سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 81
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ ﴿81﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when Allâh took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: "Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allâh), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him." Allâh said: "Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
أَخَذَ
akhadha
took
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
مِيثَـٰقَ
mīthāqa
covenant
ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ
l-nabiyīna
(of) the Prophets
لَمَآ
lamā
Certainly, whatever
ءَاتَيْتُكُم
ātaytukum
I (have) given you
مِّن
min
of
كِتَـٰبٍۢ
kitābin
(the) Book
وَحِكْمَةٍۢ
waḥik'matin
and wisdom
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
جَآءَكُمْ
jāakum
comes to you
رَسُولٌۭ
rasūlun
a Messenger
مُّصَدِّقٌۭ
muṣaddiqun
confirming
لِّمَا
limā
that which
مَعَكُمْ
maʿakum
(is) with you
لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ
latu'minunna
you must believe
بِهِۦ
bihi
in him
وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ
walatanṣurunnahu
and you must help him
قَالَ
qāla
He said
ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ
a-aqrartum
Do you affirm
وَأَخَذْتُمْ
wa-akhadhtum
and take
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
that (condition)
إِصْرِى ۖ
iṣ'rī
My Covenant
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They said
أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ
aqrarnā
We affirm
قَالَ
qāla
He said
فَٱشْهَدُوا۟
fa-ish'hadū
Then bear witness
وَأَنَا۠
wa-anā
and I (am)
مَعَكُم
maʿakum
with you
مِّنَ
mina
among
ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
l-shāhidīna
the witnesses
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 81) ➊ {وَ اِذْ اَخَذَ اللّٰهُ …:} The purpose of these verses is to clarify such evidences by which the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is established. (Razi) That is, Allah Almighty took a covenant from Adam (peace be upon him) and every prophet after him that he would affirm and support the prophet who comes after him, and that no kind of factionalism or partisanship would become an obstacle in this regard. If that prophet comes during his lifetime, he himself will believe in him, and if he comes after his death, he will instruct his community to believe in and support the prophet who comes after him. In this sense, it is as if a covenant was taken from Musa (peace be upon him) to believe in Isa (peace be upon him), and from Isa (peace be upon him) to believe in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). In Tabari and Ibn Abi Hatim, with a good chain, the statement of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) is narrated that Allah Almighty took a covenant from all the prophets that if Muhammad (peace be upon him) comes during your lifetime, you will believe in him. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) says that this explanation is not separate but is included in the first explanation. In any case, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is the last prophet of Allah Almighty and is obligatory to be followed; now, it is not permissible to follow any prophet other than him.
➋ { ”اِصْرٌ“ } Refers to binding or forcibly tying something, that is, a heavy burden. Similarly, a confirmed covenant is also called {”اِصْرٌ“}, because it binds a person. Allah Almighty took this covenant and pledge from all the prophets, commanded them to bear witness to it, and Himself also bore witness.
➋ { ”اِصْرٌ“ } Refers to binding or forcibly tying something, that is, a heavy burden. Similarly, a confirmed covenant is also called {”اِصْرٌ“}, because it binds a person. Allah Almighty took this covenant and pledge from all the prophets, commanded them to bear witness to it, and Himself also bore witness.
