Ruku 260 ع
Section 260 of 556 • 11 Verses
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا
نوجوان رفیق سے مراد حضرت مسیح علیہ السلام ہیں جو موسوی سفر کے شریک تھے۔
اس میں اس زمانہ کی طرف اشارہ ہے جب موسیٰ علیہ السلام کا زمانہ ختم ہوا اور محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا زمانہ شروع ہوا۔ بے شک بیچ میں حضرت مسیح علیہ السلام آئے مگر وہ موسیٰ علیہ السلام کے تابع نبی تھے۔
With this verse begins the subject of the Isra’ (Spiritual Night Journey) of Moses. As stated above, the followers of Jesus Christ achieved great material power and prosperity, and in their chequered career left their indelible imprint twice on world’s history. This double prosperity of Christian nations has been likened to "two gardens" in v. 33. The first of these two periods began with the conversion to Christianity of the Roman Emperor, Constantine when it became the religion of the State, and continued till the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam. The second and more important of these two periods is represented by the present age when Christian nations of the West have acquired so much power and prestige that the nations of Asia and Africa have to dance attendance upon them like serfs and slaves. Between these "two gardens" flowed a "stream" (v. 34). This "stream" denoted the birth and rise to power of Islam which left its deep mark on human history during the interval between these two per
Huqub is plural of Huqbah which means, long time, indefinite time; an age; seventy years or more (Lane & Mufradat).
The Isra’ of Moses was, like the Isra’ of the Holy Prophet (17:2), no physical journey but a spiritual experience by means of which Moses was transported from his body of flesh and blood to a spiritual tabernacle. The Bible and the Qur’an both support this view. Some of the arguments advanced in its support are as follows:
(1) The Bible which is considered by Christians to be more or less a reliable record of Moses’s life has omitted all mention of this most unusual and wonderful incident and has failed even to make a passing reference to it.
(2) Before and after he was commissioned as a Divine Prophet, Moses is known to have undertaken only one journey and that was to Midian. The Bible and the Qur’an have both referred to this journey. Both also agree that Moses undertook the journey to Midian alone, while in the journey referred to
Important Words:
حقبا (ages) is the plural of حقب (huqbun) which is derived from حقب (haqiba). They say حقب المطر i.e. the rain was delayed. حقب الامر means, the affair became marred or impeded. حقب (huqbun) means, time; indefinite time; long time; an age; a year or years; seventy years; eighty years or more (Lane, Aqrab & Mufradat).
Commentary:
With this verse begins the very important subject of the اسراء (Spiritual Night Journey) of Moses. As stated above, the followers of Jesus Christ achieved great material power and prosperity and in their chequered career left their imprint twice on world’s history. This double prosperity of Christian nations has been likened to "two gardens" in v. 33 above. The first of these two periods began with the conversion to Christianity of the Roman Emperor Constantine, when it became the religion of the State, and continued to the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam. The second and more important of these two periods is represented by the present age when Christian nations of the west have acquired so much power and prestige that the nations of Asia and Africa have had to dance attendance upon them like serfs and slaves. Between these "two gardens" flowed a "stream" (v. 34). These "two gardens", as stated above, represent the two periods of Christian prosperity and progress. The "stream" denotes the birth and rise to power of the Prophet of Islam. He and his followers made their mark in human history during the interval between these two periods.
Now in order to provide a historical setting to the whole account and complete the connected whole, a somewhat detailed description of the Isra’ or the Spiritual Journey of Moses has been given in the present and following few verses. Moses had foretold the advent of a Prophet like unto him (Deut. 18:18). This prophecy has been referred to in the Quran in 73:16. By putting the account of Moses’ Spiritual Journey between that of the Dwellers of the Cave and of Dhul-Qarnain—the two periods representing Christian progress and advance—the Quran has pointed to the fact that the Prophet referred to in Moses’ prophecy, who was also to be his counterpart, was to appear during the interval between these two periods. Thus, these incidents have been mentioned in their historical order.
Very fantastic stories have gained currency about the nature and purpose of the Isra’ or Spiritual Journey of Moses and the circumstances under which it took place. Commentators of the Quran differ as to the name and status of "the servant of God" whom Moses sought and met and about "the young man" who was with him in his "journey". Failing to comprehend the spiritual aspect of this seemingly physical journey most of them have indulged only in conjectures and guesses and consequently have grievously erred. The fact is that mention was made of the Isra’ or Spiritual Journey or as literally interpreted, the Migration of the Holy Prophet to Medina in v. 2 of the present Surah. Light was also thrown on the great results that were to ensue from this Migration and the wonderful success that Muslims were to achieve after it. They were also warned of the great dangers that lay in their way and of the unrelenting opposition of Jews and Christians, particularly of the grievous blows that Islam as a political force was to receive at the hands of the latter. The Isra’ of Moses has only been mentioned to lend support to the prophecies of ultimate success of Islam that were implied in the Isra’ of the Holy Prophet and also to make it clear beyond doubt that the seemingly dazzling power and prosperity of Christian nations will endure for a limited time and the cause of Islam will eventually triumph.
Similarly, the Isra’ of Moses was, like the Isra’ of the Holy Prophet, no physical journey but a spiritual experience by means of which Moses was transported from this body of flesh and blood to a spiritual tabernacle. The Bible and the Quran both support this contention. Some of the arguments advanced in its support are as follows:
(1) The Bible which is more or less a reliable record of Moses’ life has omitted all mention of this most unusual and wonderful incident and has failed even to make a passing reference to it.
(2) Before Moses was made a Prophet, he is known to have undertaken only one journey and that was to Midian. The Bible and the Quran have both referred to this journey, the latter at several places. The Bible and the Quran also both agree that Moses undertook this journey alone, while in the journey referred to in the present and the following verses of the Quran he is described as having been accompanied by "his companion."
(3) Even after he was made Prophet, Moses undertook no such journey. The Bible embodies a somewhat detailed record of Moses’ life but it contains no account of any such journey and even makes no reference to it.
(4) It is well known that after Moses had been away on Mount Tur for a few days his people took a calf for worship. When his absence from them for only forty days on Mount Tur caused such great spiritual havoc among them, which has been described in the Bible in detail, the depths of spiritual chaos to which these people of weak faith and fickle minds should have sunk in Moses’ absence on a journey of a much longer duration, as evidently the journey referred to in these verses was, can easily be imagined. The Bible could not have failed to mention it. But the Bible alludes to no such happening. Moreover, it would have cast a serious reflection on Moses’ wisdom and intelligence if, having had such a terrible experience once, he should have undertaken another journey which would have kept him away from his people for a much longer period.
