Surah al-An`am (The Cattle) 6 : 84

Overview (Verses 84 - 90)

The Bearers of Divine Guidance
 
The sūrah goes on to provide us with a glimpse of the procession of the faithful, led by the noble messengers, from the time of Noah and Abraham to the last of all prophets and messengers, Muĥammad (peace be upon them all). This procession is shown to be continuous, uninterrupted, particularly since the time of Abraham and the prophets among his offspring. Those prophets are not given here in chronological order, which is the case elsewhere in the Qur’ān, because it is the fact that the procession has been a continuous one that is given importance here, not its historical order.
 
We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We guided each of them as We had guided Noah before them. Among his offspring were [the Prophets] David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward those who do good. And Zachariah, John, Jesus and Elijah; who were all righteous. And Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. Every one of them did We favour above all people. And [We exalted likewise] some of their forefathers, their offspring and their brethren. We chose them and guided them to a straight path. Such is God’s guidance; He bestows it on whomever He wills of His servants. Had they associated partners with Him, in vain would certainly have been all that they ever did. On these did We bestow revelation, wisdom and prophethood. If this generation were to deny this truth, We have certainly entrusted it to others who will never deny it; those are the ones whom God has guided. Follow, then, their guidance, (and] say: ‘No reward do I ask of you for this. It is but an admonition to all mankind.’“ (Verses 84-90)
 
These verses mention altogether seventeen messengers and prophets in addition to Noah and Abraham. There is also a reference to others among `their forefathers, offspring and brethren’. The verses which name these prophets are concluded with the comments, “Thus do We reward those who do good.” (Verse 84) “Every one of them did We favour above all people.” (Verse 86) “We chose them and guided them to a straight path.” (Verse 87) All these comments endorse the nobility of this group of honourable prophets and the fact that they have been chosen by God and have been guided to the right path. All this, however, is made by way of an introduction to the three statements that follow.
 
“Such is God’s guidance; He bestows it on whomever He wills of His servants. Had they associated partners with Him, in vain would certainly have been all that they ever did.” (Verse 88) This first statement limits the sources of guidance in this world to what has been preached by God’s messengers. The part of which we are absolutely certain and which we must follow is the Qur’ān, the single source which God Himself declares to be His guidance, and to which He guides whomever He wills of His servants. If those guided human beings deviate from the path of believing in God’s oneness and change the source from which they receive their guidance, associating partners with God, in faith or worship, then they will see all their labours go to waste. The Arabic expression draws on an image of cattle grazing in a poisoned area: their bellies swell and then they die. This is the linguistic association of the expression used here for the wasting of their labours.
 
“On these did We bestow revelation, wisdom and prophethood. If this generation were to deny this truth, We have certainly entrusted it to others who will never deny it.” (Verse 89) The first statement defines the source of guidance, limiting it to what has been given to God’s messengers and conveyed by them. The second statement makes it clear that those messengers mentioned in the preceding verses were the ones to whom God has given the Book, wisdom, authority and prophethood. The Arabic word used for wisdom in this context also connotes power and authority. Both aspects are acceptable within the context of this verse. Some of these messengers were given scriptures, such as the Torah given to Moses, the Psalms given to David and the Gospel given to Jesus. Others were given power, such as David and Solomon. All of them were given authority in the sense that their revelations detailed God’s verdict, and the religion they preached outlined God’s authority over their hearts and all affairs. God has sent His messengers to be obeyed and revealed His book to be implemented, as clearly stated in other verses.
 
All these prophets and messengers were also given wisdom and prophethood. They have been entrusted with God’s message: to convey it to mankind and to supervise its implementation. If the Arab idolaters deny it, God has no need of them. Those prophets and the people who have followed them and believed in them are more than sufficient. This is an old fact that had established its roots and spread them wide. It is a long procession that continues uninterrupted. The same message has been conveyed by one messenger after another, accepted by those whom God has guided, knowing that they deserve His guidance.
 
This statement gives reassurance to the believers, although they may be few in number. Their community does not stand alone, isolated. It forms a branch of a huge tree with some roots and branches reaching to the sky. They are a group forming part of an honourable and noble procession that enjoys God’s guidance. Every individual believer, everywhere on earth and in every generation is strong indeed and enjoys a noble position. He belongs to a community of believers that has continued for countless generations throughout human history.
 
“Those are the ones whom God has guided. Follow, then, their guidance, [and] say: No reward do I ask of you for this. It is but an admonition to all mankind.” (Verse 90) Those noble leaders of the procession of faith are the ones who have been given God’s guidance. What they received from God provides an example to be followed by God’s Messenger, the Prophet Muĥammad, and those who follow him. He should follow only that guidance and submit only to its ruling. It is the only guidance which he preaches. As he does so, he says to those who are called on to believe in it: “No reward do I ask of you for this. It is but an admonition to all mankind.” (Verse 90) It is not the monopoly of any community, race or generation. It is God’s guidance given to mankind in all ages and generations. The Messenger seeks no reward for his effort. His reward comes only from God.