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
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allāh took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], "Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him." [Allāh] said, "Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?" They said, "We have acknowledged it." He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
إِذْ هَمَّت طَّآئِفَتَانِ مِنكُمْ أَن تَفْشَلَا وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّهُمَا ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
When two parties among you were about to lose courage, but Allāh was their ally; and upon Allāh the believers should rely.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allāh while Allāh is Witness over what you do?"