Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Tafsir of Surah Al-Jumu’ah (Ayah 1–4) Characteristics of Messenger Muhammad

Tafsir of Surah Al-Jumu’ah (Ayah 1–4) Characteristics of Messenger Muhammad

62:1 All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorify Allah, the King, the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

62:2 It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His revelations, and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the Wisdom, though before that they were in manifest error.

62:3 And others from among them who have not yet joined them, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

62:4 That is the bounty of Allah that He gives to whom He wants, and Allah is the Owner of the great bounty.

Tafsir

62:1 All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorify Allah, the King, the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Surah Al-Jumu’ah begins with the glorification of Allah and affirms that all creatures praise Him, Exalted be He.

Glorification of Allah means affirming that Allah is free from any imperfection. Allah is the King of all that is in the heavens and the earth, and His command prevails over them.

Allah is the Holy, free from all that the disbelievers attribute to Him. Moreover, Allah is the All-Mighty, who takes severe revenge upon His enemies, and none can stand before Him. Allah is the All-Wise in His statements and deeds. He manages the affairs of His creatures with wisdom and takes care of all their concerns, as He best knows what is good for them.

Then, Allah, Exalted be He, demonstrates some of His bounties upon His slaves.

62:2 It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His revelations, and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the Wisdom, though before that they were in manifest error.

The term “the unlettered” refers to the Arabs, who were so described because most of them could not read or write at that time.

Allah, Exalted be He, sent among the Arabs—who were unlettered—by His bounty and generosity, a noble Messenger who belonged to them. Thus, they knew his lineage and his character. Allah sent Messenger Muhammad to recite to the Arabs the Ayat of the Quran, which He revealed to guide them to what brings them happiness in the life of this world and the Hereafter, if they believe in it.

In addition, Allah sent Messenger Muhammad to purify them from the vices of disbelief in the Oneness of Allah and from corrupt ethics, and to teach them the Quran by explaining unclear matters therein. He also taught them beneficial knowledge that would lead them to success in the life of this world and the Hereafter.

The Ayah mentions that Messenger Muhammad was “from among the Arabs,” indicating that he was not a stranger; rather, the Arabs knew well his lineage and character.

This Ayah also indicates the stages of conveying the divine message:

  • First, Messenger Muhammad recited the Ayat of the Quran to the people.
  • Second, he purified them from corrupt ethics and misconduct.
  • Third, he taught and explained the Quran and beneficial knowledge, namely the Sunnah of Messenger Muhammad.

This process follows the establishment of belief in the Oneness of Allah and the purification of the soul.

…though before that they were in manifest error.

Before the sending of Messenger Muhammad, the Arabs were in manifest error, as they worshipped false gods besides Allah and practiced harmful customs. Thus, Allah, out of His mercy and bounty, sent Messenger Muhammad to bring them out of the darkness of disbelief in the Oneness of Allah into the light of belief in His Oneness.

The Arabs are specifically mentioned because Allah sent Messenger Muhammad to them first, and then to all humanity until the occurrence of the Day of Judgment.

In other words, Allah, out of His generosity and bounty, sent to the Arabs a Messenger from among themselves to take them out of the darkness of worshipping false gods and into the light of belief in the Oneness of Allah. Before this, they were in manifest error in their creeds, worship, ethics, and transactions.

Then, Allah, Exalted be He, clarifies that the guidance conveyed through Messenger Muhammad is not restricted to his contemporaries; rather, it extends to subsequent generations.

62:3 And others from among them who have not yet joined them, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Allah, Exalted be He, sent an Arab Messenger to the Arabs as well as to later generations, namely those who come after the companions of Messenger Muhammad until the Day of Judgment. Allah is the All-Mighty; no one can oppose His perfect will and power. He is the All-Wise in all His deeds, statements, legislation, and in His management of the affairs of the universe.

Mujahid, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
‘[62:3 And others from among them who have not yet joined them, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.] Any person who embraces Islam.’

62:4 That is the bounty of Allah that He gives to whom He wants, and Allah is the Owner of the great bounty.

What has been mentioned above—namely, the sending of Messenger Muhammad to invite people to worship Allah alone and to guide them to the straight path of Islam—is the bounty of Allah, which He grants to whom He wills among His slaves. Allah is the Owner of the great bounty, with which no other bounty can be compared.

Out of His bounty, Allah has granted the believers the ability to learn and recite the Quran in the life of this world, and He will, out of His generosity, reward them immensely in the Hereafter.

Learned Lessons from Surah Al-Jumu’ah (Ayah 1–4)

  • All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify and praise Allah and acknowledge His Oneness and perfect power.
  • Allah, Exalted be He, sent Messenger Muhammad to guide people to the straight path of worshipping Allah alone, to recite the Quran to them, and to purify them from the impurity of disbelief in the Oneness of Allah and from vices.
  • Before the sending of Messenger Muhammad, the Arabs were far from the right path and were divided.
  • Sending Messenger Muhammad is a great bounty, as Allah sent to the Arabs a Messenger from among themselves, making it easier for them to understand his message and communicate with him.
  • The message of Islam brought by Messenger Muhammad is not restricted to the Arabs; rather, it is for all people until the Day of Judgment.
  • Islam and the sending of Messenger Muhammad are among the bounties of Allah, which He grants to whom He wills.

 

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