Surah Al Ma'idah Tafseer

وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ امِنُواْ بِي وَبِرَسُولِي

And when I (Allah) Awhaytu Al-Hawariyyin to believe in Me and My Messenger.

This is also a reminder of Allah's favor on `Isa, by making disciples and companions for him.

It is also said that Awhaytu in the Ayah means, `inspired', just as in another Ayah, Allah said;

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ

And We inspired the mother of Musa (saying):Suckle him... (28:7)

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِى مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ

ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَتِ فَاسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلً

And your Lord Awha (inspired) the bee, saying:"Take habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)." (16:68-69)

Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented about the Hawariyyun,

"Allah inspired them",

As-Suddi said,

"`He put in their hearts,"

and the Hawariyyun said,

قَالُوَاْ امَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ

they said:`We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.