The life of the Prophet Muhammad - Ibn Kathir - volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABO AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHiR 249
They said this even though the unbelieving "People of the Bookmi3 well knew
that the order came from God, since they recognized the Messenger of God
(SAAS) from the description of hi given in their books, from the information
there that Medina would be the place to which he would emigrate, and also that
he would he ordered to face towards the ka'ba in his prayer. As God stated,
"Those to whom the Book was brought know well that it is the truth from their
Lord" (siirat al-Baqara; 11, v.144).
Despite all this, God Almighty responded to their question and mentioned
them specificallly when He stated, "The fools will ask, 'What was it that turned
them away from the direction of prayer they had before?' 'Say: To God belong
both East and West; He guides whomever He wishes to the straight path"' (siirat
al-Baqara, 11, v.142). That is, He is the Lord, the Judge and Ruler of the
Universe, whose decree no one can revise, He who does as He wishes with His
creation, He who decrees whatever He wishes in His law, He who leads whomever
He wishes to the straight path, misleading whomever He wishes away from
the right road; in all that, His is the wisdom to which all must agree and accept.
Then the Almighty stated, "And thus We have made you an intermediate
nation" (siirat al-Bagara; 11, v.143). That is, the best "so that you may be witnesses
to the people and have the Messenger be witness for you" (swat al-
Bagara; 11, v.143). That is, just as We have chosen for you the best of directions
for your prayer, having led you to the gibla of your father Abraham, father of the
prophets, to which thereafter Moses and those messengers before him also
turned. Likewise We have made you the best of nations, the very essence of the
world, the most noble of all groups, the most honourable of the ancient and the
high-born, so that you may be witnesses on Judgement Day against those who
have combined against you, and so that they may give testimony on that day to
your great virtue.
This is so substantiated in a account in the sahih collection of
al-Bukhari, from Abn Sa'id, referring to Noah's testimony to this nation on
Judgement Day. And if Noah should testify for them despite the fact of his own
time having been so much before, then it is even more appropriate and proper a
course for those after him.
God then mentioned His wisdom in sending his retribution to those who
doubted and denied this reality, and His pleasure to those who believed and
accepted this actuality. He said, "And We decreed the &a you used to observe
only to know who it is who follows the Messenger" (siirat al-Baqara; 11, v.143).
Ibn 'Abbas commented, "That is, only to see those who follow the Messenger,
and those who turn back upon their heels."
53. The term commonly applied to members of religions based upon Holy Books, most specifically
to Jews and Christians.
54. A term denoting a tradition traceable in ascending order of traditionaries directly to the
Prophet.