Surah Al-Araf, Verse 157 and 158

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 *Surah Al-Araf, Verse 157:*

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad SAW) whom they find written with them in the Taurat (Torah) (Deut, xviii, 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16), - he commands them for Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyibat [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khaba'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah's Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of ALLĀH be upon him]), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur'an) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.

#COMMENTARY

In this verse is a pre-figuring, to Moses, of the Arabian Messenger, the last and greatest of the messengers of Almighty ALLĀH (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). Prophecies about him will be found in the Tawrāt and the Injīl. In the reflex of the Tawrāt as now accepted by the Jews, Moses says: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me." (Deuteronomy, chapter xviii, verse 15): the only Prophet who brought a Shari'ah like that of Moses was Muhammad Al-Mustafā, and the he came of the house of Ismā'īl the brother of Isaac the father of Israel. In the reflex of the Gospel as now accepted by the Christians, Christ promised another Comforter (John, chapter xiv, verse 16): the Greek word Paraclete which the Christians interpret as referring to the Holy spirit is by our Doctors taken to be Pericycle, which would be the Greek form of Ahmad. See Qur-ān chapter lxi, verse 6.

Aglāl: plural of gullun, a yoke, an iron collar. In the formation and exclusiveness of the Jews there were many restrictions which were removed by Islam, a religion of freedom in the faith of Almighty ALLĀH, of universality in the variety of races, languages, manners and customs.

Light which is sent down with him: the words are "with him", not "to him", emphasising the fact that the light which he brought illumines every one who has the privilege of joining his great and universal Fellowship.

Falāh: prosperity in its general sense as well as in its spiritual sense. In the general sense it means that right conduct is the only door to happiness and well-being. In the spiritual sense it means that Faith and its fruits (right conduct) are the only gates of salvation.

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*Surah Al-Araf, Verse 158:*

قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Say (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of ALLĀH be upon him]): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He); It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of ALLĀH be upon him]), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of ALLĀH be upon him]) who believes in Allah and His Words [(this Qur-ān), the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allah's Word: "Be!" - and he was, i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guided."

#COMMENTARY

Our attention having been directed to various Prophets, who were sent with missions to their several peoples, and in each of whose careers there is some pre-figurement of the life of the last and greatest of them, we are now asked to listen to the proclamation of Muhammad's universal mission. We contemplate no longer, after this, partial truths. It is not now a question of saving Israel from the bondage of Egypt, nor teaching Midian the ethnics of business, nor reclaiming the people of Lot from sexual sin or Thamūd from the sin of oppression in power, or 'Ād from arrogance and ancestor worship. Now are set forth plainly the issues of Life and Death, the Message of ALLĀH, the One Universal God to all mankind.

"Unlettered," as applied to the Prophet here and in verse 157 above, has three special significations.

1. He was not versed in human learning: yet he was full of the highest wisdom, and had a most wonderful knowledge of the previous Scriptures. This was a proof of his inspiration. It was a miracle of the highest kind, a "Sign", which every one could test then, and every one can test now.

2. All organised human knowledge tends to be crystallized, to acquire a partial bias or flavour of some "school" of thought. The highest Teacher had to be free from any such taint, just as a clean slate is necessary if a perfectly clear and bold message has to be written to it.

3. In chapter iii, verse 20 and chapter lxii, verse 2, the epithet is applied to the Pagan Arabs, because, before the advent of Islam, they were unlearned.