سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 94

The Night Journey · Meccan · Juz 15 · Page 291

وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ أَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا ﴿94﴾
And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: "Has Allâh sent a man as (His) Messenger?"
وَمَا wamā And what
مَنَعَ manaʿa prevented
ٱلنَّاسَ l-nāsa the people
أَن an that
يُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ yu'minū they believe
إِذْ idh when
جَآءَهُمُ jāahumu came to them
ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ l-hudā the guidance
إِلَّآ illā except
أَن an that
قَالُوٓا۟ qālū they said
أَبَعَثَ abaʿatha Has Allah sent
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Has Allah sent
بَشَرًۭا basharan a human
رَّسُولًۭا rasūlan Messenger

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 94) {وَ مَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ اَنْ يُّؤْمِنُوْۤا …:} That is, they could not understand how a human being could be a messenger of Allah; if Allah wanted to send a messenger, He would have sent an angel. They knew that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was a human; they saw his ancestors and wives and children, your eating and drinking, walking and other human needs, so they were not ready to accept him as a messenger. Now, many who call themselves Muslims, having inherited Islam from their forefathers, accept Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a messenger, but are never ready to accept him as a human, because the mindset of the polytheists of Arabia and these people is the same. They said, a human cannot be a messenger, and they said, a messenger cannot be a human. {’’ فَمَا أَشْبَهَ اللَّيْلَةَ بِالْبَارِحَةِ ‘‘} (So how much tonight resembles last night) Allah Almighty has mentioned this doubt of the disbelievers in several verses; see Surah Yunus (2), Taghabun (6), Surah Qaf (1, 2), and An'am (8, 9). The reality is that all these people, due to their lack of insight, never recognized the status and honor and dignity of humans in the sight of Allah Almighty. See Surah Bani Isra'il (70).

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

94. 1. That is, for the disbelievers and polytheists, it was a matter of great astonishment that a human being could be a messenger. They would not accept that someone like us, who walks among us, eats and drinks like us, and is connected to human relationships like us, could become a messenger. This very astonishment remained an obstacle to their faith.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

94. And nothing prevented people from believing when guidance came to them except that they said, "Has Allah sent a human as a messenger [112]?"

[112]
Denial of Messengership Due to Humanity and Denial of Humanity Due to Messengership:

The opponents of the Prophets and Messengers have always raised this objection that since this Messenger is a human being just like us, eats and drinks like us, walks around, marries, and has children, and the needs that befall us also befall him—then how can he be a Prophet? In other words, the disbelievers denied the Prophethood of the Prophets because they were human. Later, among the very communities of these Prophets, there arose people who, out of excessive devotion, accepted their Prophethood and Messengership beyond its limits but denied their humanity. Then some gave their Prophet the status of God, some called him the son of God, and some said that God had incarnated in him. Thus, in the view of both these extremists, the combination of humanity and Messengership in one being was considered impossible. The disbelievers denied Messengership due to humanity, and those with excessive devotion denied humanity due to Messengership.