Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 3

(Ayah 3) ➊ { كَذٰلِكَ يُوْحِيْۤ اِلَيْكَ: ’’ كَذٰلِكَ ‘‘} (In this way) refers firstly to those subjects and meanings which are in this Qur’an or this Surah, that is, the revelation sent to you regarding monotheism, the Hereafter, prophethood, and other beliefs, actions, and events is not something novel that the disbelievers are astonished by it. Rather, Allah has been revealing such subjects to you and to the prophets before you. There may be differences in some temporary rulings, but the fundamental call for which you and all previous prophets were sent is the same, as He said: « وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَّسُوْلٍ اِلَّا نُوْحِيْۤ اِلَيْهِ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعْبُدُوْنِ » [الأنبیاء : ۲۵ ] “And We did not send any messenger before you except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me.” Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلْأَنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلَّاتٍ، أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتّٰی وَ دِيْنُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ ] [بخاري، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اللّٰہ تعالٰی : « واذکر في الکتاب مریم…» : ۳۴۴۳ ] “The prophets are paternal brothers (born of different mothers), their mothers are different but their religion is one.” And {’’ كَذٰلِكَ ‘‘} (in this way) also refers to the method of revelation, meaning just as this Surah or this Book is being revealed to you, Allah has been revealing in the same way to the prophets before you. He chooses whom He wills for His messengership, then speaks to him in one of the forms of revelation which He has mentioned at the end of this Surah as the ways He speaks to any human. (See Ash-Shura: 51, 52) No one can say why Allah did not reveal to me, or why did He not speak to me.

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that Harith bin Hisham (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah! How does revelation come to you?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: [ أَحْيَانًا يَأْتِيْنِيْ مِثْلَ صَلْصَلَةِ الْجَرَسِ وَهُوَ أَشَدُّهُ عَلَيَّ فَيُفْصَمُ عَنِّيْ وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْهُ مَا قَالَ، وَأَحْيَانًا يَتَمَثَّلُ لِيَ الْمَلَكُ رَجُلاً فَيُكَلِّمُنِيْ فَأَعِيْ مَا يَقُوْلُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْيُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الشَّدِيْدِ الْبَرْدِ، فَيَفْصِمُ عَنْهُ وَ إِنَّ جَبِيْنَهُ لَيَتَفَصَّدُ عَرَقًا ] [ بخاري، بدء الوحي إلی الرسول صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ، باب : ۲ ] “Sometimes revelation comes to me like the ringing of a bell, and this is the hardest for me, then it leaves me, and I have already memorized what was said. And sometimes the angel comes to me in the form of a man and speaks to me, and I remember what he says.” Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I saw him receiving revelation on a very cold day, and when that state ended, his forehead would be dripping with sweat.”

➋ { وَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ:} For its explanation, see Surah An-Nisa, verses (163 to 165).

➌ {اللّٰهُ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ:} The verses of Surah An-Nisa, which were referenced above, after mentioning the revelation to the prophets, conclude with Allah’s being always Mighty and Wise, as He said: « وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَزِيْزًا حَكِيْمًا» [ النساء : ۱۶۵ ] “And Allah has always been dominant, perfectly wise.” In the Qur’an, wherever the mention of revelation is found, after that, according to the context, some of Allah’s names and attributes are also mentioned. For the appropriateness of mentioning Mighty and Wise along with the revelation of the Book of Allah, see the explanation of the first verse of Surah Az-Zumar, and also refer to the explanation of the first verse of Surah Al-Mu’min.

3. 1. That is, just as this Qur'an has been revealed to you, in the same way, heavenly books were revealed to the prophets before you. Revelation is the word of Allah, which Allah sent to His messengers through an angel. A companion asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the nature of revelation, so he ﷺ said that sometimes it comes to me like the sound of a bell, and this is the hardest for me. When it ends, I have memorized it. And sometimes the angel comes in human form and speaks to me, and I remember what he says. Hazrat Aisha says, I observed in severe cold that when the state of revelation ended, he would be drenched in sweat and drops of sweat would be falling from his forehead. (Sahih Bukhari)

3. Allah, the Mighty and Wise, has been revealing in the same way to you [1] and to those (messengers) before you.

[1]
Answers to Disputed Issues Without Naming Them:

During the Makkan period, the fundamental disputed issues between truth and falsehood were basically two. One was whether the idols of the polytheists have any power or influence in the universe or not? And the second was whether it is correct that after dying, a human being will be resurrected and presented before his Lord for accountability or not? These were the two issues that were constantly discussed in gatherings and private conversations. Then, a third issue would automatically be included: whether Muhammad ﷺ is truly the Messenger of Allah or not? Is what he presents truly the word of Allah? And the style of address of the Quran is such that in most surahs, as a preface, without mentioning the objections of the disbelievers, it opens the surah with the answer to one of these questions. In fact, in the third verse of this surah, a concise answer to all three objections has been presented. That is, whatever is mentioned in this Quran regarding monotheism and the Hereafter is not a new concept, but the same things have been revealed to all previous prophets as well. And the answer to the third question is that this Quran is indeed revealed from Allah. Its verses are full of wisdom because He Himself is Wise. In addition, He is also Dominant and Mighty over all. Despite the opposition of the opponents, He has the power and ability to make His word prevail.