وَمَا جَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ جَسَدًا لَّا يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ خَـٰلِدِينَ 8
Translations
And We did not make them [i.e., the prophets] forms not eating food, nor were they immortal [on earth].
Transliteration
Wa mā jʿalnāhum jasadan lā yaʾkulūn aṭ-ṭʿām wa mā kānū khālidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah clarifies that the prophets were not created as disembodied spirits or immortal beings, but rather as human beings with physical bodies who required sustenance and were subject to mortality. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse refutes the misguided notions of those who attributed superhuman or divine qualities to the prophets, establishing their essential humanity while affirming their prophetic mission. The verse emphasizes that the prophets' humanity was not a weakness but rather a sign of Allah's mercy, as they experienced the same conditions as their people to better understand and guide them.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Anbiya's discussion of various prophets and their messages. The thematic context addresses misconceptions about prophets held by disbelievers and previous peoples—some claimed prophets were angels or possessed supernatural immunity from human needs. This verse establishes the foundational doctrine that all prophets were mortal human beings subject to the laws of nature.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'I am a human being like you. I forget as you forget, so if I forget, remind me' (Sahih Bukhari 1/96). This hadith exemplifies the humanity affirmed in this ayah, showing the Prophet's acknowledgment of shared human limitations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true leadership and guidance do not require divinity or superhuman status, but rather genuine humanity and reliance upon Allah. Modern believers should find solace that the prophets' struggles, needs, and mortality made them models of authentic human excellence rather than distant, unreachable figures.