Surah 28:45
Show Full Scripture Context (28:44-47) — 4 Verses
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ ٱلۡغَرۡبِيِّ إِذۡ قَضَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلۡأَمۡرَ وَمَا كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
You were not on the western side when We decreed the command to Moses, nor were you among the witnesses.
وَلَٰكِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَا قُرُونٗا فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡعُمُرُۚ وَمَا كُنتَ ثَاوِيٗا فِيٓ أَهۡلِ مَدۡيَنَ تَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا وَلَٰكِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ
But We produced (other) generations, and life was prolonged for them. You were not dwelling among the people of Midian, reciting to them Our signs, when We were sending (messengers).
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ إِذۡ نَادَيۡنَا وَلَٰكِن رَّحۡمَةٗ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوۡمٗا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
You were not on the side of the mountain when We called out (to Moses), but (you were sent) as a mercy from your Lord, so that you might warn a people to whom no warner had come before you, so that they might take heed.
وَلَوۡلَآ أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةُۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ فَيَقُولُواْ رَبَّنَا لَوۡلَآ أَرۡسَلۡتَ إِلَيۡنَا رَسُولٗا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَٰتِكَ وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
If (it were) not that a smiting might smite them for what their hands have sent forward, and (that) they might say, ‘Our Lord, why did You not send a messenger to us, so that we might have followed Your signs, and (so) been among the believers [. . .]?’
Allah points out the proof of the prophethood of Muhammad whereby he told others about matters of the past, and spoke about them as if he were hearing and seeing them for himself. But he was an illiterate man who could not read books, and he grew up among a people who knew nothing of such things. Similarly, Allah told him about Maryam and her story, as Allah said:
{You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam; nor were you with them when they disputed} (3:44), meaning, “you were not present then, but Allah has revealed this to you.' Similarly, Allah told him about Nuh and his people, and how He saved Nuh and drowned his people, then He said:
{This is of the news of the Unseen which We reveal unto you; neither you nor your people knew it before this. So, be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for those who have Taqwa} (11:49).
And at the end of the same Surah (Hud) Allah says:
{That is some of the news of the towns which We relate unto you} (11:100).
And here, after telling the story of Musa from beginning to end and how Allah began His revelation to him and spoke with him, Allah says:
meaning, 'you - O Muhammad - were not on the western side of the mountain where Allah spoke to Musa from the tree which was to the east of it, in the valley.'
'to that event, but Allah has revealed this to you,' so that it may be evidence and proof of events which happened centuries ago, for people have forgotten the evidence that Allah established against them and what was revealed to the earlier Prophets.
meaning, 'you were not living among the people of Madyan reciting Our Ayat to them, when you started to tell about Our Prophet Shu'ayb and what he said to his people and how they responded.'
{But it is We Who kept sending.} means, 'but We revealed that to you and sent you to mankind as a Messenger.'
Qatadah said that:
refers to Musa, and this - and Allah knows best - is like the Ayah:
Here Allah puts it in a different and more specific way by describing it as a call. This is like the Ayat
{And (remember) when your Lord called Musa} (26:10).
{When his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa} (79:16).
{And We called him from the right side of At-Tur, and made him draw near to Us for a talk with him} (19:52).
{Messengers} (4:165).
{O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers, lest you say: “There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner.” But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner} (5:19).
And there are many similar Ayat.