Chapter 5 verse 110

Prophets Will Not Be Witnesses?

Since the non Ahmadi Muslims have no replies to the Qur’anic arguments the Ahmadi Muslims bring forth, they begin to use a new argument which is totally misinterpreted and out of context. It is sad that the non Ahmadi Muslims believe that all of the Prophets will become liars and become mushriks as well , God forbid.How can they believe a prophet would lie to Allah?

The ayah they quote is as follows:

Think of the day when Allah will assemble the Messengers and say, ‘What reply was made to you?’ They will say, ‘We have no knowledge, it is only Thou Who art the Knower of hidden things.’ (Chapter 5 Verse 110)

This ayah is totally used out of context and is misinterpreted. This ayah is actually referring to the hearts and minds of the people. The prophets will admit the rejection they faced but will plead to their ignorance in regards to the hearts of the people. They would not know what in reality was in the hearts and minds of the people and whether they wholeheartedly accepted the prophet. This shows that they cannot take the authority of deciding whether the person is going to heaven or hell as they are not completely sure. Allah has made it clear that the Prophets will indeed bear witness against their people. Allah states:

“And how will it fare with them when We shall bring a witness from every people, and shall bring thee as a witness against these!” (Chapter 4 Verse 42)

This ayah has clearly shown us that the Prophets will indeed bear witness against their people. Furthermore, this reply of the prophets is made in the beginning when Allah questions them in a general way, but the evidence will indeed come after when Allah calls upon the prophets to give the required evidence. Allah has all of the knowledge in regards to the response of the Prophets but He will still ask the Prophets the question.

This ayah is also referring to the reply the prophets were given as a whole meaning after they had left the world. This is also a reason they say only Allah is aware of all of the hidden things because all prophets died and were not able to see the true response of the people as many went astray after they died.

It is also extremely important to point out that one who denies this tafsir is denying Ibn Abbas(ra) who has had the same view on this ayah. It is stated in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, one of the greatest tafsir of the non Ahmadi Muslims, under this ayah:

Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

﴿يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ الرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ قَالُواْ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـمُ الْغُيُوبِ ﴾

(On the Day when Allah will gather the Messengers together and say to them: “What was the response you received (from men to your teaching)” They will say: “We have no knowledge, verily, only You are the Knower of all that is hidden.”) “They will say to the Lord, Most Honored, `We have no knowledge beyond what we know, and even that, You have more knowledge of them than us.” This response is out of respect before the Lord, Most Honored, and it means, we have no knowledge compared to Your encompassing knowledge. Therefore, our knowledge only grasped the visible behavior of these people,not the secrets of their hearts. You are the Knower of everything, Who has encompassing knowledge of all things, and our knowledge compared to Your knowledge is similar to not having any knowledge at all, for

﴿أَنتَ عَلَّـمُ الْغُيُوبِ﴾

(only You are the Knower of all that is hidden.)

Now one should also remember that Ibn Abbas(ra) was one of the greatest companions of Muhammad(saw) and the Prophet(saw) himself prayed to Allah in regards to his knowledge of the Qur’an, that Oh Allah teach him the Qur’an. The most authentic tafsir of Ibn Abbas(ra) comes from Ali bin Abi Talhah as this reference has. This reference can be found under the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir under Surah Maidah Verse 109 (This same Ayah being discussed).

Most people have quoted this ayah for Isa(as) as an attempt to show that he would not be a witness but this is totally false. Allah states:

And there is none among the People of the Book but will believe in it before his death; and on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) shall be a witness against them —(Chapter 4 Verse 160)

Allah has already clearly told us that on the Day of Resurrection Jesus(as) will be a witness against them. This ayah also proves that Isa(As) has died as it states that it will be the day of resurrection where he witnesses them, not before that.