๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Question
How can we reconcile between the two aayahs=verses (interpretation of the meaning):
โThose Messengers! We preferred some of them to others [al-Baqarah 2:253]
And:
โWe make no distinction between any of them [al-Baqarah 2:136]?
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
The ayah=verse (interpretation of the meaning):
โThose Messengers! We preferred some of them to others Quran [al-Baqarah 2:253]
is like the ayah=verse:
โAnd indeed, we have preferred some of the Prophets above othersโ
Quran [al-Israโ 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 โMessengers of strong willโ (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 Qurโan, the first of which is in Surah al-Ahzaab:
โAnd (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad), and from Nun (Noah), Ibraaheem (Abraham), Moosa (Moses), and โEesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)โ
Quran [al-Ahzaab 33:7 โ interpretation of the meaning] โ these are Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosa and โEesa ibn Maryam.
The second verse is in Surah al-Shoora:
โHe (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 (Mosesโ) and โEesa (Jesus)โ
Quran [al-Shoora 42:13 โ interpretation of the meaning].
These five are superior to all others.
Regarding what Allah says concerning the believers (interpretation of the meaning) โ
โEach one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) โWe make no distinction between one another of His Messengersโโ
Quran [al-Baqarah 2:136] โ
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 โWe make no distinction between one another of His Messengersโ, 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 shareeโah (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 shareeโah, 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):
โSay (O Muhammad): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah โ 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 Qurโan), the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allahโs Word:
โBe!โ โ and he was, i.e. โEesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guidedโ Quran [al-Aโraf 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.