Surah Nisa ayat 163 Tafsir Quran 4:163

﴿۞ إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا﴾
[ النساء: 163]

4:163 Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him and as We revealed to Abraham and his two sons Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob the son of Isaac and the Tribes his Jacob’s children and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon and We gave to his father David the Inscribed Book read zabūran it would denote the name of the revealed Book cf. the Psalms; read zubūran would make it a verbal noun meaning mazbūran that is to say maktūban ‘inscribed’.

We have inspired to you O Muhammad a Book and a divine message as We inspired to Nuh (Noah) and to the prophets who followed. And We inspired divine messages to Ibrahim and Ismail (Ishmael), to Ishaq (Isaac) and Yaqub (Jacob) and to the tribes of his twelve sons, to Isa and Ayub (Job), to Yunus (Jonas) and Harun (Aaron) and to Sulayman. And to Dawud We imparted the Psalms

Revelation Came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Just as it Came to the Prophets Before Him Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Muhammad bin Abi Muhammad said that `Ikrimah, or Sa`id bin Jubayr, related to Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Sukayn and `Adi bin Zayd said, `O Muhammad! We do not know that Allah sent down anything to any human after Musa.' Allah sent down a rebuttal of their statement, إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ( Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad ) as We inspired Nuh and the Prophets after him.)" Allah states that He sent down revelation to His servant and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ just as He sent down revelation to previous Prophets.
Allah said, إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ( Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad ) as We inspired Nuh and the Prophets after him,) until, وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُوراً ( ...and to Dawud We gave the Zabur.
) The `Zabur' ( Psalms ) is the name of the Book revealed to Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him. Twenty-Five Prophets Are Mentioned in the Qur'an Allah said, وَرُسُلاً قَدْ قَصَصْنَـهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلاً لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ( And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers We have not mentioned to you ) Before the revelation of this Ayah.
The following are the names of the Prophets whom Allah named in the Qur'an.
They are: Adam, Idris, Nuh ( Noah ), Hud, Salih, Ibrahim ( Abraham ), Lut, Isma`il ( Ishmael ), Ishaq ( Isaac ), Ya`qub ( Jacob ), Yusuf ( Joesph ), Ayyub ( Job ), Shu`ayb, Musa ( Moses ), Harun ( Aaron ), Yunus ( Jonah ), Dawud ( David ), Sulayman ( Solomon ), Ilyas ( Elias ), Al-Yasa` ( Elisha ), Zakariya ( Zachariya ), Yahya ( John ) and `Isa ( Jesus ), and their leader, Muhammad .
Several scholars of Tafsir also listed Dhul-Kifl among the Prophets.
Allah's statement, وَرُسُلاً لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ( and Messengers We have not mentioned to you, ) means, `there are other Prophets whom We did not mention to you in the Qur'an.' The Virtue of Musa Allah said, وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيماً ( and to Musa Allah spoke directly. ) This is an honor to Musa, and this is why he is called the Kalim, he whom Allah spoke to directly.
Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded that `Abdul-Jabbar bin `Abdullah said, "A man came to Abu Bakr bin `Ayyash and said, `I heard a man recite ( this Ayah this way ): وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهَ مُوسَى تَكلِيمًا "and to Allah, Musa spoke directly." Abu Bakr said, `Only a disbeliever would recite it like this.' Al-A`mash recited it with Yahya bin Withab, who recited it with Abu `Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami who recited it with `Ali bin Abi Talib who recited with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيماً ( and to Musa Allah spoke directly. )"' Abu Bakr bin Abi Ayyash was so angry with the man who recited the Ayah differently, because he altered its words and meanings.
That person was from the group of Mu`tazilah who denied that Allah spoke to Musa or that He speaks to any of His creation.
We were told that some of the Mu`tazilah once recited the Ayah that way, so one teacher present said to him, "O son of a stinking woman! What would you do concerning Allah's statement, وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَى لِمِيقَـتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ ( And when Musa came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, ) 7:143" The Shaykh meant that the later Ayah cannot be altered or changed. The Reason Behind Sending the Prophets is to Establish the Proof Allah said, رُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ( Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning, ) meaning, the Prophets bring good news to those who obey Allah and practice the good things that please Him.
They also warn against His punishment and torment for those who defy His commandments.
Allah said next, لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً ( in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the Messengers.
And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. ) Allah sent down His Books and sent His Messengers with good news and warnings.
He explained what He likes and is pleased with and what He dislikes and is displeased with.
This way, no one will have an excuse with Allah.
Allah said in other Ayat, وَلَوْ أَنَّآ أَهْلَكْنَـهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لَوْلا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولاً فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَى ( And if We had destroyed them with a torment before this, they would surely have said: "Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger, we should certainly have followed Your Ayat, before we were humiliated and disgraced." ) and, وَلَوْلا أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ( And if (We had ) not ( sent you to the people of Makkah ) in case a calamity should seize them for ( the deeds ) that their hands have sent forth.
) It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا أَحَدَ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللهِ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، وَلَا أَحَدْ أَحَبْ إِلَيْهِ الْمَدْحُ مِنَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ مَدَحَ نَفْسَهُ، وَلَا أَحَدَ أَحَبْ إِلَيْهِ الْعُذْرُ مِنَ اللهِ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِين»
( No one is more jealous than Allah.
This is why He prohibited all types of sin committed in public or secret.
No one likes praise more than Allah, and this is why He has praised Himself.
No one likes to give excuse more than Allah, and this is why He sent the Prophets as bearers of good news and as warners. ) In another narration, the Prophet said,
«مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ أَرْسَلَ رُسُلَهُ وَأَنْزَلَ كُتُبَه»
( And this is why He sent His Messengers and revealed His Books. ) لَّـكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَالْمَلَـئِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً - إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ ضَلَـلاَ بَعِيداً - إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَظَلَمُواْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلاَ لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقاً

(4:163) (O Muhammad!) We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him, *204 and We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the offspring of Jacob, and Jesus and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron and Solomon, and We gave to David Psalms. *205

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O meaning

*204).
This emphasizes that Muhammad ( peace be on him ) did not introduce any innovations, and that his essential message was no different from the earlier revelations.
What Muhammad ( peace be on him ) expounded was the same truth which had previously been expounded by the earlier Prophets in various parts of the world and at different periods of time.
Wahy means 'to suggest; to put something into someone's heart; to communicate something in secrecy; to send a message'.

*205).
The 'Psalms' embodied in the Bible are not the Psalms of David.
The Biblical version contains many 'psalms' by others and they are ascribed to their actual authors.
The 'psalms' which the Bible does ascribe to David do indeed contain the characteristic lustre of truth.
The book called 'Proverbs', attributed to Solomon, contains a good deal of accretion, and the last two chapters, in particular, are undoubtedly spurious.
A great many of these proverbs, however, do have a ring of truth and authenticity.
Another book of the Bible is ascribed to Job.
Even though it contains many gems of wisdom, it is difficult to believe that the book attributed to Job could in fact be his.
For the portrayal of Job's character in that book is quite contrary to the wonderful patience for which he is applauded in the Qur'an and for which he is praised in the beginning of the Book of Job itself.
The Book of Job, quite contrary to the Qur'anic portrayal of him, presents him as one who was so full of grievance and annoyance" with God throughout the entire period of his tribulation that his companions had to try hard to persuade him that God was not unjust.
In fact Job is shown in the Bible as one whom even his companions failed to convince that God was just.
In addition to these, the Bible contains seventeen other books of the Israelite Prophets.
The greater part of these seem to be authentic.
In Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos and certain other books, in particular, one often encounters whole sections which stir and move one's soul.
These sections without doubt have the lustre of Divine revelation.
While going through them one is struck by the vehemence of moral admonition, the powerful opposition to polytheism, the forceful exposition of monotheism, and the strong denunciation of the moral corruption of the Israelites which characterize them.
One inevitably senses that these books, the orations of Jesus embodied in the Gospels, and the glorious Qur'an are like springs which have arisen from one and the same Divine source.

 

Revelation Came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Just as it Came to the Prophets Before Him Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Muhammad bin Abi Muhammad said that `Ikrimah, or Sa`id bin Jubayr, related to Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Sukayn and `Adi bin Zayd said, `O Muhammad! We do not know that Allah sent down anything to any human after Musa.' Allah sent down a rebuttal of their statement, إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ( Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad ) as We inspired Nuh and the Prophets after him.)" Allah states that He sent down revelation to His servant and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ just as He sent down revelation to previous Prophets.
Allah said, إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ( Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad ) as We inspired Nuh and the Prophets after him,) until, وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُوراً ( ...and to Dawud We gave the Zabur.
) The `Zabur' ( Psalms ) is the name of the Book revealed to Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him. Twenty-Five Prophets Are Mentioned in the Qur'an Allah said, وَرُسُلاً قَدْ قَصَصْنَـهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلاً لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ( And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers We have not mentioned to you ) Before the revelation of this Ayah.
The following are the names of the Prophets whom Allah named in the Qur'an.
They are: Adam, Idris, Nuh ( Noah ), Hud, Salih, Ibrahim ( Abraham ), Lut, Isma`il ( Ishmael ), Ishaq ( Isaac ), Ya`qub ( Jacob ), Yusuf ( Joesph ), Ayyub ( Job ), Shu`ayb, Musa ( Moses ), Harun ( Aaron ), Yunus ( Jonah ), Dawud ( David ), Sulayman ( Solomon ), Ilyas ( Elias ), Al-Yasa` ( Elisha ), Zakariya ( Zachariya ), Yahya ( John ) and `Isa ( Jesus ), and their leader, Muhammad .
Several scholars of Tafsir also listed Dhul-Kifl among the Prophets.
Allah's statement, وَرُسُلاً لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ( and Messengers We have not mentioned to you, ) means, `there are other Prophets whom We did not mention to you in the Qur'an.' The Virtue of Musa Allah said, وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيماً ( and to Musa Allah spoke directly. ) This is an honor to Musa, and this is why he is called the Kalim, he whom Allah spoke to directly.
Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded that `Abdul-Jabbar bin `Abdullah said, "A man came to Abu Bakr bin `Ayyash and said, `I heard a man recite ( this Ayah this way ): وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهَ مُوسَى تَكلِيمًا "and to Allah, Musa spoke directly." Abu Bakr said, `Only a disbeliever would recite it like this.' Al-A`mash recited it with Yahya bin Withab, who recited it with Abu `Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami who recited it with `Ali bin Abi Talib who recited with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيماً ( and to Musa Allah spoke directly. )"' Abu Bakr bin Abi Ayyash was so angry with the man who recited the Ayah differently, because he altered its words and meanings.
That person was from the group of Mu`tazilah who denied that Allah spoke to Musa or that He speaks to any of His creation.
We were told that some of the Mu`tazilah once recited the Ayah that way, so one teacher present said to him, "O son of a stinking woman! What would you do concerning Allah's statement, وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَى لِمِيقَـتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ ( And when Musa came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, ) 7:143" The Shaykh meant that the later Ayah cannot be altered or changed. The Reason Behind Sending the Prophets is to Establish the Proof Allah said, رُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ( Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning, ) meaning, the Prophets bring good news to those who obey Allah and practice the good things that please Him.
They also warn against His punishment and torment for those who defy His commandments.
Allah said next, لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً ( in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the Messengers.
And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. ) Allah sent down His Books and sent His Messengers with good news and warnings.
He explained what He likes and is pleased with and what He dislikes and is displeased with.
This way, no one will have an excuse with Allah.
Allah said in other Ayat, وَلَوْ أَنَّآ أَهْلَكْنَـهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لَوْلا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولاً فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَى ( And if We had destroyed them with a torment before this, they would surely have said: "Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger, we should certainly have followed Your Ayat, before we were humiliated and disgraced." ) and, وَلَوْلا أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ( And if (We had ) not ( sent you to the people of Makkah ) in case a calamity should seize them for ( the deeds ) that their hands have sent forth.
) It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا أَحَدَ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللهِ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، وَلَا أَحَدْ أَحَبْ إِلَيْهِ الْمَدْحُ مِنَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ مَدَحَ نَفْسَهُ، وَلَا أَحَدَ أَحَبْ إِلَيْهِ الْعُذْرُ مِنَ اللهِ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِين» ( No one is more jealous than Allah.
This is why He prohibited all types of sin committed in public or secret.
No one likes praise more than Allah, and this is why He has praised Himself.
No one likes to give excuse more than Allah, and this is why He sent the Prophets as bearers of good news and as warners. ) In another narration, the Prophet said, «مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ أَرْسَلَ رُسُلَهُ وَأَنْزَلَ كُتُبَه» ( And this is why He sent His Messengers and revealed His Books. ) لَّـكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَالْمَلَـئِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً - إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ ضَلَـلاَ بَعِيداً - إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَظَلَمُواْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلاَ لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقاً

( Lo! We inspire you ) We have sent Gabriel with the Qur’an ( as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him ) after Noah, ( as We inspired Abraham ) We also sent Gabriel to Abraham ( and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes ) the sons of Jacob, ( and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted ) We gave ( unto David the Psalms );

Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad SAW) as We inspired Nuh (Noah) and the Prophets after him; We (also) inspired Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], 'Iesa (Jesus), Ayub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Harun (Aaron), and Sulaiman (Solomon), and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).

Page 104 English transliteration