(5) In his absence on Mount Tur for only forty days Moses appointed Aaron his vicegerent for his people. But apart from this solitary instance Moses is not known ever to have appointed anybody his vicegerent or Khalifah in his absence on any journey. The Bible contains no reference to any such appointment. It is inconceivable that if Moses had gone on such a long journey as mentioned in these verses he would have failed to appoint a Khalifah in his absence.
(6) It is against the established practice of all the Prophets of God to remain separated from their people for a long time. Some of them are known to have gone on short journeys but those were missionary expeditions and their scope did not extend beyond their own peoples. Jesus certainly did go to Kashmir after the Crucifixion but he left one section of his people in Palestine to live among another and a larger section in Kashmir. But Moses’ journey referred to above was not a journey undertaken with any missionary purpose nor was it confined to his own people. He left his people in search of a man who was more learned than himself.
(7) The expression مجمع البحرین (junction of two seas) occurring in the verse under comment also points to the fact that the Isra’ of Moses was a spiritual journey because there is no place in the world which is known by this name. The expression can have only one significance i.e. "the junction of two seas." Such junctions nearest to the place where Moses lived after he had left Egypt are Bab ul-Mandab which unites the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Straits of Dardanelles which joins the Mediterranean Sea with the Sea of Marmora and Al-Bahrain where the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean meet. Of all these places the Straits of Dardanelles alone can possibly be the point where such a meeting could have taken place because on its way lies Canaan which was the destination of Moses but which he could not reach in his life-time. All these three points were about one thousand miles distant from Moses’ place of living and considering the absence of good means of communication and transport in those days it would have taken him about a year’s time to cover such a long distance and Moses could not afford to remain absent from his people for such a long time without seriously jeopardising their spiritual well-being.
From this historical evidence it can be safely inferred without fear of contradiction that Moses’ Journey referred to in these verses was a spiritual journey undertaken with a spiritual body for a spiritual purpose.
Besides this external evidence there is also internal evidence in the Quran which clearly shows that this journey was no physical event but a spiritual experience of Moses.
(a) The "learned man" made a big hole in the boat to save it from being forcibly seized by the king. Now a quite natural question arises here, viz. was the boat navigable after it was damaged or was it not? If it was, why did not the king seize it; if it was not, why did it not sink? In this physical world no boat is ever known to have remained floating after a big hole had been made in its bottom. In the world of visions, however, such things are possible.
(b) The "slaying of the young boy" also shows that this incident happened in a vision because in this world of flesh and bones no sensible person, much less a Prophet of God, would take the life of another person without legitimate cause.
(c) The incident of the "repairing of the wall" also lends support to the above conclusion. How could a great Prophet of God and a most noble and broad-minded person like Moses have found fault with his learned companion for not demanding payment from two poor orphan boys for repairing their wall because the people of their town had refused to entertain him and his companion? What had the two orphan boys done to deserve Moses’ displeasure? It was the people of the town and not they who had refused to entertain them as their guests. What earthly connection was there between these two things? In this material world no sensible person could indulge in such talk, much less a great Prophet of God. Such things can happen only in visions and dreams.
(d) Ibn ‘Abbas is reported to have said that the word کنز (treasure) occurring in v. 83 below means "a treasure of knowledge". This shows that this word has been used in this verse in its metaphorical sense and needs to be interpreted and explained. Similarly, the repairing of the wall and the demanding of hospitality were not physical acts. Thus the whole journey was only a spiritual experience.
In short, even a casual and cursory glance over the relevant verses leaves no doubt about the fact that the whole affair was nothing more than a vision. It is simply inconceivable that a great Prophet of God like Moses should have undertaken a long and arduous journey in search of a "man of God" to learn from him how to break a hole in a boat or kill a young man or to repair a wall and demand no remuneration for it. Even an illiterate rustic would consider it below his dignity to do such a foolish thing, much less a Prophet of God.
Moreover, the Holy Prophet is reported to have said ودونا ان موسی کان صبر حتی یقص اللّٰه علینا من خبر ھما i.e. would that Moses had kept silent, so that God would have revealed to us many more secrets of the future (Bukhari, Kitabut-Tafsir). This saying of the Holy Prophet shows that the unusual acts which this "man of God" is stated to have performed were great secrets of the future which were communicated to Moses in his Vision in metaphorical language. If these acts are understood to have literally taken place, then they could not have excited the Holy Prophet’s curiosity and he could not possibly have wished Moses to have kept silent in order to learn more about similar acts. According to Mawardi, the person whom Moses had gone to see was no human being but an angel (Kathir).
All these facts taken together constitute very solid and weighty evidence, incapable of being doubted or contradicted, that the story of the journey of Moses is but a vision which needs to be interpreted and explained to understand its reality and significance.
The words "his young companion" may refer to Joshua, the son of Nun, but they apply more fittingly to Jesus. Jesus was the young companion of Moses i.e. he was the last great Prophet of the Mosaic Dispensation who came not to destroy but to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17).
The words, I will not stop until I reach the junction of the two seas, show that Moses’ young companion joined him towards the end of his journey. Moses did not seem to have taken the young man with him from the very outset of his journey. The words do not represent him as having started on his journey but only as pursuing it with a young companion. Strictly speaking these words can only be spoken by one who is about to reach his destination.
The expression مجمع البحرین i.e. junction of two seas, denotes the time when the Mosaic Dispensation was to have come to an end and the Islamic Dispensation to have commenced. According to Ta‘tirul-Anam بحر (sea), when seen in a vision, signifies a powerful, just and kind king. It also signifies praise and glorification of God. In the first sense of the word, بحر (sea) the expression مجمع البحرین would mean the meeting place of two powerful, just and kind kings i.e. Moses and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and according to the second signification, the expression denotes the junction of the two seas of God’s glorification which means two religious Dispensations—Mosaic and Islamic.
The words, Or I will journey on for ages, signify that the Mosaic Dispensation would remain in force for many centuries. The period from the time of Moses to the advent of the Holy Prophet when the Mosaic Dispensation came to an end extends over 2000 years.
