These verses remind Muslims to respect all prophets while upholding the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ message. They also warn against sectarian strife, urging unity based on clear divine signs rather than human disagreements.
Arabic Text (Quran 2:252-253):
252: تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
253: تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
Translation (Adapted from Maududi’s Tafheem):
252: These are the revelations of Allah which We recite to you in truth, and indeed you are one of the messengers.
253: Among these messengers, We have exalted some above others. To some Allah spoke directly, and some He raised in ranks. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah willed, those who came after them would not have fought one another after clear signs had come to them. But they differed among themselves: some believed, and some disbelieved. Had Allah willed, they would not have fought, but Allah does what He wills.
Tafseer (Summary from Tafheem-ul-Quran):
Verse 252:
This verse concludes the previous narrative about the Israelites and Prophet David, emphasizing that the stories told are not folklore but divine truths revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It reaffirms his status as a genuine messenger of Allah, entrusted with conveying these truths to humanity.
Verse 253:
- Hierarchy Among Prophets:
Allah has granted different ranks to His messengers based on divine wisdom. Examples include:
· Prophets directly spoken to by Allah (e.g., Moses).
· Prophets elevated in status (e.g., Muhammad ﷺ, who was given the Quran and brought the final message).
· Jesus (Isa) was given clear miracles (e.g., healing the blind, raising the dead) and supported by the Holy Spirit (Angel Gabriel). - Human Disputes After Prophets:
Allah explains that conflicts among followers of prophets (like Christians and Jews) arose not due to Allah’s will but because of human choices. After receiving clear guidance, some believed while others rejected it, leading to divisions and wars. Allah permits such trials to test humanity. - Divine Wisdom:
The verse ends by underscoring Allah’s absolute will: He could have forced unity, but He allows free will to manifest. This reflects the Quranic theme that truth and falsehood must be distinguished through human choice.
Key Lessons from Maududi’s Tafheem:
· Prophethood is a unified chain: All messengers preached the same core message of Tawheed (monotheism).
· Differences in rank are divine decisions, not reasons for rivalry among believers.
· Miracles and signs were given to prophets as proofs suited to their eras.
· Human conflict stems from rejecting truth, not from Allah’s desire for discord.
· Free will is central to faith: Allah guides, but humans must choose belief over disbelief.
Relevance to Modern Readers:
These verses remind Muslims to respect all prophets while upholding the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ message. They also warn against sectarian strife, urging unity based on clear divine signs rather than human disagreements.
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Messages from Quran 