Surah Al Imran Tafseer

No Prophet Ever Called People to Worship him or to Worship Other Than Allah

Allah says;

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُوْتِيَهُ اللّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُواْ عِبَادًا لِّي مِن دُونِ اللّهِ

It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and Al-Hukm and Prophethood to say to the people:"Be my worshippers rather than Allah's."

This Ayah means, it is not for a person whom Allah has given the Book, knowledge in the Law and Prophethood to proclaim to the people, "Worship me instead of Allah," meaning, along with Allah. If this is not the right of a Prophet or a Messenger, then indeed, it is not the right of anyone else to issue such a claim.

This criticism refers to the ignorant rabbis, priests and teachers of misguidance, unlike the Messengers and their sincere knowledgeable followers who implement their knowledge; for they only command what Allah commands them, as their honorable Messengers conveyed to them. They also forbid what Allah forbade for them, by the words of His honorable Messengers. The Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on all of them, are the emissaries between Allah and His creation, conveying Allah's Message and Trust. The messengers indeed fulfilled their mission, gave sincere advice to creation and conveyed the truth to them.

Allah's statement,

وَلَـكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ

On the contrary (he would say), "Be you Rabbaniyyun, because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."

means, the Messenger recommends the people to be Rabbaniyyun.

Ibn Abbas, Abu Razin and several others said that;

Rabbaniyyun means, "Wise, learned, and forbearing."

Ad-Dahhak commented concerning Allah's statement,

بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ

(because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it).

"Whoever learns the Qur'an deserves to become a Faqih (learned)."

وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ

(and you are studying it),

preserving its words.

Allah then said