وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍ وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا 7
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant
Transliteration
Wa idh akhdhana min an-nabiyyeen meethaqahum wa minka wa min Nooh wa Ibraheem wa Moosa wa Eesa ibna Maryam wa akhdhana minhum meethaqan ghaleezha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's covenant with the prophets, specifically mentioning Muhammad, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all), emphasizing a solemn and binding agreement. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this covenant obligated the prophets to convey Allah's message and believe in one another, particularly establishing the connection between the prophets and their mutual recognition. Al-Qurtubi notes that the term 'meethaq ghaleez' (firm covenant) underscores the gravity and strength of this divine pledge, which surpasses ordinary commitments.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during a period addressing the challenges faced by the Muslim community, this ayah contextualizes the Prophet Muhammad's role within the continuum of prophethood. It appears within Surah Al-Ahzab during discussions of the Prophet's relationships and responsibilities, reinforcing his position as the final messenger inheriting the legacy of previous prophets.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The example of me and the prophets before me is like that of a man who built a house and made it beautiful and complete, except for the place of a brick in one corner.' (Sahih Bukhari 3535). Additionally, hadith in Sahih Muslim indicates the Prophet's statement about the covenant taken from all prophets regarding belief in him and supporting him.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that all prophets were united in their core message of monotheism and righteousness, reminding believers that Islam is not a new religion but the continuation of the same divine guidance given throughout human history. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of honoring our commitments and recognizing that our faith is built upon a foundation laid by all the righteous messengers before us.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً ۚ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
Say, "Who is it that can protect you from Allāh if He intends for you an ill or intends for you a mercy?" And they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or any helper.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظَـٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allāh often and the women who do so - for them Allāh has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful.
مَّلْعُونِينَ ۖ أَيْنَمَا ثُقِفُوٓا۟ أُخِذُوا۟ وَقُتِّلُوا۟ تَقْتِيلًا
Accursed wherever they are found, [being] seized and massacred completely.