_____________
those who follow the messenger, the Ummiyy, (unlettered) prophet 1 whom they find written with them in the Taurat and the Injil 2 and who bids them what is fair and forbids what is unfair and makes lawful for them good things, and makes unlawful for them impure things, and removes them of their burden and of the shackles what were upon them. 3 So, those who believe in him and support him and help him, and follow the light sent down with him, __ those are the ones who are successful.
(Surah Al-Araf 7: 157)
__________
1) the unlettered prophet refers ) the Holy prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم Allah Ta,ala kept him unlettered in order to demonstrate the miraculous nature of the eloquent discourse revealed him When Musaa عليه السلام prayed for Allah’s mercy for his people Allah Ta,ala granted the prayer though He deemed it fit to explain that a full demonstration of His mercy would be forthcoming in regard to) the Ummah The Holy prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم because would be sent to the whole of humankind and not only to a particular nation in this context, some characteristics of his Shari’ah have been spelt out in verse.
2) This refers to the prophecies made in earlier divine books like the Torah and the Injil, whereby the advent of the Last prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم foretold. Despite a plethora of distortions introduced to the text of the Bible some of these prophecies may still be fond in it. For details on these the book: Izha-ul-haq by Maulana Rahmatullah kairanawi may be consulted Its Urdu and English translation are also available
3) The burden the shackles in this verse refer to the stern religious laws that were imposed on the Israelites’ as a punishment for their rebellious attitude It is mentioned that Holy prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم will relieve the people from such strict rules and injunctions.
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿158﴾
(O prophet Muhammad) say, O people, I am messenger of Allah (sent) to you from the One to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth there is no god but He; He gives life and brings death. So believe in Allah and his messenger, the Ummiyy (unlettered) prophet, find right path 1 (158)
(Surah Al-Araf 7: 158)
1) After mentioning that the advent of Holy prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلمWas foretold to Mousaa عليه السلام it was pertinent to invite people – Jews in particular- to believe in hem the verse is thus the logical conclusion should draw from what had been said mussعليه السلام.
(The Meanings of The Noble Qur’an With explanatory notes
Volume 1 page 306)
By:
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Preparation:
Abdul Waheed Qalandar Zahi