2
نوجوان رفیق سے مراد حضرت مسیح علیہ السلام ہیں جو موسوی سفر کے شریک تھے۔
3
اس میں اس زمانہ کی طرف اشارہ ہے جب موسیٰ علیہ السلام کا زمانہ ختم ہوا اور محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا زمانہ شروع ہوا۔ بے شک بیچ میں حضرت مسیح علیہ السلام آئے مگر وہ موسیٰ علیہ السلام کے تابع نبی تھے۔
2101
Important Words:
حقبا (ages) is the plural of حقب (huqbun) which is derived from حقب (haqiba). They say حقب المطر i.e. the rain was delayed. حقب الامر means, the affair became marred or impeded. حقب (huqbun) means, time; indefinite time; long time; an age; a year or years; seventy years; eighty years or more (Lane, Aqrab & Mufradat).
Commentary:
With this verse begins the very important subject of the اسراء (Spiritual Night Journey) of Moses. As stated above, the followers of Jesus Christ achieved great material power and prosperity and in their chequered career left their imprint twice on world’s history. This double prosperity of Christian nations has been likened to "two gardens" in v. 33 above. The first of these two periods began with the conversion to Christianity of the Roman Emperor Constantine, when it became the religion of the State, and continued to the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam. The second and more important of these two periods is represented by the present age when Christian nations of the west have acquired so much power and prestige that the nations of Asia and Africa have had to dance attendance upon them like serfs and slaves. Between these "two gardens" flowed a "stream" (v. 34). These "two gardens", as stated above, represent the two periods of Christian prosperity and progress. The "stream" denotes the birth and rise to power of the Prophet of Islam. He and his followers made their mark in human history during the interval between these two periods.
Now in order to provide a historical setting to the whole account and complete the connected whole, a somewhat detailed description of the Isra’ or the Spiritual Journey of Moses has been given in the present and following few verses. Moses had foretold the advent of a Prophet like unto him (Deut. 18:18). This prophecy has been referred to in the Quran in 73:16. By putting the account of Moses’ Spiritual Journey between that of the Dwellers of the Cave and of Dhul-Qarnain—the two periods representing Christian progress and advance—the Quran has pointed to the fact that the Prophet referred to in Moses’ prophecy, who was also to be his counterpart, was to appear during the interval between these two periods. Thus, these incidents have been mentioned in their historical order.
Very fantastic stories have gained currency about the nature and purpose of the Isra’ or Spiritual Journey of Moses and the circumstances under which it took place. Commentators of the Quran differ as to the name and status of "the servant of God" whom Moses sought and met and about "the young man" who was with him in his "journey". Failing to comprehend the spiritual aspect of this seemingly physical journey most of them have indulged only in conjectures and guesses and consequently have grievously erred. The fact is that mention was made of the Isra’ or Spiritual Journey or as literally interpreted, the Migration of the Holy Prophet to Medina in v. 2 of the present Surah. Light was also thrown on the great results that were to ensue from this Migration and the wonderful success that Muslims were to achieve after it. They were also warned of the great dangers that lay in their way and of the unrelenting opposition of Jews and Christians, particularly of the grievous blows that Islam as a political force was to receive at the hands of the latter. The Isra’ of Moses has only been mentioned to lend support to the prophecies of ultimate success of Islam that were implied in the Isra’ of the Holy Prophet and also to make it clear beyond doubt that the seemingly dazzling power and prosperity of Christian nations will endure for a limited time and the cause of Islam will eventually triumph.
Similarly, the Isra’ of Moses was, like the Isra’ of the Holy Prophet, no physical journey but a spiritual experience by means of which Moses was transported from this body of flesh and blood to a spiritual tabernacle. The Bible and the Quran both support this contention. Some of the arguments advanced in its support are as follows:
(1) The Bible which is more or less a reliable record of Moses’ life has omitted all mention of this most unusual and wonderful incident and has failed even to make a passing reference to it.
(2) Before Moses was made a Prophet, he is known to have undertaken only one journey and that was to Midian. The Bible and the Quran have both referred to this journey, the latter at several places. The Bible and the Quran also both agree that Moses undertook this journey alone, while in the journey referred to in the present and the following verses of the Quran he is described as having been accompanied by "his companion."
(3) Even after he was made Prophet, Moses undertook no such journey. The Bible embodies a somewhat detailed record of Moses’ life but it contains no account of any such journey and even makes no reference to it.
(4) It is well known that after Moses had been away on Mount Tur for a few days his people took a calf for worship. When his absence from them for only forty days on Mount Tur caused such great spiritual havoc among them, which has been described in the Bible in detail, the depths of spiritual chaos to which these people of weak faith and fickle minds should have sunk in Moses’ absence on a journey of a much longer duration, as evidently the journey referred to in these verses was, can easily be imagined. The Bible could not have failed to mention it. But the Bible alludes to no such happening. Moreover, it would have cast a serious reflection on Moses’ wisdom and intelligence if, having had such a terrible experience once, he should have undertaken another journey which would have kept him away from his people for a much longer period.
(5) In his absence on Mount Tur for only forty days Moses appointed Aaron his vicegerent for his people. But apart from this solitary instance Moses is not known ever to have appointed anybody his vicegerent or Khalifah in his absence on any journey. The Bible contains no reference to any such appointment. It is inconceivable that if Moses had gone on such a long journey as mentioned in these verses he would have failed to appoint a Khalifah in his absence.
(6) It is against the established practice of all the Prophets of God to remain separated from their people for a long time. Some of them are known to have gone on short journeys but those were missionary expeditions and their scope did not extend beyond their own peoples. Jesus certainly did go to Kashmir after the Crucifixion but he left one section of his people in Palestine to live among another and a larger section in Kashmir. But Moses’ journey referred to above was not a journey undertaken with any missionary purpose nor was it confined to his own people. He left his people in search of a man who was more learned than himself.
(7) The expression مجمع البحرین (junction of two seas) occurring in the verse under comment also points to the fact that the Isra’ of Moses was a spiritual journey because there is no place in the world which is known by this name. The expression can have only one significance i.e. "the junction of two seas." Such junctions nearest to the place where Moses lived after he had left Egypt are Bab ul-Mandab which unites the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Straits of Dardanelles which joins the Mediterranean Sea with the Sea of Marmora and Al-Bahrain where the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean meet. Of all these places the Straits of Dardanelles alone can possibly be the point where such a meeting could have taken place because on its way lies Canaan which was the destination of Moses but which he could not reach in his life-time. All these three points were about one thousand miles distant from Moses’ place of living and considering the absence of good means of communication and transport in those days it would have taken him about a year’s time to cover such a long distance and Moses could not afford to remain absent from his people for such a long time without seriously jeopardising their spiritual well-being.
