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Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Question
How can we reconcile between the two aayahs=verses (interpretation of the meaning):
βThose Messengers! We preferred some of them to others [al-Baqarah 2:253]
And:
βWe make no distinction between any of them [al-Baqarah 2:136]?
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
The ayah=verse (interpretation of the meaning):
βThose Messengers! We preferred some of them to others Quran [al-Baqarah 2:253]
is like the ayah=verse:
βAnd indeed, we have preferred some of the Prophets above othersβ
Quran [al-Israβ 17:55]
There is no doubt that some of the Prophets and Messengers are superior to others; the Messengers are superior to the Prophets, and the βMessengers of strong willβ (cf. al-Ahqaaf 46:35) are superior to all the others.
The Messengers of strong will are the five whom Allah has mentioned in two verses of the Qurβan, the first of which is in Surah al-Ahzaab:
βAnd (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad), and from Nun (Noah), Ibraaheem (Abraham), Moosa (Moses), and βEesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)β
Quran [al-Ahzaab 33:7 β interpretation of the meaning] β these are Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosa and βEesa ibn Maryam.
The second verse is in Surah al-Shoora:
βHe (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islamic Monotheism) which He ordained for Nooh (Noah), and that which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad), and that which We ordained for Ibraaheem (Abraham), Moosa (Mosesβ) and βEesa (Jesus)β
Quran [al-Shoora 42:13 β interpretation of the meaning].
These five are superior to all others.
Regarding what Allah says concerning the believers (interpretation of the meaning) β
βEach one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) βWe make no distinction between one another of His Messengersββ
Quran [al-Baqarah 2:136] β
what this means is: we make no distinction between them in terms of belief, we believe that they are all truly Messengers from Allah, and that they did not tell lies, so they all spoke the truth. This is the meaning of the phrase βWe make no distinction between one another of His Messengersβ, i.e., in terms of belief: we believe that they were all truly Messengers from Allah.
But in terms of the kind of belief that implies following, for those who come after the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), this applies only to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He is the one to be followed because his shareeβah (law) abrogates all other laws.
Hence we know that we must believe in all of them and believe that they are truly Messengers from Allah, but after the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent, all previous religions were abrogated by his shareeβah, and it became obligatory upon all people to follow Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) only. Allah by His wisdom abrogated all religions apart from the religion of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), hence He says (interpretation of the meaning):
βSay (O Muhammad): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah β to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He).
It is He Who gives life and causes death. So, believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad), who believes in Allah and His Words [(this Qurβan), the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allahβs Word:
βBe!β β and he was, i.e. βEesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guidedβ Quran [al-Aβraf 7:158].
So, all religions other than that of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are abrogated, but we must still believe in the Messengers and that they are true.
Allah knows Best.