Quran Garden

Session 387

Chapter 3

Verse 53

"Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses." (Chapter 3: Verse 53)

The disciples declared their faith to Prophet Jesus.  But was that faith in the legislations of the previous heavenly messages? Did they mean faith in the Torah?  No: the disciples were referring to the teachings of Christianity.  Every messenger brings something new from God to renew people's faith and introduce new legislation appropriate for the times.  The Quran relays to us the words of our beloved Jesus:

"And to confirm that which is before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of the things that were forbidden. I have brought you a sign from your Lord, so be mindful of God and obey me." (3:50)

Creed never changes from one heavenly message to another.  The narrated incidents of history do not change either. God says:

In matters of faith, He has laid down for you the same commandment that He gave Noah, which We have revealed to you and which We enjoined on Abraham and Moses and Jesus: "Uphold the faith and do not divide into factions within it." What you call upon the idolaters to do is hard for them; God chooses whomever He pleases for Himself and guides towards Himself those who turn to Him. (42:13)

Thus, the Disciples' words are a declaration of faith both in the creed -which was ever-present before Jesus- and in the new teachings of Christianity.

The Disciples' words, "We believe in what You have sent down," accurately describe that their faith was in a system of governance handed from above, rather than a man-made one.  We do not submit to our equal but to our Lord, who created and provided for us.  Their words were an affirmation of Prophet Jesus' message:

"Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path." (3:51)

We only submit to the Lord –the Most High– who created and provided for us.  This theme is consistent throughout the Quran.  Listen to the following invitation from Allah:

And when it was said to them, "Come to what God descended and to the Messenger," they said, "Enough for us what we found our fathers on." Even if their fathers were not knowing a thing nor being guided! (5:104)

The word "come" is translated from the Arabic origin تَعَالَوْا (Ta'alou), derived from the root على (Ala), which means above.  The name "Ali," which we are familiar with, shares that same root and means "the high" or "elevated one."  Thus, a more proper translation for تَعَالَوْا  (Ta'alou) is not "come" but "rise."  Allah is inviting you to rise, but towards what? We answer that you are invited to rise above all worldly legislations because they are often short-sighted and rife with corruption.  Allah is asking you to rise towards the legislation set by Him, Your Creator.  The divine teachings give humanity freedom, equality, and a path to paradise.  Thus, the Disciples' words, "Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down," were accurate. 

They continued, "and we follow the Messenger."  A faithful follower is someone who has aligned values, not someone who is coerced.  To "follow" means to have a free will of the heart.  A tyrant can hold a whip and subdue the weak to walk with him.  He or she can subjugate the body but can never control the heart.  God says:

Perhaps you will consume yourself away with anxiety because they do not become believers.  If We had wished, We could have sent them down a sign from heaven, at which their necks would stay bowed in utter humility. (26:3-4)

Allah, the All-Merciful, consoles His messenger that none can escape His power.  Had He willed, He could have made every human a believer by force.  But Allah does not want bowed heads but loving hearts that come to Him voluntarily choosing devotion while capable of rejecting it.  This is the true power of faith.

Prophet Jesus asked, "Who will be my supporters toward God?" and the Disciples said out of conviction, "We will be supporters of God. We believe in God, so be our witness that we submit to Him." They continued, "Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger, so write us down among the witnesses," testifying that Jesus delivered God's message.  They also chose to bear the duty of conveying that message to the people and asked the messenger to bear witness to their faith and actions. 

Listen how we, the followers of our beloved Muhammad, have been entrusted to uphold and deliver God's teachings to the people till the last hour.  He, peace be upon him, will be a witness to our actions before God.  God says:

Strive in God's cause and purely for His sake in a manner worthy of that striving. He has chosen you and has not laid any hardship on you in the religion. This is the way of your father, Abraham. He named you Muslims previously and in this Book, so that the Messenger may be a witness for you and that you may be witnesses for people. So establish the prayer in conformity with its conditions, pay the prescribed purifying alms, and hold fast to God. He is your Owner and Guardian. How excellent a Guardian and an Owner He is, how excellent a Helper. (22:78)

Allah entrusted the nation of Muhammad to carry on the message after him.  Thus, no prophets or messengers will come after our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him.