Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 51

(Ayah 51) ➊ { اِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا … :} From the beginning of the Surah up to here, the summary of the verses is that the people of Noah (peace be upon him) and the nations of the messengers who came after him denied their messengers, argued crookedly with falsehood to defeat the truth, and each intended to seize their messenger, but they could not succeed in their intention. Then Allah destroyed them in this world and has kept the most severe punishment for them in the Hereafter. Musa (peace be upon him) and the believing man who defended him were also helped in the same way, but Allah’s help for His people is hidden. First, they are tested in various ways, then the outcome is in their favor. Since most people focus on apparent causes and are deprived of the insight of faith, they think that they were not helped. After mentioning these events in which Allah’s help with {’’إِنَّ‘‘} is described, now, with {’’إِنَّ‘‘} and the lam of emphasis, and to express His greatness, Allah mentions Himself with the plural pronoun of majesty, saying in very emphatic words: « اِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا » that indeed We surely help Our messengers and those who believe, whether anyone understands it or not, this is Our way.

➋ { فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا:} Here is a question: we see that many messengers could not prevail over their people in this world, many prophets were killed, and the matter of the believers is the same. Then what does it mean, with so much emphasis, to say that We surely help Our messengers and those who believe, in the life of this world and on the Day when witnesses will stand? The answer is that there are many forms of help for the messengers and believers in the life of this world. The greatest help is that they remain steadfast on the truth in all circumstances; no matter how great the temptation or trial, even in the case of martyrdom, their feet do not waver from faith. This steadfastness can never be achieved without Allah’s special help, as He said: « اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ اَلَّا تَخَافُوْا وَ لَا تَحْزَنُوْا وَ اَبْشِرُوْا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِيْ كُنْتُمْ تُوْعَدُوْنَ (30) نَحْنُ اَوْلِيٰٓؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ » [ حٰمٓ السجدۃ : ۳۰، ۳۱ ] “Indeed, those who said, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ then remained steadfast, upon them the angels descend, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We are your friends in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.’” An example of this help is the People of the Ditch (Ashab al-Ukhdud). Another form of help is that, in terms of argument and proof, they always prevail over their enemy, as Pharaoh was defeated in the field of argument despite all his efforts, to the extent that the magicians who were brought to compete fell in prostration and believed. Another form of help is that Allah grants them such mental and spiritual superiority that, despite all the power, might, and kingdom, the disbelievers are considered by them to be less than a blade of grass. Another form of help is that their enemy are recompensed in this world for the excesses they committed against the messengers and the believers. (See Surah Rum: 47) Then whether that recompense is taken in the presence of the messenger, as happened with the people of Noah, ‘Ad, and Thamud, or after the messenger, as when Allah imposed His severe, fighting servants upon the Children of Israel after they killed some of their prophets, giving them a most exemplary punishment, as mentioned at the beginning of Surah Bani Isra’il, and those Jews who plotted to crucify ‘Isa (peace be upon him), the Romans were set upon them, who humiliated and disgraced them in every way, and they became so scattered in the world that to this day, it is difficult for them to reside anywhere without the protection of some nation. (See Surah Bani Isra’il: 4–7) And one form of help is that they are granted material victory, support, and rule in this world, as Dawud and Sulayman (peace be upon them) were helped. Of these forms, some prophets received only one type of help, some two, and some more. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) benefited from every type of help.

➌ { وَ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الْاَشْهَادُ: ’’ الْاَشْهَادُ ‘‘ ’’شَاهِدٌ‘‘} can be the plural of, just as the plural of {’’صَاحِبٌ‘‘} is {’’ أَصْحَابٌ ‘‘}, and so can {’’شَهِيْدٌ ‘‘}, just as the plural of {’’شَرِيْفٌ‘‘} is {’’أَشْرَافٌ‘‘}. That is, even on that Day We will help Our messengers and those who believe, when witnesses will stand. The meaning is the Day of Resurrection, when the prophets, angels, the people of faith, the earth, and a person’s own limbs will testify for or against him. On that Day, Allah will help His messengers and the believers by granting them Paradise and throwing their enemy into Hell. See Surah al-Mutaffifin (29–36).

51. 1. That is, He will humiliate their enemy and will be made dominant. Some people may have the objection that some prophets were killed, such as Yahya and Zakariya (علیہما السلام), and some were forced to migrate, such as Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) and our Prophet ﷺ and the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). Why did this happen despite the promise of help? In reality, this promise is according to the prevailing circumstances and the majority. Therefore, in some situations and for some individuals, the dominance of the disbelievers is not contrary to this, or it means that temporarily, sometimes under Allah’s wisdom and will, the disbelievers are granted dominance, but ultimately the people of faith are the ones who prevail and are successful. For example, after the killing of Yahya and Zakariya (علیہما السلام), Allah later imposed their enemy upon their killers, who quenched their thirst with their blood and humiliated them. The Jews who tried to kill Isa (علیہ السلام) by crucifixion, Allah gave such dominance to the Romans over those Jews that they made the Jews taste the torment of humiliation. The Prophet of Islam ﷺ and his companions were indeed forced to migrate, but after that, through the battles of Badr, Uhud, Ahzab, the expedition of Khaybar, and then the conquest of Makkah, Allah helped the Muslims in such a way and granted His Prophet and the believers such dominance that after this, what doubt remains in Allah’s help? Ibn Kathir

51. 2. Ashhad is the plural of shaheed (witness), just as ashraf is the plural of shareef. On the Day of Resurrection, the angels and the prophets (علیہم السلام) will bear witness, or the angels will testify that, O Allah, the prophets conveyed Your message, but their communities denied them. In addition, the Ummah of Muhammad and the Noble Prophet ﷺ will also bear witness, as has been mentioned earlier. That is why the Day of Resurrection is called the Day of Standing Witnesses. On that day, helping the believers means rewarding them for their good deeds and admitting them into Paradise.

51. Surely, We help Our messengers and those who believe in the life of this world [67] and on the Day when the witnesses will stand [68].

[67]
Forms of Allah’s Assistance:

There are several forms of help for the messengers and the believers in this world. One is that their enemies are destroyed and they are delivered from the clutches of the oppressors. The second is that they also attain political dominance. And the third is that their word prevails in the world, meaning that for the purpose for which they stand, Allah’s help remains with them. And the sacrifices of the truth-seekers are never wasted in any case. Out of these three forms, some prophets received only one type of help, some received two types, and some received all three types. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his noble companions ؓ benefited from all three forms of assistance.

[68] That is, on the Day of Resurrection, when every prophet will be asked to testify regarding his nation. In addition, those righteous servants through whom Allah’s message was conveyed to the people will also be asked. On that day, all the people gathered in the plain of Mahshar will come to know how much higher the status of the prophets and the righteous is compared to ordinary people. They will also see that on that day, when no one will be able to help anyone, how Allah helps and encourages His prophets and the believers.