Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 87

(Ayah 87) ➊ That is, the prophets and messengers who came after Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) and whose names are mentioned in the Noble Qur’an are: Harun (Aaron), Dhul-Kifl, Ilyas (Elijah), Al-Yasa‘ (Elisha), Dawud (David), Sulayman (Solomon), Uzayr (Ezra), Yunus (Jonah), Zakariya (Zechariah), Yahya (John), and ‘Isa (Jesus), peace be upon them all. In hadith, Yusha‘ bin Nun (Joshua) (peace be upon him) is also mentioned. There is a difference of opinion regarding Luqman (peace be upon him) being a prophet. Many messengers are not mentioned in the Qur’an; see Surah Al-Mu’min (78).

➋ { الْبَيِّنٰتِ:} This refers to the miracles that were given to ‘Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him), such as bringing the dead to life, shaping a bird from clay and breathing into it so it becomes a bird, curing the blind and the leper, etc., which are mentioned in Surah Al ‘Imran (49) and Al-Ma’idah (110).

➌ { بِرُوْحِ الْقُدُسِ:} This refers to Jibril (Gabriel) (peace be upon him). Al-Zamakhshari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: {’’ بِالرُّوْحِ الْمُقَدَّسَةِ كَمَا تَقُوْلُ حَاتِمُ الْجُوْدِ وَ رَجُلُ صِدْقٍ ‘‘} It is as if “Ruh” (Spirit) is the described noun, which is annexed to its attribute, and “Qudus” (Holy) is a verbal noun in the meaning of a passive participle, i.e., “pure spirit,” just as {’’حَاتِمٌ‘‘} is annexed to its attribute {’’ اَلْجُوْدُ ‘‘}, while { ”اَلْجُوْدُ“ } is a verbal noun meaning {’’ اَلْجَوَادُ ‘‘}, i.e., generous, and {’’رَجُلٌ‘‘} is annexed to its attribute {’’ صِدْقٌ‘‘}, which is in the meaning of {’’صَادِقٌ‘‘}, i.e., a truthful person. (Al-Kashshaf) Some scholars have said: {’’ الْقُدُسِ ‘‘} refers to Allah Almighty, because He is entirely pure, and the spirit is annexed to Him, so “Ruh al-Qudus” means “the Spirit of Allah,” although Allah is the owner of all spirits, but Jibril (peace be upon him) was given this special honor, just as “Bayt Allah” (the House of Allah) and “Naqat Allah” (the She-camel of Allah) are said, even though Allah is the owner of all houses and all she-camels, but the Ka‘bah and the she-camel of Salih (peace be upon him) were given special honor with these words.

The evidence that “Ruh al-Qudus” refers to Jibril (peace be upon him) is that in Surah Al-Shu‘ara’ (193), Jibril (peace be upon him) is called {”الرُّوْحُ الْاَمِيْنُ“}, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him): [ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَيِّدْهُ بِرُوْحِ الْقُدُسِ] “O Allah! Strengthen him with Ruh al-Qudus.” [ بخاری، الصلوۃ، باب الشعر فی المسجد : ۴۵۳ ]

In another hadith, on the day of the battle with Banu Qurayzah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him): [ اُهْجُ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ فَإِنَّ جِبْرِيْلَ مَعَكَ ] “Satirize the polytheists, for indeed Jibril is with you.” [ بخاری، المغازی، باب مرجع النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم من الأحزاب : ۴۱۲۴ ] Thus, it is clear that Ruh al-Qudus is Jibril.

➍ Although all prophets were given clear signs and revelation was sent through Jibril (peace be upon him), the miracles and support of Ruh al-Qudus are mentioned specifically with ‘Isa (peace be upon him) because the Jews denied even such an exalted prophet, and even, in their view, crucified him, then considered it their proud achievement: «{ وَّ قَوْلِهِمْ اِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيْحَ عِيْسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَ مَا قَتَلُوْهُ وَ مَا صَلَبُوْهُ وَ لٰكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اخْتَلَفُوْا فِيْهِ لَفِيْ شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مَا لَهُمْ بِهٖ مِنْ عِلْمٍ اِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ وَ مَا قَتَلُوْهُ يَقِيْنًا }» [ النساء : ۱۵۷ ] “And because of their saying (we cursed them), ‘We killed the Messiah, ‘Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah’—but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared so to them. And those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not.”

➎ { وَ فَرِيْقًا تَقْتُلُوْنَ:} See the commentary of Surah Al-Baqarah, verse (61).

87. 1. Ayah (وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهٖ بالرُّسُلِ) 2. Baqarah:87) means that after Musa (peace be upon him), prophets continued to come one after another until the series of prophets among Bani Israel ended with Isa (peace be upon him). By (بَیِّنَاتِ), miracles are meant which were given to Isa (peace be upon him), such as bringing the dead to life, curing the leper and the blind, etc., which are mentioned in (وَرَسُوْلًا اِلٰى بَنِىْٓ اِسْرَاۗءِيْلَ ڏ اَنِّىْ قَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِاٰيَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ ۙ اَنِّىْٓ اَخْلُقُ لَكُمْ مِّنَ الطِّيْنِ كَهَيْــــَٔــةِ الطَّيْرِ فَاَنْفُخُ فِيْهِ فَيَكُوْنُ طَيْرًۢا بِاِذْنِ اللّٰهِ ۚ وَاُبْرِئُ الْاَكْمَهَ وَالْاَبْرَصَ وَاُحْىِ الْمَوْتٰى بِاِذْنِ اللّٰهِ ۚ وَاُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا تَاْكُلُوْنَ وَمَا تَدَّخِرُوْنَ ۙفِيْ بُيُوْتِكُمْ ۭ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيَةً لَّكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ 49؀ۚ) 3:49. In another verse, Jibril (peace be upon him) is called (رُوحُ لْآمین). The Prophet ﷺ said regarding Hassan (O Allah, support him with the Holy Spirit). In another hadith, it is said (Jibril is with you). It is thus clear that by "Ruh al-Qudus" is meant Jibril (peace be upon him) (Fath al-Bayan, Ibn Kathir, referenced from al-Hawashi).

87. 2. Just as Muhammad ﷺ and Isa (peace be upon him) were denied, and Zakariya and Yahya (peace be upon them) were killed.

87. And indeed, We gave Moses ؑ the Book. Then, after him [100], We sent messengers in succession, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs [101] and supported him with the Holy Spirit. But whenever a messenger brought you something that was against your desires, you became arrogant. Some of the messengers you denied, and others you [102] killed.

[100]
The Prophets Sent to the Children of Israel:

Among the prophets and messengers whose names are mentioned in the Quran (in chronological order) are: Harun, Dhul-Kifl, Ilyas, Al-Yasa', Dawud, Sulaiman, Luqman (disputed), Uzair, Yunus, Zakariya, Yahya, and Isa (peace be upon them), who is called Yasu' in the Syriac language.

[101]
The Miracles of Sayyiduna Isa:

Isa (peace be upon him), by Allah's command, would bring the dead to life. He would cure lepers and the blind simply by touching them. He would make a bird out of clay, blow into it, and it would begin to fly. He would also inform people of what they had eaten and what they had left at home, and in all these matters, the Holy Spirit, i.e., Jibril (peace be upon him), would support him.

[102]
The Killing of Prophets by the Jews:

Just as these people denied Sayyiduna Isa (peace be upon him) and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and killed Sayyiduna Zakariya and Sayyiduna Yahya (peace be upon them). They had even plotted to kill Sayyiduna Isa (peace be upon him), but Allah, by His special mercy, raised him up to Himself.