From this historical evidence it can be safely inferred without fear of contradiction that Moses’ Journey referred to in these verses was a spiritual journey undertaken with a spiritual body for a spiritual purpose.
Besides this external evidence there is also internal evidence in the Quran which clearly shows that this journey was no physical event but a spiritual experience of Moses.
(a) The "learned man" made a big hole in the boat to save it from being forcibly seized by the king. Now a quite natural question arises here, viz. was the boat navigable after it was damaged or was it not? If it was, why did not the king seize it; if it was not, why did it not sink? In this physical world no boat is ever known to have remained floating after a big hole had been made in its bottom. In the world of visions, however, such things are possible.
(b) The "slaying of the young boy" also shows that this incident happened in a vision because in this world of flesh and bones no sensible person, much less a Prophet of God, would take the life of another person without legitimate cause.
(c) The incident of the "repairing of the wall" also lends support to the above conclusion. How could a great Prophet of God and a most noble and broad-minded person like Moses have found fault with his learned companion for not demanding payment from two poor orphan boys for repairing their wall because the people of their town had refused to entertain him and his companion? What had the two orphan boys done to deserve Moses’ displeasure? It was the people of the town and not they who had refused to entertain them as their guests. What earthly connection was there between these two things? In this material world no sensible person could indulge in such talk, much less a great Prophet of God. Such things can happen only in visions and dreams.
(d) Ibn ‘Abbas is reported to have said that the word کنز (treasure) occurring in v. 83 below means "a treasure of knowledge". This shows that this word has been used in this verse in its metaphorical sense and needs to be interpreted and explained. Similarly, the repairing of the wall and the demanding of hospitality were not physical acts. Thus the whole journey was only a spiritual experience.
In short, even a casual and cursory glance over the relevant verses leaves no doubt about the fact that the whole affair was nothing more than a vision. It is simply inconceivable that a great Prophet of God like Moses should have undertaken a long and arduous journey in search of a "man of God" to learn from him how to break a hole in a boat or kill a young man or to repair a wall and demand no remuneration for it. Even an illiterate rustic would consider it below his dignity to do such a foolish thing, much less a Prophet of God.
Moreover, the Holy Prophet is reported to have said ودونا ان موسی کان صبر حتی یقص اللّٰه علینا من خبر ھما i.e. would that Moses had kept silent, so that God would have revealed to us many more secrets of the future (Bukhari, Kitabut-Tafsir). This saying of the Holy Prophet shows that the unusual acts which this "man of God" is stated to have performed were great secrets of the future which were communicated to Moses in his Vision in metaphorical language. If these acts are understood to have literally taken place, then they could not have excited the Holy Prophet’s curiosity and he could not possibly have wished Moses to have kept silent in order to learn more about similar acts. According to Mawardi, the person whom Moses had gone to see was no human being but an angel (Kathir).
All these facts taken together constitute very solid and weighty evidence, incapable of being doubted or contradicted, that the story of the journey of Moses is but a vision which needs to be interpreted and explained to understand its reality and significance.
The words "his young companion" may refer to Joshua, the son of Nun, but they apply more fittingly to Jesus. Jesus was the young companion of Moses i.e. he was the last great Prophet of the Mosaic Dispensation who came not to destroy but to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17).
The words, I will not stop until I reach the junction of the two seas, show that Moses’ young companion joined him towards the end of his journey. Moses did not seem to have taken the young man with him from the very outset of his journey. The words do not represent him as having started on his journey but only as pursuing it with a young companion. Strictly speaking these words can only be spoken by one who is about to reach his destination.
The expression مجمع البحرین i.e. junction of two seas, denotes the time when the Mosaic Dispensation was to have come to an end and the Islamic Dispensation to have commenced. According to Ta‘tirul-Anam بحر (sea), when seen in a vision, signifies a powerful, just and kind king. It also signifies praise and glorification of God. In the first sense of the word, بحر (sea) the expression مجمع البحرین would mean the meeting place of two powerful, just and kind kings i.e. Moses and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and according to the second signification, the expression denotes the junction of the two seas of God’s glorification which means two religious Dispensations—Mosaic and Islamic.
The words, Or I will journey on for ages, signify that the Mosaic Dispensation would remain in force for many centuries. The period from the time of Moses to the advent of the Holy Prophet when the Mosaic Dispensation came to an end extends over 2000 years.
1704
With this verse begins the subject of the Isra’ (Spiritual Night Journey) of Moses. As stated above, the followers of Jesus Christ achieved great material power and prosperity, and in their chequered career left their indelible imprint twice on world’s history. This double prosperity of Christian nations has been likened to "two gardens" in v. 33. The first of these two periods began with the conversion to Christianity of the Roman Emperor, Constantine when it became the religion of the State, and continued till the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam. The second and more important of these two periods is represented by the present age when Christian nations of the West have acquired so much power and prestige that the nations of Asia and Africa have to dance attendance upon them like serfs and slaves. Between these "two gardens" flowed a "stream" (v. 34). This "stream" denoted the birth and rise to power of Islam which left its deep mark on human history during the interval between these two per
1704A
Huqub is plural of Huqbah which means, long time, indefinite time; an age; seventy years or more (Lane & Mufradat).
The Isra’ of Moses was, like the Isra’ of the Holy Prophet (17:2), no physical journey but a spiritual experience by means of which Moses was transported from his body of flesh and blood to a spiritual tabernacle. The Bible and the Qur’an both support this view. Some of the arguments advanced in its support are as follows:
(1) The Bible which is considered by Christians to be more or less a reliable record of Moses’s life has omitted all mention of this most unusual and wonderful incident and has failed even to make a passing reference to it.
