Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

(AS) belong to the same nation, and every Prophet (May Allah be pleased with them
all) had a role in setting the bases of religion, until Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), the
last Prophet, came to complete that huge building . Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) has
said an expressive Hadith to highlight this meaning, “The similitude of mine and that
of the Apostles (before me) is that of a person who constructed a building and he built
it fine and well and the people went round it saying: Never have we seen a building
more imposing than this, but for one brick, and I am that brick (with which you give
the finishing touch to the building).”
This is why the Surah focuses on the fact that each Prophet (May Allah be pleased
with them all) was sent for his own people, whereas Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was
sent to all mankind , Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as “And We have sent
you (O Muhammad SAWS): not but as a mercy for the ‘alamin’ (mankind, jinn
and all that exists).” (TMQ, 21:107). Thus, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was sent
not only to all humanity, but also to other worlds like that of Jinn.
Why don’t we take him (SAWS) as a model Why do you insist on not following him,
although he was sent as a mercy from Allah (SWT) to the entire world
Dramatic ending
As the Surah starts with the serious impact of unawareness, its closing Ayahs are very
strong so as to awaken the hearts from this illness. It is as if the Surah says, “If you do
not take those Prophets (May Allah be pleased with them all) as an example, you will
all get back to Allah (SWT) on a hard day, as Allah (SWT) says what can be translated
as “when We shall roll up the heaven like a scroll rolled up for books” (TMQ,
21:104). Try to imagine that horrible day, and the sound of Heaven when being folded
like a book. Allah (SWT) confirms this saying in what can be translated as “As We
began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us.
Truly, We shall do it.” (TMQ, 21:104).
The earth is theirs
Those who follow the steps of the Prophets (AS) are the real victorious ones in this
life and the winners in the hereafter. Hence, the strong Ayahs describing doomsday
are followed by what Allah (SWT) says and can be translated as “And indeed We
have written in Az-Zabur [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books - the Taurat (Torah),
the Injeel (Gospel), the Psalms, the Qur’an,] after (We have already written in)
Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz (the Book that is in the heaven with Allah), that My
righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise).” (TMQ, 21:105).
Those Ayahs want to say to the Prophets’ (May Allah be pleased with them all)
followers, “Follow the example of Prophets (May Allah be pleased with them all) so
as to inherit the earth”. The next Ayah describes the act of taking the Prophets (AS) as
models: by worshiping Allah (SWT) as the Prophets (AS) did, Allah (SWT) will
reward one with inheritance of the earth. Allah (SWT) describes this saying what can
be translated as “Verily, in this (the Qur’an) there is a plain Message for people
who worship Allah (i.e. the true, real believers of Islamic Monotheism who act
practically on the Qur’an and the Sunnah - legal ways of the Prophet SAWS).”
(TMQ, 21:106).