Allah states that He took a pledge from every Prophet whom He sent from Adam until
`Isa, that when Allah gives them the Book and the Hikmah, thus acquiring whatever
high grades they deserve, then a Messenger came afterwards, they would believe in
and support him. Even though Allah has given the Prophets the knowledge and the
prophethood, this fact should not make them refrain from following and supporting
the Prophet who comes after them. This is why Allah, the Most High, Most Honored,
said
﴿وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ النَّبِيِّيْنَ
لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ﴾
(And (remember) when Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, saying: "Take whatever
I gave you from the Book and Hikmah.'') meaning, if I give you the Book and the
Hikmah,
﴿ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ
لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ
عَلَى ذلِكُمْ إِصْرِى﴾
("and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you;
you must, then, believe in him and help him.'' Allah said, "Do you agree (to it)
and will you take up Isri'')
Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ar-Rabi`, Qatadah and As-Suddi said that `Isri' means, "My
covenant.'' Muhammad bin Ishaq said that,
﴿إِصْرِى﴾
(Isri) means, "The responsibility of My covenant that you took,'' meaning, the ratified
pledge that you gave Me.
﴿قَالُواْ أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُواْ
وَأَنَاْ مَعَكُمْ مِّنَ الشَّـهِدِينَفَمَنْ تَوَلَّى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ﴾
(They said: "We agree.'' He said: "Then bear witness; and I am with you among the
witnesses.'' then whoever turns away after this,'') from fulfilling this pledge
and covenant, c
﴿فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَـسِقُونَ﴾
(they are the rebellious.) `Ali bin Abi Talib and his cousin `Abdullah bin `Abbas
said, "Allah never sent a Prophet but after taking his pledge that if Muhammad were
sent in his lifetime, he would believe in and support him.'' Allah commanded each
Prophet to take a pledge from his nation that if Muhammad were sent in their time,
they would believe in and support him. Tawus, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah said,
"Allah took the pledge from the Prophets that they would believe in each other'',
and this statement does not contradict what `Ali and Ibn `Abbas stated.
Therefore, Muhammad is the Final Prophet until the Day of Resurrection. He is the
greatest Imam, who if he existed in any time period, deserves to be obeyed, rather
than all other Prophets. This is why Muhammad led the Prophets in prayer during
the night of Isra' when they gathered in Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). He is the intercessor
on the Day of Gathering, when the Lord comes to judge between His servants. This
is Al-Maqam Al-Mahmud (the praised station) ﴿refer to 17:79﴾ that only Muhammad
deserves, a responsibility which the mighty Prophets and Messengers will decline
to assume. However, Muhammad will carry the task of intercession, may Allah's peace
and blessings be on him.
﴿أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ
اللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا
وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ - قُلْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَآ
أُنزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالاٌّسْبَاطِ
وَمَا أُوتِىَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ
أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ - وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلَـمِ دِينًا
فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَـسِرِينَ ﴾
(83. Do they seek other than the religion of Allah, while to Him submitted all creatures
in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all
be returned.) (84. Say: "We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us,
and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Isma`il, Ishaq, Ya`qub and Al-Asbat, and what
was given to Musa, `Isa and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction
between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted.'') (85. And
whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and
in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.)
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