(2) Before and after he was commissioned as a Divine Prophet, Moses is known to have undertaken only one journey and that was to Midian. The Bible and the Qur’an have both referred to this journey. Both also agree that Moses undertook the journey to Midian alone, while in the journey referred to
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
یعنی جب موسوی مسیحی زمانہ آنحضرت صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے زمانہ سے ملا تو موسوی قوم اور عیسوی قوم نے اپنی عبادت گاہوں کی اصل غرض کو بھلا دیا اور جب مسیحی قوم سے عبادت کی غرض کھوئی گئی تو آسمان کے فرشتوں نے سمجھ لیا کہ اب آخری موعود کا زمانہ آگیا ہے اور وہ خداتعالیٰ کے حکم سے محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم پر نازل ہونے لگ گئے۔
عبادت گاہ کا مفہوم ہم نے حُوْت سے نکالا ہے جسے اگر خواب یا کشف میں دیکھا جائے تو اس کے معنے نیک لوگوں کی عبادت گاہ کے ہوتے ہیں۔
مچھلی حُوْت کا ترجمہ ہے جس کی تعبیر ہم اوپر لکھ آئے ہیں۔
Hut when seen in a vision denotes houses of worship of the righteous people (Ta‘tirul-Anam). In this sense of the word the expression, when they reached the place where the two seas met, they forgot their fish, signifies that at the time when the Mosaic and the Islamic Dispensations would meet, i.e. when Mosaic Dispensation would cease to function and the Islamic Dispensation would come into force, true righteousness would depart from among the followers of Moses and Jesus, and would henceforward become the special mark of the followers of the new Dispensation (48:30).
Important Words:
سربا (going away swiftly) is derived from سرب. They say سرب الماء i.e. the water flowed. سرب الرجل means, the man went at random. سرب فی الارض means, he went away in the land. سرب (sarabun) means, going away swiftly, a subterranean excavation; a habitation beneath the earth having a passage through it; the burrow or hole of a wild animal; the den of a lion. The Quranic expression فاتخذ سبیله فی البحر سربا means, it (the fish) took its way into the sea swiftly, etc. (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
حوت (fish) when seen in a vision denotes the houses of worship of righteous people (Ta‘tirul-Anam). In this sense of the word the expression, when they reached the place where the two seas met, they forgot their fish, means that at the time when the Mosaic and the Islamic Dispensations met, i.e. when Mosaic Dispensation ceased to function and the Islamic Dispensation came into force, true righteousness would depart from among the followers of Moses and Jesus and would henceforward become the special mark of the followers of the new Dispensation (48:30). The verse under comment also shows that the Islamic Dispensation was, in fact, a continuation of the Mosaic Dispensation. Being two consecutive parts of God’s eternal guidance, no such thing as the "junction of two seas" existed in the time of Moses.
1
یعنی جب موسوی مسیحی زمانہ آنحضرت صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے زمانہ سے ملا تو موسوی قوم اور عیسوی قوم نے اپنی عبادت گاہوں کی اصل غرض کو بھلا دیا اور جب مسیحی قوم سے عبادت کی غرض کھوئی گئی تو آسمان کے فرشتوں نے سمجھ لیا کہ اب آخری موعود کا زمانہ آگیا ہے اور وہ خداتعالیٰ کے حکم سے محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم پر نازل ہونے لگ گئے۔
عبادت گاہ کا مفہوم ہم نے حُوْت سے نکالا ہے جسے اگر خواب یا کشف میں دیکھا جائے تو اس کے معنے نیک لوگوں کی عبادت گاہ کے ہوتے ہیں۔
2
مچھلی حُوْت کا ترجمہ ہے جس کی تعبیر ہم اوپر لکھ آئے ہیں۔
2102
Important Words:
سربا (going away swiftly) is derived from سرب. They say سرب الماء i.e. the water flowed. سرب الرجل means, the man went at random. سرب فی الارض means, he went away in the land. سرب (sarabun) means, going away swiftly, a subterranean excavation; a habitation beneath the earth having a passage through it; the burrow or hole of a wild animal; the den of a lion. The Quranic expression فاتخذ سبیله فی البحر سربا means, it (the fish) took its way into the sea swiftly, etc. (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
حوت (fish) when seen in a vision denotes the houses of worship of righteous people (Ta‘tirul-Anam). In this sense of the word the expression, when they reached the place where the two seas met, they forgot their fish, means that at the time when the Mosaic and the Islamic Dispensations met, i.e. when Mosaic Dispensation ceased to function and the Islamic Dispensation came into force, true righteousness would depart from among the followers of Moses and Jesus and would henceforward become the special mark of the followers of the new Dispensation (48:30). The verse under comment also shows that the Islamic Dispensation was, in fact, a continuation of the Mosaic Dispensation. Being two consecutive parts of God’s eternal guidance, no such thing as the "junction of two seas" existed in the time of Moses.
1705
Hut when seen in a vision denotes houses of worship of the righteous people (Ta‘tirul-Anam). In this sense of the word the expression, when they reached the place where the two seas met, they forgot their fish, signifies that at the time when the Mosaic and the Islamic Dispensations would meet, i.e. when Mosaic Dispensation would cease to function and the Islamic Dispensation would come into force, true righteousness would depart from among the followers of Moses and Jesus, and would henceforward become the special mark of the followers of the new Dispensation (48:30).
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًا
یہ حضرت موسیٰ علیہ السلام کا معراج ہے یعنی ایک لطیف کشف ہے جس میں انہوں نے اپنے ہونے والے نائب مسیح علیہ السلام کو بھی دیکھا اور اپنی جگہ لینے والے شرعی رسول محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو بھی دیکھا۔
'Asking for morning meal or breakfast' in a vision denotes 'weariness' (Ta‘tirul-Anam), and the verse purports to say that after passing the 'junction of the two seas' and going on their separate journeys for a long time and being tired of vainly waiting for the Promised Prophet (Deut. 18: 18), Moses and his young companion would begin to wonder that he may have already appeared but that they had failed to recognize him. In the verse Moses and his young companion (Jesus) may stand for Jews and Christians respectively.
Commentary:
"Asking for breakfast" in a vision denotes "weariness" (Ta‘tirul-Anam) and the verse purports to say that at the "junction of the two seas" i.e. when the Holy Prophet comes, the followers of Moses and Jesus would not accept him. They would continue their journey alone and would refuse to admit that the span of life granted to their Dispensation had come to an end. Then after going on their separate way for a long time and being tired of vainly waiting for the Promised Prophet (Deut. 18:18) they would begin to wonder whether he had already come and they had failed to recognize him. In this verse Moses and his young companion (Jesus) stand for Jews and Christians respectively.
