Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:81-82)

Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:81-82)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

The Holy Covenant

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ ‎﴿٨١﴾‏ فَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ ‎﴿٨٢﴾‏‏

3:81 And (recall, O’ People of the Scripture), when Allah (SWT) took the covenant of the prophets, (saying): “Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you (must) believe in him and support him.” (Allah (SWT)) said: “Have you acknowledged and taken My covenant upon that (condition) [1]?” They said: “We have acknowledged it.” God said: “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”

3:82 And whoever turned away after that – they were the defiantly disobedient.

Commentary: These verses indicate that God has established a covenant with  prophets (AS), requiring them to declare the name or attributes of the next prophet who will come after them. This announcement ensures that the foretold prophet can be easily recognized upon arrival. Furthermore, the Divine Prophets took a pledge from their followers to believe in and support the Promised Prophet (PBUH).

Many Verses in the Quran indicate that the characteristics of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) were foretold in the Scriptures. For example, Prophet Isa (AS) mentioned that the name of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) would be Ahmed [2]. Verse 2:149 (Al-Baqarah) suggests that the qualities of the Prophet (PBUH) were described in such vivid and unmistakable detail that the People of the Book recognized him like they acknowledged their children [3].

Despite this clarity, some rejected the Prophet’s (PBUH) credentials and refused to believe in him. Verse 2:146, regarding them, says: “But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know (it). (وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ)”

Verse 3:81 reminds Jews and Christians of their enduring obligation to believe in and support the Prophet (PBUH), as the Scriptures had asked them to do so

The Verse reads: Recall, O’ People of the Scripture, “When Allah (SWT) took the covenant of the prophets (وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ) (saying), ‘Whatever I gave you (لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم) of the Scripture and wisdom (مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ) and then there comes to you a messenger (ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ) confirming what is with you (مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ), you (must) believe in him (لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ) and (must) support him (وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ).’”

“Mīthāqa” (مِيثَاقَ) means “covenant” and is derived from “Wutẖūq̊” (وُثُوق) meaning “confidence.” It essentially referring to a solemn pact or contract between parties, often with a strong moral implication; it is frequently used in the Quran to describe the agreement between God and humanity.

“Jaakum Rasoolun Musaddiqun Lima Ma-Aakum” (جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ) means “there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you.” It implies the characteristics of the coming prophet are consistent with what is stated in the Scriptures.

Then, for emphasis, God asked the prophets: “Have you acknowledged (قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ) and taken My commitment upon that (condition) (وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي)?” They said: “We have acknowledged it (قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا).” He said (قَالَ), “Then bear witness (فَاشْهَدُوا), and I am with you among the witnesses (وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ).”

The word “Akhadhtum” (أَخَذْتُمْ) means “take”, “Iṣ’rī” (إِصْرِي) means covenant. Hence “Akhadhtum .. iṣ’rī” (أَخَذْتُمْ …. إِصْرِي) means “take My covenant.” The word “Dhālikum” (ذَٰلِكُمْ) means that. Hence “Akhadhtum ʿAlā Dhālikum Iṣ’rī” (وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي) means “take My covenant on that (condition).”

In the next verse, the Quran condemns those who break the covenant, stating, “And whoever turned away after that (فَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ)- they were the defiantly disobedient (فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ).”

Although Verses 3:81-82 discuss the coming prophets, they also apply to their successors, as these successors strive towards the same goals. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) appointed Imam Ali (AS) as his successor and urged the people to support him. Hence, some commentators view Verses 3:81-82 as Quranic support for the “Imamate” of Imam Ali (AS) and warning those who reject his successorship position.

[1] take covenant means agree with covenant

[2] As-Saff, 61:6 (وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ)

[3] Al-Baqarah, 2:146 (الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْرِفُونَهُ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ)