رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلَتْ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ {53}

53. "Our Lord! We believe in what You have revealed and we follow the Messenger, so record us among the witnesses."

Commentary:

In this verse, there are some expressions stated which denote to the utmost sincerity and theistic belief of the disciples.

They presented their belief unto Allah like this and said:

"Our Lord! We believe in what You have revealed and we follow the Messenger, so record us among the witnesses."

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وَمَكَرُواْ وَمَكَرَ اللّهُ وَاللّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ {54}

54. "And they devised, and Allah devised, and Allah is the best devisers."

Commentary:

At the time of the holy Christ (a) to stop the call of his invitation, a group of evil people planned some satanic plots against him. They devised to capture and prison him in order to set the preparation of his execution by hanging him. So, they assigned some prizes to those who could show his place or would deliver him (a). But Allah obliterated their plots totally and rescued him in the best form.

"And they devised, and Allah devised, and Allah is the best devisers."

Explanations:

1. The Will and device of Allah is above all kinds of effort and device that anybody may bring forth.

2. The Lord is the supporter of His saints.

3. The evil or good devices and deeds of human beings are the main factors to call the wrath or the grace of Allah.

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Section 6

Promise of Rescue to Jesus

The Christians were invited to the Spiritual Contest.

إِذْ قَالَ اللّهُ يَا عِيسَى إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَجَاعِلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ {55}

55. "(Remember) when Allah said: 'O' Jesus! I will take you and raise you up to Myself and purify you of those who disbelieve and place those who follow you above those who disbelieve until the Day of Judgement. Then, unto Me shall be your return and I shall judge between you as to that therein you used to differ."

Commentary:

This holy verse is again the continuation of the explanatory verses concerning the life of Jesus (a) Basing on Sura Nisa', No.4, verse 157, it is popularly assumed amongst the Islamic commentators that Jesus (a) was never killed but Allah took him to heaven. The verse under discussion is something referring to the same meaning. It says:

"(Remember) when Allah said: ' O' Jesus! I will take you and raise you up to Myself.."

And, then it adds:

"... and purify you of those who disbelieve..."

The purpose of this purification is saving him from the grips of disbelieving filthy people; or saving him from unjust accusations and dastardly plots that ended in the victory of his religion.

Then, it continues saying:

"... and place those who follow you above those who disbelieve until the Day of Judgement..."

This verse is one of the miraculous predictive verses of the Qur'an which speaks of the hidden news when it says that the followers of Jesus (a) will be always above the Jews who were opponent to Jesus. Then it adds:

"...then, unto me shall be your return and I shall judge between you as to that therein you used to differ."

That is, what was said about those victories are related to this world, while the final court and the ultimate Judgement over the deeds of people is something that will happen in Hereafter.

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فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَأُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ {56}

56. "And as to those who disbelieve, I will chastise them with a severe chastisement in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers."

Commentary:

This verse and the following one are addressed to the Christ (a). It says: when people return to the Lord and He judges between them, the rows of people separate from each other. Then, this is the fate of those who recognized the right and rejected it:

"And as to those who disbelieve, I will chastise them with a severe chastisement in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers."

It is cited in Majma'-ul-Bayan that the chastisement of this world for them is that they become contemptible by being killed or captured, giving poll-tax, and whatever from despite and insolence come upon them. And the chastisement of the Hereafter is the blazing fire of Hell. [24]

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[24] Majma ul-Bayan, vol 2, PP. 450 & 451