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
۞ لَيْسُوا۟ سَوَآءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ
They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allāh during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].
شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
So by mercy from Allāh, [O Muḥammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allāh. Indeed, Allāh loves those who rely [upon Him].
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
So how will it be when We assemble them for a Day about which there is no doubt? And each soul will be compensated [in full for] what it earned, and they will not be wronged.