Surah Al-Imran Ayat 81 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 81
And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], “Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him.” [Allah] said, “Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?” They said, “We have acknowledged it.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”
Behold! Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying: “I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you a messenger, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help.” Allah said: “Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”
And recall when Allah took a covenant from the Prophets: ‘This is the Book and the Wisdom which I have given you. But should a Prophet come to you confirming that which is already with you, you shall believe in him and shall help him. So saying, Allah asked: ‘Do you agree and accept to take up the burden of the covenant?’ They answered: ‘We agree,’ He said: ‘Then bear wirness; and I will be with you among the witness.
And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah, etc.), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.” Allah said: “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this).”
When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you.
And as Allah took compact with the Prophets (that), “Indeed, whatever I bring you of Book and Wisdom, thereafter a Messenger comes to you sincerely verifying what is with you, indeed you shall definitely believe in him, and indeed you shall definitely vindicate him.” He (i.e., Allah) said, “Do you ratify (that)? And do you take My obligation on those (conditions)?” They said, “We have ratified (that).” He said, “Then, bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”
God took a pledge from the prophets, saying, ‘If, after I have bestowed Scripture and wisdom upon you, a messenger comes confirming what you have been given, you must believe in him and support him. Do you affirm this and accept My pledge as binding on you?’ They said, ‘We do.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness and I too will bear witness.’
جب اللہ تعالیٰ نے نبیوں سے عہد لیا کہ جو کچھ میں تمہیں کتاب وحکمت دوں پھر تمہارے پاس وه رسول آئے جو تمہارے پاس کی چیز کو سچ بتائے تو تمہارے لئے اس پر ایمان ﻻنا اور اس کی مدد کرنا ضروری ہے۔ فرمایا کہ تم اس کے اقراری ہو اور اس پر میرا ذمہ لے رہے ہو؟ سب نے کہا کہ ہمیں اقرار ہے، فرمایا تو اب گواه رہو اور خود میں بھی تمہارے ساتھ گواہوں میں ہوں
Quran 3 Verse 81 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Imran ayat 81, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(3:81) And recall when Allah took a covenant from the Prophets: ‘This is the Book and the Wisdom which I have given you. But should a Prophet come to you confirming that which is already with you, you shall believe in him and shall help him.[69] So saying, Allah asked: ‘Do you agree and accept to take up the burden of the covenant?’ They answered: ‘We agree,’ He said: Then bear wirness; and I will be with you among the witness.
69. A party of the People of the Book would fain lead you astray, whereas in truth they lead none astray except themselves, but they do not realize it.
Ibn-Kathir
81. And (remember) when Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah, and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.” Allah said: “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up Isri” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses.” 82. Then whoever turns away after this, they are the rebellious.
Allah states that He took a pledge from every Prophet whom He sent from Adam until `Isa, that when Allah gives them the Book and the Hikmah, thus acquiring whatever high grades they deserve, then a Messenger came afterwards, they would believe in and support him. Even though Allah has given the Prophets the knowledge and the prophethood, this fact should not make them refrain from following and supporting the Prophet who comes after them. This is why Allah, the Most High, Most Honored, said
(And (remember) when Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah.”) meaning, if I give you the Book and the Hikmah,
(“and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.” Allah said, “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up Isri”)
Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ar-Rabi`, Qatadah and As-Suddi said that `Isri’ means, “My covenant.” Muhammad bin Ishaq said that,
(Isri) means, “The responsibility of My covenant that you took,” meaning, the ratified pledge that you gave Me.
(They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses.” then whoever turns away after this,”) from fulfilling this pledge and covenant, c
(they are the rebellious.) `Ali bin Abi Talib and his cousin `Abdullah bin `Abbas said, “Allah never sent a Prophet but after taking his pledge that if Muhammad were sent in his lifetime, he would believe in and support him.” Allah commanded each Prophet to take a pledge from his nation that if Muhammad were sent in their time, they would believe in and support him. Tawus, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah said, “Allah took the pledge from the Prophets that they would believe in each other”, and this statement does not contradict what `Ali and Ibn `Abbas stated.
Therefore, Muhammad is the Final Prophet until the Day of Resurrection. He is the greatest Imam, who if he existed in any time period, deserves to be obeyed, rather than all other Prophets. This is why Muhammad led the Prophets in prayer during the night of Isra’ when they gathered in Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). He is the intercessor on the Day of Gathering, when the Lord comes to judge between His servants. This is Al-Maqam Al-Mahmud (the praised station) ﴿refer to 17:79﴾ that only Muhammad deserves, a responsibility which the mighty Prophets and Messengers will decline to assume. However, Muhammad will carry the task of intercession, may Allah’s peace and blessings be on him.
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