وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ 23
Translations
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture, so do not be in doubt over his meeting. And We made it [i.e., the Torah] guidance for the Children of Israel.
Transliteration
Wa laqad atayna Musa al-Kitaba fa la takun fi miryatin min liqaihi wa ja'alnahu hudan li bani Isra'il
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah declares that He granted Musa (Moses) the Torah (al-Kitab), and commands the Prophet Muhammad not to doubt its authenticity or meeting with Allah. Ibn Kathir explains this as affirmation of the Torah's divine origin and its role as guidance for the Children of Israel, while also establishing that previous scriptures were genuine revelations. Al-Tabari emphasizes that 'liqaihi' (meeting with it/encountering it) refers to the certainty of receiving the Book directly from Allah, not doubting this divine transaction.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah As-Sajdah, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period. It contextualizes the Qur'an within the continuum of divine revelation, addressing potential doubts about previous scriptures and affirming their authenticity. The broader context of the surah discusses signs of Allah's creation and the reality of the Hereafter, establishing the consistency of divine guidance across prophets.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, 'The closest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who feared Allah the most,' relates to the theme of following divine guidance. Additionally, hadiths confirming the Torah's revelation support this ayah's assertion of Musa's receipt of the Book.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to have unwavering certainty in divine revelation and the authenticity of previous scriptures, recognizing that guidance has been consistent throughout history via different prophets. It encourages us to appreciate the legacy of divine books and understand that doubting divine revelation contradicts the nature of faith itself.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
It is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْفَتْحُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
And they say, "When will be this conquest, if you should be truthful?"
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
Or do they say, "He invented it"? Rather, it is the truth from your Lord, [O Muḥammad], that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you [so] perhaps they will be guided.
أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقًا ۚ لَّا يَسْتَوُۥنَ
Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal.