The Prophet’s (saws) Way and other Lessons. (Surah Yusuf 12:108-111)

The Messenger's Way

Allah orders His Messenger   to say to mankind and the Jinns that this is his way, meaning, his method, path and Sunnah, concentrating on calling to the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone without partners. The Messenger    calls to this testimonial with sure knowledge, certainty and firm evidence. He calls to this way, and those who followed him call to what Allah's Messenger   called to with sure knowledge, certainty and evidence, whether logical or religious evidence,

And Glorified and Exalted be Allah. This part of the Ayah means, I glorify, honor, revere and praise Allah from having a partner, equal, rival, parent, son, wife, minister or advisor. All praise and honor be to Allah, glorified He is from all that they attribute to Him,

The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him, and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving. [Surah Isra' 17]




All of the Prophets are Humans and Men

Allah states that He only sent Prophets and Messengers from among men and not from among women, as this Ayah clearly states. Allah did not reveal religious and legislative laws to any woman from among the daughters of Adam. This is the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah. Shaykh Abu Al-Hasan, `Ali bin Isma`il Al-Ash`ari mentioned that it is the view of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah, that there were no female Prophets, but there were truthful believers from among women. Allah mentions the most honorable of the truthful female believers, Maryam, the daughter of `Imran, when He said,

The Messiah ['Isa], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a Siddiqah [truthful believer]. They both used to eat food. [Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: :75]

Therefore, the best description Allah gave her is Siddiqah. Had she been a Prophet, Allah would have mentioned this fact when He was praising her qualities and honor. Therefore, Mary was a truthful believer according to the words of the Qur'an.


All Prophets were Humans not Angels

Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

And We sent not before you (as Messengers) any but men "They were not from among the residents of the heaven (angels), as you claimed.'' This statement of Ibn `Abbas is supported by Allah's statements,

And We never sent before you any of the Messengers, but verily, they ate food and walked in the markets, [Surah Al-Furqan 25]

And We did not create them with bodies that ate not food, nor were they immortals. Then We fulfilled to them the promise. So We saved them and those whom We willed, but We destroyed extravagants, [Surah Al-Anbiya’ 21-9] and,

Say: "I am not a new thing among the Messengers.'' [Surah Al-Ahqaf 46] Allah said next,

from among the people of townships,  meaning, from among the people of cities, not that they were sent among the bedouins who are some of the harshest and roughest of all people.

Drawing Lessons from the Incidents of the Past

Allah said next,

Have they not traveled in the land, meaning, `Have not these people who rejected you, O Muhammad, traveled in the land,'

and seen what was the end of those who were before them that is, the earlier nations that rejected the Messengers, and how Allah destroyed them. A similar end is awaiting all disbelievers. Allah said in another Ayah,

Have they not traveled through the land, and have they hearts wherewith to understand [Surah Al-Hajj 22]

When they hear this statement, they should realize that Allah destroyed the disbelievers and saved the believers, and this is His way with His creation. This is why Allah said,

And verily, the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who have Taqwa. Allah says, `Just as We saved the faithful in this life, We also wrote safety for them in the Hereafter, which is far better for them than the life of the present world.' Allah said in another Ayah,

Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth (i.e. Day of Resurrection). The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to the wrongdoers. Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode (in Hellfire). [Surah Ghafir 40-52]

Allah's Prophets are aided by Victory in Times of Distress and Need

Allah states that He sends His aid and support to His Messengers, peace be upon them, when distress and hardship surround them and they eagerly await Allah's aid. Allah said in another Ayah,

..and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah'' [Surah Al-Baqarah 2] As for saying of Allah,

they were denied There are two recitations for it. One of them is with a Shadda (meaning: they were betrayed by their people). And this is the way `A'ishah, (Radhi Allahu Anha), recited it. Al-Bukhari said that `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr narrated that he asked `Aishah  (Radhi Allahu Anha) about the meaning of the following verse,

`Until when the Messengers give up hope..., Respite will be granted, is it denied or betrayed `A'ishah replied, "betrayed.'' `Urwah said, "I said, `They were sure that their people betrayed them, so why use the word `thought'' She said, `Yes, they were sure that they betrayed them.' I said,

and they thought that they were denied (by Allah) `A'ishah said, `Allah forbid! The Messengers did not suspect their Lord of such a thing.' I asked, `So what does this Ayah mean' She said, `This Verse is concerned with the Messengers' followers who had faith in their Lord and believed in their Messengers. The period of trials for those followers was long and Allah's help was delayed until the Messengers gave up hope for the conversion of the disbelievers amongst their nation and suspected that even their followers were shaken in their belief, Allah's help then came to them.''' Ibn Jurayj narrated that Ibn Abi Mulaikah said that Ibn `Abbas   read this Ayah this way,

and they thought they were denied. `Abdullah bin Abi Mulaikah said, "Then Ibn `Abbas said to me that they were humans. He then recited this Ayah,

..even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah'' Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near![Surah Al-Baqarah 2]''  

Ibn Jurayj also narrated that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that `Urwah narrated to him that `Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) did not agree to this and rejected it. She said, "Nothing that Allah has promised Muhammad,   , but Muhammad knew for certainty that it shall come, until he died. However, the Messengers were tried with trials until they thought that those believers, who were with them, did not fully support them.'' Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that `Urwah narrated that `Aishah recited this Ayah this way,

"and they thought that they were betrayed.'' Therefore, there is another way of reciting this word, and there is a difference of opinion about its meaning. We narrated the meaning that Ibn `Abbas   gave. Ibn Mas`ud said, as Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated from him, that he read the Ayah this way,

until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied. `Abdullah commented that this is the recitation that you dislike. Ibn `Abbas also commented on this Ayah, "When the Messengers gave up hope that their people would accept their messages, and their people thought that their Messengers had not said the truth to them, Allah's victory came then,

and whomsoever We willed were rescued. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari narrated that Ibrahim bin Abi Hamzah [Hurrah] Al-Jazari said, "A young man from Quraysh asked Sa'id bin Jubayr `O, Abu `Abdullah! How do you read this word, for when I pass by it, I wish I had not read this Surah,

until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied... He said, `Yes, it means, when the Messengers gave up hope that their people will believe in them and those to whom the Messengers were sent thought that the Messengers were not truthful.''' Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim commented, "I have not seen someone who is called to knowledge and is lazy accepting the invitation, until today! If you traveled to Yemen just to get this explanation, it will still be worth it.'' Ibn Jarir At-Tabari narrated that Muslim bin Yasar asked Sa`id bin Jubayr about the same Ayah and he gave the same response. Muslim stood up and embraced Sa'id bin Jubayr, saying, "May Allah relieve a distress from you as you relieved a distress from me!'' This was reported from Sa'id bin Jubayr through various chains of narration. This is also the Tafsir that Mujahid bin Jabr and several other Salaf scholars gave for this Ayah. However, some scholars said that the Ayah,

and thought that they were denied, is in reference to the believers who followed the Messengers, while some said it is in reference to the disbelievers among the Messengers' nation. In the latter case, the meaning becomes: `and the disbelievers thought that the Messengers were not given a true promise of victory. ' Ibn Jarir At-Tabarani narrated that Tamim bin Hadhlam said, "I heard `Abdullah bin Mas`ud   comment on this Ayah,

until, when the Messengers gave up hope that their people will believe in them, and their people thought when the respite was long, that the Messengers were not given a true promise.''




A Lesson for Men Who have Understanding

Allah states here that the stories of the Messengers and their nations and how we saved the believers and destroyed the disbelievers are,

a lesson for men of understanding, who have sound minds,

It is not a forged statement. Allah says here that this Qur'an could not have been forged; it truly came from Allah,

but a confirmation of that which was before it in reference to the previously revealed Divine Books, by which this Qur'an testifies to the true parts that remain in them and denies and refutes the forged parts that were added, changed and falsified by people. The Qur'an accepts or abrogates whatever Allah wills of these Books,

and a detailed explanation of everything  Meaning the allowed, the prohibited, the preferred and the disliked matters. The Qur'an deals with the acts of worship, the obligatory and recommended matters, forbids the unlawful and discourages from the disliked. The Qur'an contains major facts regarding the existence and about matters of the future in general terms or in detail. The Qur'an tells us about the Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored, and about His Names and Attributes and teaches us that Allah is glorified from being similar in any way to the creation. Hence, the Qur'an is,

a guide and a mercy for the people who believe. with which their hearts are directed from misguidance to guidance and from deviation to conformance, and with which they seek the mercy of the Lord of all creation in this life and on the Day of Return. We ask Allah the Most Great to make us among this group in the life of the present world and in the Hereafter, on the Day when those who are successful will have faces that radiate with light, while those whose faces are dark will end up with the losing deal.

Reference: Tafsir ibn Kathir (abridged) English version.