Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 45

(Ayah 45) ➊ { يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ اِنَّاۤ اَرْسَلْنٰكَ شَاهِدًا :} In these verses, Allah Almighty has mentioned five attributes of the Prophet (peace be upon him), from which those magnificent ranks become evident upon which Allah has elevated you, and the responsibilities that are placed upon you as a Messenger are illuminated. The meaning is that We have granted you such lofty ranks that no matter how many accusations your opponents make and how much they speak insolently, they cannot harm you in any way. Therefore, you should continue to fulfill your prophetic duty and pay no attention to their words. The very first attribute among them is {’’ شَاهِدًا ‘‘}. This testimony is of two kinds: one is the testimony in this world that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and the true religion is only Islam, as Allah Almighty has said: «{ شَهِدَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ وَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ وَ اُولُوا الْعِلْمِ قَآىِٕمًۢا بِالْقِسْطِ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ (18) اِنَّ الدِّيْنَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ الْاِسْلَامُ } » [ آل عمران : ۱۸، ۱۹ ] "Allah has testified that there is no deity except Him, and so have the angels and those endowed with knowledge, maintaining justice. There is no deity except Him, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) testified to this before the whole world with his words and actions. The second is the testimony in the Hereafter, meaning that on the Day of Resurrection, you (peace be upon him) will testify that you conveyed all of Allah's messages to the Ummah, as Allah Almighty has said: «{ فَكَيْفَ اِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ اُمَّةٍۭ بِشَهِيْدٍ وَّ جِئْنَا بِكَ عَلٰى هٰۤؤُلَآءِ شَهِيْدًا}» [ النساء : ۴۱ ] "Then how will it be when We bring from every nation a witness and bring you as a witness over these people?" And He said: «{ وَ كَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ اُمَّةً وَّسَطًا لِّتَكُوْنُوْا شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يَكُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيْدًا }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۴۳ ] "And thus We have made you the best community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you."

➋ Some people have tried to interpret the word {’’ شَاهِدًا ‘‘} to mean that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is seeing all the deeds of the people and is present and witnessing everywhere. Otherwise, how could he testify without seeing? But this is incorrect, because the task of the Prophets (peace be upon them) is not to testify over the deeds of the servants as to what they have been doing, but rather their task is to testify that the truth was conveyed to the servants. Allah Almighty has clearly said: «{ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ اللّٰهُ الرُّسُلَ فَيَقُوْلُ مَا ذَاۤ اُجِبْتُمْ قَالُوْا لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ }» [ المائدۃ : ۱۰۹ ] "The Day when Allah will gather the Messengers and say, 'What response were you given?' They will say, 'We have no knowledge; indeed, You are the Knower of the unseen.'" Similarly, when Allah Almighty will ask Isa (peace be upon him), "Did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" he will say: «{ وَ كُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيْدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيْهِمْ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِيْ كُنْتَ اَنْتَ الرَّقِيْبَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ اَنْتَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيْدٌ }» [ المائدۃ : ۱۱۷ ] "And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are Witness over all things."

These verses are clear evidence that the Prophets will not be witnesses over the deeds of the people, so what will they be witnesses over? Allah Almighty Himself has clarified this by saying: «{ وَ كَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ اُمَّةً وَّسَطًا لِّتَكُوْنُوْا شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يَكُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيْدًا }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۴۳ ] "And thus We have made you the best community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you." From this, it is understood that on the Day of Resurrection, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) will testify over the Ummah and your Ummah will testify over the people. If this testimony were about deeds, then it would be necessary for the entire Ummah to be present and witnessing, and if the people of the Ummah are called only to testify that the Creator's message reached His creation, then certainly the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) will also testify to this. For further evidence, see the commentary of Surah Al-Baqarah (143) and Surah Al-Ma'idah (117).

➌ { وَ مُبَشِّرًا وَّ نَذِيْرًا :} This is the second and third attribute, meaning you are the bearer of glad tidings to the believers that soon the clouds of hardship will be lifted from them and very soon Allah Almighty will honor them with His victory and help, and after death, they will be granted the eternal blessings of Paradise and the vision of Allah. Likewise, you are the warner to those who deny the truth, warning them of their evil end and humiliation in this world, and also of the eternal punishment of Hell in the Hereafter.

45. 1. Some people interpret the meaning of "شاہد" as "present and observing," which is a meaning derived from the original Quranic word. The Prophet ﷺ will bear witness over his Ummah, both those who believed in him and those who denied him. On the Day of Judgment, you ﷺ will recognize the believers by their shining limbs of ablution, and similarly, you ﷺ will bear witness for the other Prophets (علیہم السلام) that they conveyed Allah's message to their respective nations. And this testimony will be based on the certain knowledge given by Allah, not because you ﷺ have seen all the Prophets (علیہم السلام) with your own eyes; such a belief is contrary to the commands of the Quran.

45. O Prophet! Indeed, We have sent you as a witness [72], a bearer of good news, and a warner [73].

[72]
The Three Forms of the Prophet’s Testimony:

This testimony is that the Creator, Owner, and the only true Deity of this universe is Allah alone; no one else shares with Him in divinity or sovereignty. And the Prophet’s testimony occurs in three ways: first, by studying the system of the universe, he himself reaches this conclusion, and some prophets are shown ﴿ملكوت السمٰوات والارض﴾ and are made to journey through it, so that they may attain absolute certainty regarding the testimony they are to call others to. The second testimony is that their own actions are the first to respond to their call. That is, their practical life bears witness that the testimony given by the Prophet is correct and true. And the third testimony is that on the Day of Resurrection, they will testify in favor of their community and against the deniers.
[73] That is, he gives glad tidings to the believers that the clouds of hardship are about to be lifted from them, and soon Allah will honor the believers with His help and victory, and after death, they will be granted Paradise and its blessings. In the same way, he warns the opponents of the true call of their evil end and humiliation in this world, and also of the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter. And this glad tidings and warning he does not give from himself, but he is appointed by Us for this purpose.