Pledge of Allah Almighty from all Prophets

[Ruhi_Rose]

 



Salams my dear everyone! 


"When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter) ? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you."  3:81.

I have been trying to clarify a point in this Verse.  Since all Prophets, or most of them, came at different times of history, how or where was this pledge taken with all Prophets?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum As-Salam dear Sister Ruhi

There are several Verses in the Noble Quran where Allah Almighty mentions of His covenants with His slaves, the Prophets.  Concerning Verse 3:81, quote:

"When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter) ? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you."  3:81.


To answer where this pledge took place, it can either be in the spiritual world  or in the physical earthly world by means of revelation. Both are possible.  Or put it this way:  The call of Allah Almighty commanding the former Prophets to believe in the Final Prophet and Messenger, Muhammed (saaw), might have been either in this world or in the spiritual world.  Only Allah would know, we don't.   However, if it took place in the earthly world, then obviously the pledge was taken separately from every Prophet as most Prophets came during different eras .. except a few like Prophets Moses and Aaron, Prophets Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael ... and there could be more .... who were contemporaries of the same family.

According to Ibn Kathir generalized tafsir, this pledge was taken from the prophets so that they help and support each other mutually.  However, like I said, with the exception of some, most other Prophets came at different times.  Therefore in the physical world it wasn't possible for them to be present at the same time for mutual support.  In the spiritual world of course they definitely are supporting one another mutually.  As usual Ibn Kathir has left his tafsir incomplete and only half explained.

Also take for example Verse 33:7 which expresses the same concept and its explanation would be much the same:  "And when We exacted a covenant from the prophets, and from thee (O Muhammad) and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them a solemn covenant;"

There are some scholars who are of the view that since the pledge in Verse 3:81 and similarly also in certain other Verses confirm Allah's commandment to other Prophets to believe in the Final Messenger and help him (that is, to support his mission), alludes that the prophethood of Prophet Muhammed (saaw) is universal.  Indeed it's absolutely true that the Noble Quran sent by Allah Almighty to the Final Messenger is a universal Message for entire humanity.  The same is also true about the former Prophets because every Prophet came with the same Message from The Almighty for the right guidance of humanity and to confirm the Divine Message sent before them.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thanks Sister Heba.  Very honestly and simply explained.  In my opinion, the pledge was in the spiritual world ... and only Allah knows best.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Bundle of thanks dear sister and brother.  Totally clear to me now.  They were discussing this Verse on pledge which Allah made with prophets at our Islamic community center lecture session last week.  But conveniently enough, as they went on talking, they omitted that point on reflecting where the pledge took place.  Nor did they ponder on the likelihood whether it was a collective pledge or taken individually.  I didn't ask them as I thought it would be better to clarify it here.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

A big welcome to you dear sis   thanks for your confidence in us