prevents the doing, such as the yokes that prevent the movement. It was said that Bani Israel, when the time of their praying comes, would wear the sackcloth and bound their hands to their necks to be humble with Allah, Almighty, so according to that the yokes is not a metaphor.

You should know that this verse idicates that the original rule, for harmful things, are not to be legitimate, as every damage is like a yoke and a burben. The apparent meaning of that verse required illegitimacy and this is similar to the Prophet's saying [PPBUH] (Do No Harm), the common rule in Islam, also similar to His saying [PPBUH] (I was sent with Hanifyah, the easy and tolerable one), and this is a great source in Islamic Sharia.

You should know that when Muhammad [PPBUH] was described with these nine properties in the previous verse, the Almighty said after that [Those who believed in Him], Ibn 'Abbas said "That is; from the Jew [revered Him] which means: respected and honored him". The owner of "Al-Kash-shaf" said: The Arabic origin of the revering is the prevention, Also the revering means the striking under the limits of penality, as it prevents from returning to the ugly things. Then Allah, Almighty, said [And supported Him] that is supported Him against his enemy. [and followed in the Light that was sent down with Him]. That is the Holy Qur'an, and it was said that it is the guidance, the showing and the Message , also it was said that it is the truth which shows in the hearts like the Light's showing …

Then the Almighty when mentioned these descriptions, said [Those are the successful ones] that are the winners who won the greatly desired thing in the worldly life and the hereafter.

You should know that the Almighty when said [however I will give it to who fears Me] then Allah shows the condition of bestowing His Great Mercy upon those righteous ones. The condition is to follow the Messenger, the Prophet, the Ommey. In this verse Allah verified that His Message is to all people, as the Almighty said [Say: O, people I'm the Messenger of Allah, sent unto you all]. In this verse there are two things:

-The First: This verse indicates to that Muhammad [PPBUH] was sent (an envoy) to all of the creation, as the saying of [O, people] is a speech that is directed all people, the Almighty, ordering His Messenger to say, said [I'm the Messenger of Allah, sent unto you all], this required being an envoy to all people, also according to what was known by succession from His religion, that He [PPBUH] was saying that He is the Envoy to all worlds .

The knowledgeable ones said that: no one except for Muhammad [PPBUH] was sent to all the creation, they leaned on His [PPBUH] saying (I was given  five things, no one was given before me, I was sent to the white and the black, the whole of earth was made as pure and Masjid to me, I was  granted victory over my enemy by fear as they would fear me form a month's walking distance, I was given the spoils like no one before me, and it was said to me ask and you will be given what you will, but I kept it as intercession for my nation). The saying of  Imam ar-Razy ended.

Thus, we find that His Message [PPBUH], His Prophecy and His being the origin of the Divine Light, Knowledge and Guidance to all people and nations, have been clarified in this great miraculous verse.

Prayers and Peace be Upon You sayydi Rasool Allah (Messenger of Allah).

Written by Samer al-Lail  

Translated by Fatima az-Zahra'

Whoever wants to get more about this subject, can seek it in the website of Al-Nabi [PPBUH]

the Editorial Team