رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا بِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ وَٱتَّبَعْنَا ٱلرَّسُولَ فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ 53
Translations
Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger [i.e., Jesus], so register us among the witnesses [to truth]."
Transliteration
Rabbanā āmannā bimā anzalta wattaba'nā ar-rasūla faktubna ma'a ash-shāhidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the supplication of the disciples of 'Isa (Jesus), expressing their complete faith in Allah's revelation and their commitment to following the Messenger. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, they request to be recorded among the witnesses—those who testify to the truth of Allah's signs and the message of the Prophet. This represents the highest level of devotion: belief combined with action (following the Messenger) and a sincere desire to be among the righteous witnesses on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the followers of 'Isa and their faith. It follows verses describing believers who turned to Allah in repentance and sincere devotion. The thematic context emphasizes the contrast between those who rejected previous messengers and those disciples who embraced faith wholeheartedly, making this a Medinan ayah reflecting on the lessons of past nations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 2509), which relates to the concept of being among the witnesses. Additionally, the hadith about the Day of Judgment in Sahih Muslim emphasizes that believers will be witnesses alongside their Prophet.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires both intellectual acceptance of Allah's message and practical commitment to following the Messenger's guidance. Believers should aspire not merely to believe privately, but to live as witnesses to truth—exemplifying their faith through righteous action so they may be recorded among those who genuinely testified to Allah's signs.
Related Ayahs
أَوَلَمَّآ أَصَـٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّىٰ هَـٰذَا ۖ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uḥud], although you had struck [the enemy in the battle of Badr] with one twice as great, you said, "From where is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves [i.e., due to your sin]." Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
These are the verses of Allāh. We recite them to you, [O Muḥammad], in truth; and Allāh wants no injustice to the worlds [i.e., His creatures].
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And to Allāh will [all] matters be returned.
وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
And Allāh made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise -