33.Surah Al-Ahzab

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا ﴿٤٥﴾

33: 45 [Ali] O Prophet! Truly We have sent thee as a Witness, a Bearer of Glad Tidings, and a Warner --

C3734. The Prophet was sent by Allah in five capacities. Three are mentioned in this verse, and the other two in the verse following.

1. He comes as a Witness to all men about the spiritual truths which had been obscured by ignorance or superstition, or by the dust of sectarian controversy.

He did not come to establish a new religion or sect. He came to teach Religion.

He is also a witness to Allah about men's doings and how they receive Allah's Message: see 4:41 and n. 560.

2. He comes as a bearer of the Glad Tidings of the Mercy of Allah. No matter how far men may have transgressed, they have hope if they believe, repent, and live a good life.

3. He also comes as a Warner to those who are heedless. This life will not last. There is a Future Life, and that is all- important. See next note.

وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًا مُّنِيرًا ﴿٤٦﴾

33: 46. And as one who invites to Allah's (Grace) by His leave, and as a Lamp spreading Light.

C3735. See last note. The two other capacities in which the Prophet was sent are here specified.

4. He comes as one who has a right to invite all men to repentance and the forgiveness of sins: but he does this, not of his own authority, but by the permission and authority given to him by Allah.

This is said lest people may deify the Prophet as they did with other Prophets before him. The personal responsibility of each individual remains, but the Prophet can lead him on the Right and help him.

5. The Prophet also comes as a Light or a Lamp (Siraj) to illuminate the whole world. In 71:16 and elsewhere the same word (Siraj) is used for the sun.

The comparison is apt. When the sun appears, all the lesser lights pale before its light. And the Message of Islam, i.e., of the Universal Religion, is to diffuse Light everywhere.

وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ فَضْلًا كَبِيرًا ﴿٤٧﴾

33: 47. Then give the glad tidings to the Believers, that they shall have from Allah a very great Bounty.

C3736. The light of Islam is the Biggest Bounty possible and if they truly understand it, they should glory in it

Asad’s Version:

33:45 [And as for thee,] O Prophet - behold, We have sent thee as a witness [to the truth], and as a herald of glad tidings and a warner,

(33:46) and as one who summons [all men] to God by His leave, 53 and as a light-giving beacon.

(33:47) And [so,] convey to the believers the glad tiding that a great bounty from God awaits them;

(33:48) and defer not to [the likes and dislikes of] the deniers of the truth and the hypocrites, and disregard their hurtful talk, 54 and place thy trust in God: for none is as worthy of trust as God.

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