Al-Baqarah: 136

Ayah

Word by Word

قُولُوٓاْ

Say

ءَامَنَّا

We have believed

بِٱللَّهِ

in Allah

وَمَآ

and what

أُنزِلَ

(is) revealed

إِلَيۡنَا

to us

وَمَآ

and what

أُنزِلَ

was revealed

إِلَىٰٓ

إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ

Ibrahim

وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ

and Ismail

وَإِسۡحَٰقَ

and Ishaq

وَيَعۡقُوبَ

and Yaqub

وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ

and the descendants

وَمَآ

and what

أُوتِيَ

was given

مُوسَىٰ

(to) Musa

وَعِيسَىٰ

and Isa

وَمَآ

and what

أُوتِيَ

was given

ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ

(to) the Prophets

مِن

from

رَّبِّهِمۡ

their Lord

لَا

Not

نُفَرِّقُ

we make distinction

بَيۡنَ

between

أَحَدٖ

any

مِّنۡهُمۡ

of them

وَنَحۡنُ

And we

لَهُۥ

to Him

مُسۡلِمُونَ

(are) submissive

Translation

Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam)."

Tafsir

"The Muslim believes in all that Allah `revealed and all the Prophets

Allah says;

قُولُواۡ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَأ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبۡرَاهِيمَ وَإِسۡمَاعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَالاسۡبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنۡهُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ مُسۡلِمُونَ

Say (O Muslims):""We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob), and to Al-Asbat (the offspring of the twelve sons of Yaqub), and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and `Isa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam).""

Allah directed His believing servants to believe in what He sent down to them through His Messenger Muhammad and in what was revealed to the previous Prophets in general.

Some Prophets Allah mentioned by name, while He did not mention the names of many others.

Allah directed the believers to refrain from differentiating between the Prophets and to believe in them all.

They should avoid imitating whomever Allah described as,

وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُواۡ بَيۡنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيقُولُونَ نُوۡمِنُ بِبَعۡضٍ وَنَكۡفُرُ بِبَعۡضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُواۡ بَيۡنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلً

أُوۡلَـيِكَ هُمُ الۡكَـفِرُونَ حَقّاً

And wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, ""We believe in some but reject others,"" and wish to adopt a way in between.

They are in truth disbelievers. (4:150-151)

Al-Bukhari narrated that Abu Hurayrah said,

""The People of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and translate it into Arabic for the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah said,

لَاا تُصَدِّقُوا أَهۡلَ الۡكِتَابِ وَلَاا تُكَذِّبُوهُمۡ وقُولُوا امَنَّا بِاللهِ وَمَا أُنۡزل إِلَيۡنَا

Do not believe the People of the Book, nor reject what they say. Rather, say, `We believe in Allah and in what was sent down to us.""

Also, Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

""Mostly, the Messenger of Allah used to recite,

امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَأ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡنَا

(We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us) (2:136), and,

امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَاشۡهَدۡ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ

(We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allah) (3:52) during the two (voluntary) Rak`ah before Fajr.""

Abu Al-Aliyah, Ar-Rabi and Qatadah said,

""Al-Asbat are the twelve sons of Jacob, and each one of them had an Ummah of people from his descendants. This is why they were called Al-Asbat.""

Al-Khalil bin Ahmad and others said,

""Al-Asbat among the Children of Israel are just like the tribes among the Children of Ismail.""

This means that the Asbat are the various tribes of the Children of Israel, among whom Allah sent several Prophets. Moses said to the Children of Israel,

اذۡكُرُواۡ نِعۡمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ جَعَلَ فِيكُمۡ أَنۡبِيَأءَ وَجَعَلَكُمۡ مُّلُوكاً

Remember the favor of Allah to you:when He made Prophets among you, made you kings. (5:20)

Also, Allah said,

وَقَطَّعۡنَـهُمُ اثۡنَتَىۡ عَشۡرَةَ أَسۡبَاطًا

And We divided them into twelve tribes. (7:160)

Al-Qurtubi said,

""Sibt is the group of people or a tribe all belonging to the same ancestors.""

Qatadah said,

""Allah commanded the believers to believe in Him and in all His Books and Messengers.""

Also, Sulayman bin Habib said,

""We were commanded to believe in the (original) Torah and Injil, but not to implement them.

Allah said,

فَإِنۡ امَنُواۡ بِمِثۡلِ مَا امَنتُم بِهِ

So if they believe in the like of that which you believe,

Allah said, if they, the disbelievers among the People of the Book and other disbelievers, believe in all of Allah's Books and Messengers and do not differentiate between any of them,

فَقَدِ اهۡتَدَواۡ

then they are rightly guided,

meaning, they would acquire the truth and be directed to it.

وَّإِن تَوَلَّوۡاۡ

but if they turn away,

from truth to falsehood after proof had been presented to them,

فَإِنَّمَا هُمۡ فِي شِقَاقٍ فَسَيَكۡفِيكَهُمُ اللّهُ

then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them,

meaning, Allah will aid the believers against them.

وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الۡعَلِيمُ

And He is the Hearer, the Knower.

Allah said,

صِبۡغَةَ اللّهِ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ اللّهِ صِبۡغَةً وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ عَابِدونَ

Our Sibghah (religion) is) the Sibghah of Allah (Islam) and which Sibghah can be better than Allah's. And we are His worshippers.

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

صِبۡغَةَ اللّهِ

(The Sibghah of Allah),

""The religion of Allah.""

