Verse Analysis: S 2:136
- philhoraia
- Mar 6, 2023
- 2 min read
S 2:136 Say: We have believed in Allah and what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to Ibrahim and Isma’il and Ishaq and Ya’qub and the tribes and what was given to Musa and Isa and what was given to the prophets from their lord. We do not distinguish between any of them. And we are Muslims to him.
The initial 'Say' is in the plural. The Jalalayn say:
Say this address is to the believers ‘We believe in God and in that which has been revealed to us the Qur’ān and revealed to Abraham the ten scrolls Ishmael Isaac Jacob and the Tribes his sons and that which was given to Moses the Torah and Jesus the Gospel and the prophets from their Lord of Books and signs we make no division between any of them believing in some and disbelieving in others in the manner of Jews and Christians and to Him we submit’. https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=2&tAyahNo=136&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2
The unnamed speaker goes on to direct them to say that they've believed in Allah and what has been sent down to them and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Ya'qub and the tribes. Does this mean that they each received something different or does it mean that they all received the same thing? The anonymous author continues and speaks of what was given to Musa and Isa and what was given to the prophets. Was what Musa and Isa given the same thing or were they each given something different? It would probably be argued that Musa was given the Torah and Isa the Injil. The author says that the prophets were given something. Were Musa and Isa not prophets then? Were the others? I doubt that whole tribes were prophets. What were the prophets given? As the author uses two phrases, sending down and giving, does the latter here indicate that the recipients were actually handed something? Finally, where does the direction end? Do the last two sentences belong to it? Who don't distinguish? Who are Muslims to whom?
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