[Pooya/Ali Commentary 77:8] (see commentary for verse 7)
[Shakir 77:7] Most surely what you are threatened with must come to pass.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 77:7]
These verses refer to the events that will happen on the day of resurrection.
The prophets, sent in succession at different times to all nations, will be gathered together in one place before the seat of judgement to bear witness as to the righteous or the unjust among their followers and the Holy Prophet as a witness over all the prophets of Allah. See commentary of Bara-at: 105; Nisa: 41; Nahl: 89 and Baqarah: 143).
[Shakir 2:143] And thus We have made you a medium (just) nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you; and We did not make that which you would have to be the qiblah but that We might distinguish him who follows the Messenger from him who turns back upon his heels, and this was surely hard except for those whom Allah has guided aright; and Allah was not going to make your faith to be fruitless; most surely Allah is Affectionate, Merciful to the people.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 2:143]
To understand this verse it is necessary to know the meanings of some important words and phrases used in it.
(1) Ummat does not always mean a community or a nation. In verse 120 of al Nahl it refers to a single individual-Verily Ibrahim was a people (ummat) obedient to Allah.
[Shakir 4:41] How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 4:41]
Shahid means a witness, and when ala follows shahid it means a raqib or muhaymin (a close watcher and a careful observer). Please refer to al-Baqarah: 143. Also refer to al-Rad: 43; al-Hud: 17; al-Nahl: 84 and 89. Allah shall bring, from among every people, a witness, and bring the Holy Prophet as a witness over those witnesses. It indicates that the Holy Prophet was present in the times of all the prophets. He is also a witness over the holy Imams. His spiritual and essential presence in all times to witness the performance of the divinely commissioned messengers and guides proves that he was fully aware of the revelations revealed to Allah's messengers and the agency which communicated the revelations, so it is a blasphemy to say that he did not recognise angel Jibrail when he first came to him to convey Allah's message. (Please refer to the commentary of al-Baqarah: 2).
The Holy Prophet said:
I existed as messenger of Allah even before the creation of Adam.
"Those who disbelieved and disobeyed the prophet" have been warned that in the hereafter they shall be punished just like the disbelievers. Those who persecuted, tortured and caused the death of the daughter of the Holy Prophet and her children (Ahl ul Bayt) come into the category of those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Holy Prophet. Please refer to the commentary of verses 8 to 20 on page 51.
[Shakir 9:105] And say: Work; so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Messenger and the believers; and you shall be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you did.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 9:105]
"Act. Allah sees your deeds, and His messengers, and the believers." Allah sees and knows the hidden and the manifest, the known and the unknown. So also the Holy Prophet is aware of every action-how, when and where it is carried out, in every age, through out the world. He is a witness over all people till the day of resurrection (Nisa: 41, Nahl: 84 and 89). This verse also says that there are some believers who have been entrusted and endowed with the same divine quality to witness the deeds of all men, at all times, in all places. They are those who, like the Holy Prophet, have been thoroughly purified (Ahzab: 33).
Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said:
This verse is in continuation of verse 103. The believers referred to in this verse are those successors mentioned in verse 55 of an Nur.
[Shakir 16:89] And on the day when We will raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against these-- and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything, and a guidance and mercy and good news for those who submit.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:89]
The Holy Prophet, who came with the book ( a guide, a mercy and glad tidings to those who submit themselves to Allah) explaining all things, is a witness over all the witnesses. In addition to verses mentioned in the commentary of verse 84 of this surah, please refer to Bani Israil: 71 and An Nur: 24.
Evidence given by a witness can be accepted only when the witness has witnessed the event which is being examined. Every messenger of Allah will give evidence about the response of his people to whom he was sent to preach the message of Allah; while the Holy Prophet will be a witness over all the prophets and messengers of Allah who will be raised as witnesses over their respective followers.
The Holy Prophet said:
"I was the prophet of Allah when Adam was in the process of creation."
It implies that he was present in this world from the very beginning and will be here till the end to witness that which had happened and that which is taking place. It is nothing but a fabricated and mischievous tale, very popular among the common Muslims, that when Jibra-il came to him he could not recognise him, and was frightened so much that he began to tremble in fear; and at last came to his senses when his wife and her uncle, Warqa bin Nawfil, told him that he was chosen as the last messenger of Allah.
[under construction, IA more commentary coming]