3
یہ حضرت موسیٰ علیہ السلام کا معراج ہے یعنی ایک لطیف کشف ہے جس میں انہوں نے اپنے ہونے والے نائب مسیح علیہ السلام کو بھی دیکھا اور اپنی جگہ لینے والے شرعی رسول محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو بھی دیکھا۔
2103
Commentary:
"Asking for breakfast" in a vision denotes "weariness" (Ta‘tirul-Anam) and the verse purports to say that at the "junction of the two seas" i.e. when the Holy Prophet comes, the followers of Moses and Jesus would not accept him. They would continue their journey alone and would refuse to admit that the span of life granted to their Dispensation had come to an end. Then after going on their separate way for a long time and being tired of vainly waiting for the Promised Prophet (Deut. 18:18) they would begin to wonder whether he had already come and they had failed to recognize him. In this verse Moses and his young companion (Jesus) stand for Jews and Christians respectively.
1706
'Asking for morning meal or breakfast' in a vision denotes 'weariness' (Ta‘tirul-Anam), and the verse purports to say that after passing the 'junction of the two seas' and going on their separate journeys for a long time and being tired of vainly waiting for the Promised Prophet (Deut. 18: 18), Moses and his young companion would begin to wonder that he may have already appeared but that they had failed to recognize him. In the verse Moses and his young companion (Jesus) may stand for Jews and Christians respectively.
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا
یعنی جب ترقی کے سامان پیدا ہونے پر قوم عیش و آرام میں مشغول ہوئی تو عبادت گاہ کی حقیقی غرض ہاتھ سے جاتی رہی۔
Sakhrah in the language of dreams and visions denotes 'a life of vice and sin.' So the expression, when we betook ourselves to the rock, signifies that when the two seas would meet, i.e. when the Mosaic Dispensation would come to an end and a new Prophet and a new Dispensation would appear, the Jews and Christians would be sunk into a life of sin and iniquity. The words, it took its way into the sea in a marvellous manner signify that true piety and worship of God would take leave of these peoples.
Commentary:
The pronouns in the expressions, "their fish" (v. 62), "they had gone further" (v. 63) and "we betook ourselves" obviously do not refer to Moses and Jesus because they did not live in the time of the Holy Prophet but to their respective peoples.
صخرة (rock) in the language of dreams and visions denotes "a life of vice and sin." So the expression, when we betook ourselves to the rock, means that when the two seas met i.e. when the Mosaic Dispensation came to an end and a new Prophet and a new Dispensation appeared, then Jews and Christians would be sunk in a life of sin and iniquity.
The words, it took its way into the sea in a marvellous manner, signify that true piety and worship of God would take leave of these people and would become the special mark of another people (the followers of Islam) who would become heirs to Divine favours.
The incident of the fish unmistakably points to the whole affair being a vision because when Moses and his young companion were pursuing their journey with the fish as their guide it was not possible for them to forget it.
4
یعنی جب ترقی کے سامان پیدا ہونے پر قوم عیش و آرام میں مشغول ہوئی تو عبادت گاہ کی حقیقی غرض ہاتھ سے جاتی رہی۔
2104
Commentary:
The pronouns in the expressions, "their fish" (v. 62), "they had gone further" (v. 63) and "we betook ourselves" obviously do not refer to Moses and Jesus because they did not live in the time of the Holy Prophet but to their respective peoples.
صخرة (rock) in the language of dreams and visions denotes "a life of vice and sin." So the expression, when we betook ourselves to the rock, means that when the two seas met i.e. when the Mosaic Dispensation came to an end and a new Prophet and a new Dispensation appeared, then Jews and Christians would be sunk in a life of sin and iniquity.
The words, it took its way into the sea in a marvellous manner, signify that true piety and worship of God would take leave of these people and would become the special mark of another people (the followers of Islam) who would become heirs to Divine favours.
The incident of the fish unmistakably points to the whole affair being a vision because when Moses and his young companion were pursuing their journey with the fish as their guide it was not possible for them to forget it.
1707
Sakhrah in the language of dreams and visions denotes 'a life of vice and sin.' So the expression, when we betook ourselves to the rock, signifies that when the two seas would meet, i.e. when the Mosaic Dispensation would come to an end and a new Prophet and a new Dispensation would appear, the Jews and Christians would be sunk into a life of sin and iniquity. The words, it took its way into the sea in a marvellous manner signify that true piety and worship of God would take leave of these peoples.
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَٱرْتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا
یعنی ایسی پیشگوئیاں پیچھے چھوڑیں جو بعثت محمدی پر دلالت کرتی تھیں تاکہ ان کی قوم ان پیشگوئیوں سے ہوشیار ہو جائے۔
5
یعنی ایسی پیشگوئیاں پیچھے چھوڑیں جو بعثت محمدی پر دلالت کرتی تھیں تاکہ ان کی قوم ان پیشگوئیوں سے ہوشیار ہو جائے۔
فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا
اس سے مراد آنحضرت صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا وجود ہے جو معراج موسوی کے ذریعہ سے موسیٰ علیہ السلام کو ملا۔
Who is this "Servant of God" (‘Abd) upon whom God had bestowed mercy and whom He had taught knowledge and in search of whom Moses, in pursuance of Divine command, had undertaken such a long and difficult journey and who is the central figure and the hero of the whole story? He is none other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad—his soul having taken an embodied form in Moses’s Vision. Reasons for this are: (a) He has been called ‘Abd servant of God, in the Qur’an (2:24; 8:42; 17:2; 18:2; 25:2; 39:37; 53:11 & 72:20). In fact, he is ‘Abdullah (God’s servant) par excellence. (b) He has been spoken of as 'a mercy to the whole world' (21:108), an epithet applied in the Qur’an to none other than the Holy Prophet. (c) He was vouchsafed Divine knowledge in a very large measure (4:114; 20:115 & 27:7). (d) This "Servant of God" had told Moses that he (Moses) would not keep silent (v. 68 below), and the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, 'Would that Moses had kept silent! If
Commentary:
Who is this عبد (servant of God) in search of whom Moses, in pursuance of Divine command, had undertaken such a long and difficult journey and who is the central figure and hero of the whole story? He is none other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad –his soul having taken an embodied form in Moses’ vision. The following arguments conclusively show that he was indeed the عبد (god’s servant) mentioned in this story:
(a) The Holy Prophet has been called عبد in the Quran at several places (2:24; 8:42; 17:2; 18:2; 25:2; 39:37; 53:11 & 72:20). In fact he is عبد الله (God’s servant) par excellence, because truly speaking the stage of عبد (servant of God) is the highest stage in the spiritual development of man and the Holy Prophet had attained that stage.
