Surah Al Imran Tafseer

The Disciples Give Their Support to `Isa

Allah said,

فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَى

Then when `Isa came to know,

meaning, `Isa felt that they were adamant in disbelief and continuing in misguidance.

مِنْهُمُ الْكُفْرَ قَالَ

of their disbelief, he said:

He said to them.

مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللّهِ

Who will be my helper in Allah's cause.

Mujahid commented,

"Meaning, who would follow me to Allah."

However, it appears that `Isa was asking,

"Who would help me convey the Message of Allah!"

The Prophet said during the Hajj season, before the Hijrah,

مَنْ رَجُلٌ يُوْوِينِي حَتَّى أُبَلِّغَ كَلَمَ رَبِّي فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا قَدْ مَنَعُونِي أَنْ أُبَلِّغَ كَلَمَ رَبِّي

Who will give me asylum so that I can convey the Speech of my Lord, for the Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the Speech of my Lord.

until he found the Ansar. The Ansar helped the Prophet and gave him refuge. He later migrated to them, they comforted the Prophet and protected him from all his enemies, may Allah be pleased with them all.

This is similar to what happened with `Isa, for some of the Children of Israel believed in him, gave him their aid and support and followed the light that was sent with him. This is why Allah said about them;

قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللّهِ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ

رَبَّنَا امَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلَتْ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