This Tafsir was also reported of Mujahid, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ikrimah, Ibrahim, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Abdullah bin Kathir, Atiyah Al-Awfi, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, As-Suddi and other scholars.

The Ayah,

فِطۡرَةَ اللَّهِ

(Allah's Fitrah (i.e. Allah's Islamic Monotheism), (30:30) directs Muslims to, ""Hold to it.

Allah directed His Prophet to pre-empt the arguments with the idolators:

قُلۡ أَتُحَأجُّونَنَا فِي اللّهِ

Say (O Muhammad to the Jews and Christians), ""Dispute you with us about Allah,

meaning, ""Do you dispute with us regarding the Oneness of Allah, obedience and submission to Him and in avoiding His prohibitions!

وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمۡ

while He is our Lord and your Lord,

meaning, He has full control over us and you, and deserves the worship alone without partners.

وَلَنَا أَعۡمَالُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَالُكُمۡ

And we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds.

meaning, we disown you and what you worship, just as you disown us.

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمۡ عَمَلُكُمۡ أَنتُمۡ بَرِييُونَ مِمَّأ أَعۡمَلُ وَأَنَاۡ بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ

And if they belie you, say:""For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!"" (10:41)

and,

فَإنۡ حَأجُّوكَ فَقُلۡ أَسۡلَمۡتُ وَجۡهِىَ للَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ

So if they dispute with you (Muhammad) say:""I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me."" (3:20)

Allah said about Ibrahim,

وَحَأجَّهُ قَوۡمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّى فِى اللَّهِ

His people disputed with him. He said:""Do you dispute with me concerning Allah."" (6:80)

and,

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِى حَأجَّ إِبۡرَهِيمَ فِى رِبِّهِ

Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord (Allah). (2:258)

He said in this honorable Ayah,

وَلَنَا أَعۡمَالُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَالُكُمۡ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ مُخۡلِصُونَ

And we are to be rewarded for our deeds and you for your deeds. And we are sincere to Him.

meaning, ""We disown you just as you disown us,""

وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ مُخۡلِصُونَ

And we are sincere to Him, in worship and submission.

Allah said,

أَمۡ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبۡرَاهِيمَ وَإِسۡمَاعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَـقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَالاسۡبَاطَ كَانُواۡ هُودًا أَوۡ نَصَارَى

Or say you that Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub and Al-Asbat, were Jews or Christians!

Allah criticized them in the claim that Ibrahim, the Prophets who came after him and the Asbat were following their religion, whether Judaism or Christianity.

Allah said,

...

قُلۡ أَأَنتُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ أَمِ اللّهُ

Say, ""Do you know better or does Allah!""

meaning, Allah has the best knowledge and He stated that they were neither Jews, nor Christians.

Similarly, Allah said in the Ayah,

مَا كَانَ إِبۡرَهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصۡرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسۡلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِينَ

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin. (3:67) and the following Ayat.

Allah also said,

...

وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً عِندَهُ مِنَ اللّهِ

And who is more unjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah,

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said,

They used to recite the Book of Allah He sent to them that stated that the true religion is Islam and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Their Book also stated that Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub and the tribes were neither Jews, nor Christians. They testified to these facts, yet hid them from the people.

Allah's statement,

...

وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ

And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

is a threat and a warning that His knowledge encompasses every one's deeds, and He shall award each accordingly.

Allah then said,

تِلۡكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ

That was a nation who has passed away.

meaning, existed before you.

لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبۡتُمۡ

They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you of what you earn.

meaning, they bear their deeds while you bear yours.

وَلَا تُسۡأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُواۡ يَعۡمَلُونَ

And you will not be asked of what they used to do.

meaning, the fact that you are their relatives will not suffice, unless you imitate their good deeds.

Further, do not be deceived by the fact that you are their descendants, unless you imitate them in obeying Allah's orders and following His Messengers who were sent as warners and bearers of good news.

Indeed, whoever disbelieves in even one Prophet, will have disbelieved in all the Messengers, especially if one disbelieves in the master and Final Messenger from Allah, the Lord of the worlds, to all mankind and the Jinns. May Allah's peace and blessings be on Muhammad and the rest of Allah's Prophets."

Related Q&A

Why there's a "distinction" between Prophets of Allah?

Allah said in the Quran:

"Say, O believers, "We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims in submission to Him." (Quran 2:136)

Please, pay attention to the sentence: We make no distinction between any of them. If it is the case, then why there are five Messengers of Ulu Al-'Azm (Muhammad, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Nuh may peace and salutation be upon them) or why we often say that our Prophet Muhammad is the greatest prophet?

ANSWER:

Which is forbidden is to make distinction in believing them. Al-Tabari explained that its meaning is "We do not believe in some prophets and at the same time disbelieve in others." Jami' Al-Bayan (III/109). We can know this from looking at the whole verse as well.

As for saying that some prophets have more virtues than the other based on Quranic verse or Prophetic hadith, it is permissible and even obligatory in the context of relying on Allah and His Messenger.

Allah Himself said in the Qur'an:

"Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit." (Quran 2:253)

He also said:

"And We have made some of the prophets exceed others in various ways, and to David We gave the book of Psalms." (Quran 17:55)

Our Prophet Muhammad said, "I am the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgement, and I am not boasting." (narrated by Al-Tirmidhi no. 3975)

Allah knows best.