(b) The words, upon whom We had bestowed Our Mercy, also clearly refer to the Holy Prophet. He has been particularly spoken of as "a mercy to the whole world" (21:108), an epithet applied in the Quran to none other than the Holy Prophet.
(c) The words, whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves, also refer to the Holy Prophet. At several places in the Quran it is stated that he was vouchsafed divine knowledge in a very large measure (4:114; 6:92; 20:115 & 27:7).
(d) The "servant of God" had told Moses that he (Moses) would not keep silent (v. 68 below), and the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, "Would that Moses had kept silent! If he had done so, we would have been vouchsafed more knowledge about the unseen" (Bukhari, Kitabut-Tafsir). This shows that the "servant of God" of Moses’ vision and the Holy Prophet were one and the same person.
As a matter of fact, Moses had seen a manifestation of God "in the fire" when travelling from Midian to Egypt (28:30). Later on, however, he was told that a Prophet would appear from among the brethren of the Israelites in whose mouth God would put His own word (Deut. 18:18-22). The words of the prophecy signified that the Promised Prophet would be the object of a greater manifestation of God than Moses. Moses therefore naturally wished to see who "that Prophet" could be. To satisfy his curiosity God made him see in his vision "that Prophet" of much higher spiritual powers. This learned "servant of God" of Moses’ vision who has been popularly known by the name of Khizr was the spirit of our Noble Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, which had assumed a physical tabernacle. See also 7:144.
6
اس سے مراد آنحضرت صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا وجود ہے جو معراج موسوی کے ذریعہ سے موسیٰ علیہ السلام کو ملا۔
2105
Commentary:
Who is this عبد (servant of God) in search of whom Moses, in pursuance of Divine command, had undertaken such a long and difficult journey and who is the central figure and hero of the whole story? He is none other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad –his soul having taken an embodied form in Moses’ vision. The following arguments conclusively show that he was indeed the عبد (god’s servant) mentioned in this story:
(a) The Holy Prophet has been called عبد in the Quran at several places (2:24; 8:42; 17:2; 18:2; 25:2; 39:37; 53:11 & 72:20). In fact he is عبد الله (God’s servant) par excellence, because truly speaking the stage of عبد (servant of God) is the highest stage in the spiritual development of man and the Holy Prophet had attained that stage.
(b) The words, upon whom We had bestowed Our Mercy, also clearly refer to the Holy Prophet. He has been particularly spoken of as "a mercy to the whole world" (21:108), an epithet applied in the Quran to none other than the Holy Prophet.
(c) The words, whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves, also refer to the Holy Prophet. At several places in the Quran it is stated that he was vouchsafed divine knowledge in a very large measure (4:114; 6:92; 20:115 & 27:7).
(d) The "servant of God" had told Moses that he (Moses) would not keep silent (v. 68 below), and the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, "Would that Moses had kept silent! If he had done so, we would have been vouchsafed more knowledge about the unseen" (Bukhari, Kitabut-Tafsir). This shows that the "servant of God" of Moses’ vision and the Holy Prophet were one and the same person.
As a matter of fact, Moses had seen a manifestation of God "in the fire" when travelling from Midian to Egypt (28:30). Later on, however, he was told that a Prophet would appear from among the brethren of the Israelites in whose mouth God would put His own word (Deut. 18:18-22). The words of the prophecy signified that the Promised Prophet would be the object of a greater manifestation of God than Moses. Moses therefore naturally wished to see who "that Prophet" could be. To satisfy his curiosity God made him see in his vision "that Prophet" of much higher spiritual powers. This learned "servant of God" of Moses’ vision who has been popularly known by the name of Khizr was the spirit of our Noble Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, which had assumed a physical tabernacle. See also 7:144.
1708
Who is this "Servant of God" (‘Abd) upon whom God had bestowed mercy and whom He had taught knowledge and in search of whom Moses, in pursuance of Divine command, had undertaken such a long and difficult journey and who is the central figure and the hero of the whole story? He is none other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad—his soul having taken an embodied form in Moses’s Vision. Reasons for this are: (a) He has been called ‘Abd servant of God, in the Qur’an (2:24; 8:42; 17:2; 18:2; 25:2; 39:37; 53:11 & 72:20). In fact, he is ‘Abdullah (God’s servant) par excellence. (b) He has been spoken of as 'a mercy to the whole world' (21:108), an epithet applied in the Qur’an to none other than the Holy Prophet. (c) He was vouchsafed Divine knowledge in a very large measure (4:114; 20:115 & 27:7). (d) This "Servant of God" had told Moses that he (Moses) would not keep silent (v. 68 below), and the Holy Prophet is reported to have said, 'Would that Moses had kept silent! If
قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا
Moses was denied the heights which the spiritual knowledge of the Holy Prophet had attained.
Commentary:
By instituting a comparison between the spiritual status of Moses and that of the Holy Prophet, the verse under comment shows that the former was distinctly inferior to the latter. Moses was denied the heights which the spiritual knowledge of the Prophet had attained. The difference between these two great Prophets has been depicted in these verses in the form of a dialogue between two companions on a journey.
2106
Commentary:
By instituting a comparison between the spiritual status of Moses and that of the Holy Prophet, the verse under comment shows that the former was distinctly inferior to the latter. Moses was denied the heights which the spiritual knowledge of the Prophet had attained. The difference between these two great Prophets has been depicted in these verses in the form of a dialogue between two companions on a journey.
1709
Moses was denied the heights which the spiritual knowledge of the Holy Prophet had attained.
قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا
The patience and steadfastness under severe trials and difficulties of the followers of Moses were not of the same high order and pattern as those of the Holy Prophet’s followers (5:22-25 & Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). The verse also compares the natural dispositions of Moses and the Holy Prophet. Moses impatiently inquired the "Servant of God" about things which he did not understand; but the Holy Prophet waited patiently till Archangel Gabriel explained to him the meanings of the various things he saw in his own Mi‘raj. This difference in the temperaments of these two great Prophets was also reflected in the behaviour of their respective followers. While the Israelites continued to pester Moses with all sorts of unnecessary and foolish questions, the demeanour of the Holy Prophet’s Companions was characterized by great dignity and restraint. They scrupulously avoided putting him questions on religious matters. Both the Holy Prophet and his Companions most faithfully observed the adm
Commentary:
This verse refers to the subject dealt with in 7:144, viz. that Moses and his people could not attain that spiritual eminence which the Holy Prophet and his followers were destined to attain. It states that the patience and steadfastness under severe trials and difficulties of the followers of Moses were not of the same high order and pattern as those of the Holy Prophet’s followers (5:22-25 & Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). The Christians did, indeed, show a better example than the Jews in facing physical hardships but they too gave in before spiritual trials. Jesus himself bitterly complained of the intellectual dullness of his disciples. He was not sure whether they had fully realized his spiritual status (Matt. 17:17).
The verse also compares the natural dispositions of Moses and the Holy Prophet. Moses impatiently inquired of his companion about things which he did not understand but the Holy Prophet waited patiently till God Himself revealed to him all details of the Shari‘ah and their explanation. This difference in the temperaments of these two Prophets was also reflected in the behaviour of their respective followers. While the Israelites continued to pester Moses with all sorts of unnecessary questions, the demeanour of the Holy Prophet’s Companions was characterized by great dignity and restraint. They scrupulously avoided putting him questions on religious matters. Both the Holy Prophet and his Companions most faithfully observed the admonition contained in 20:115.
2107
Commentary:
This verse refers to the subject dealt with in 7:144, viz. that Moses and his people could not attain that spiritual eminence which the Holy Prophet and his followers were destined to attain. It states that the patience and steadfastness under severe trials and difficulties of the followers of Moses were not of the same high order and pattern as those of the Holy Prophet’s followers (5:22-25 & Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). The Christians did, indeed, show a better example than the Jews in facing physical hardships but they too gave in before spiritual trials. Jesus himself bitterly complained of the intellectual dullness of his disciples. He was not sure whether they had fully realized his spiritual status (Matt. 17:17).
The verse also compares the natural dispositions of Moses and the Holy Prophet. Moses impatiently inquired of his companion about things which he did not understand but the Holy Prophet waited patiently till God Himself revealed to him all details of the Shari‘ah and their explanation. This difference in the temperaments of these two Prophets was also reflected in the behaviour of their respective followers. While the Israelites continued to pester Moses with all sorts of unnecessary questions, the demeanour of the Holy Prophet’s Companions was characterized by great dignity and restraint. They scrupulously avoided putting him questions on religious matters. Both the Holy Prophet and his Companions most faithfully observed the admonition contained in 20:115.
1710
The patience and steadfastness under severe trials and difficulties of the followers of Moses were not of the same high order and pattern as those of the Holy Prophet’s followers (5:22-25 & Bukhari, Kitabul-Maghazi). The verse also compares the natural dispositions of Moses and the Holy Prophet. Moses impatiently inquired the "Servant of God" about things which he did not understand; but the Holy Prophet waited patiently till Archangel Gabriel explained to him the meanings of the various things he saw in his own Mi‘raj. This difference in the temperaments of these two great Prophets was also reflected in the behaviour of their respective followers. While the Israelites continued to pester Moses with all sorts of unnecessary and foolish questions, the demeanour of the Holy Prophet’s Companions was characterized by great dignity and restraint. They scrupulously avoided putting him questions on religious matters. Both the Holy Prophet and his Companions most faithfully observed the adm
وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرًا
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that it was not quite easy for Jews to accept the Holy Prophet. Islam had introduced new ideals and new teachings and the Jews had their own prejudices and preconceived ideas. They regarded themselves as God’s own chosen people and the sole repositories of divine knowledge. So it was difficult for them to shed their prejudices all at once. This is why the Arabs who had no past experience of Divine revelation and possessed no settled beliefs and principles readily accepted the Holy Prophet while the Jews waited and hesitated. Their rejection of Jesus was also due to the same cause.
2108
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that it was not quite easy for Jews to accept the Holy Prophet. Islam had introduced new ideals and new teachings and the Jews had their own prejudices and preconceived ideas. They regarded themselves as God’s own chosen people and the sole repositories of divine knowledge. So it was difficult for them to shed their prejudices all at once. This is why the Arabs who had no past experience of Divine revelation and possessed no settled beliefs and principles readily accepted the Holy Prophet while the Jews waited and hesitated. Their rejection of Jesus was also due to the same cause.
قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَآ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرًا
Commentary:
This verse also shows that the Journey of Moses was a vision because being an independent Prophet he could not pledge himself to obey a person, however spiritually eminent, in matters of Shari‘ah. He was the divinely appointed Leader and Guide for his people and therefore could not afford to seek guidance from any other source except the Divine. The verse also implies the hint that it would be binding on Moses’ followers of the Holy Prophet’s time to accept him. It is to this fact, perhaps, that the saying of the Prophet, "If Moses and Jesus had been alive, they could not help being among my followers" (Kathir, vol. 11, p. 246), refers.
2109
Commentary:
This verse also shows that the Journey of Moses was a vision because being an independent Prophet he could not pledge himself to obey a person, however spiritually eminent, in matters of Shari‘ah. He was the divinely appointed Leader and Guide for his people and therefore could not afford to seek guidance from any other source except the Divine. The verse also implies the hint that it would be binding on Moses’ followers of the Holy Prophet’s time to accept him. It is to this fact, perhaps, that the saying of the Prophet, "If Moses and Jesus had been alive, they could not help being among my followers" (Kathir, vol. 11, p. 246), refers.
قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا
11:47; 17:37.
11:47; 17:37.
11:47; 17:37.
Commentary:
By implication the verse establishes the Holy Prophet’s spiritual superiority over Moses. Whereas Moses, in spite of his repeated pledge that he would ask no more questions, persisted in doing so, the Holy Prophet, though he had made no such promise to Gabriel, on being only once told by the Archangel in his Vision to ask no question, at once submitted to him and maintained complete silence.
a
11:47; 17:37.
a
11:47; 17:37.
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Commentary:
By implication the verse establishes the Holy Prophet’s spiritual superiority over Moses. Whereas Moses, in spite of his repeated pledge that he would ask no more questions, persisted in doing so, the Holy Prophet, though he had made no such promise to Gabriel, on being only once told by the Archangel in his Vision to ask no question, at once submitted to him and maintained complete silence.
a
11:47; 17:37.