Juz 6: An-Nisāʾ 148 to Al-Māʾidah 81
Section 7 of 16 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
6. Messages to Various Prophets | Verses: An-Nisa 4:163-165
In these verses, Allah (swt) confirms the continuity of divine revelation throughout human history, establishing that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stands in the same line of prophetic tradition as all previous messengers:
إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَى وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا
“Surely, We have revealed to you (O Prophet) as We revealed to Nūh and to the prophets after him; and We revealed to Ibrāhīm, Ismā'īl, IsHāq, Ya'qūb and the children of Ya'qūb, and 'Īsā and Ayyūb and Yūnus and Hārūn and Sulaimān, and We gave Zabūr to Dāwūd." (4:163)”
This verse confirms the unity of divine message across all prophetic missions. Allah (swt) emphasizes that the revelation sent to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) follows the same pattern as that given to previous prophets. The verse names sixteen prophets specifically, highlighting major figures from the prophetic lineage. The mention of Zabūr (Psalms) given to Prophet Dawud (David) emphasizes that different prophets received different forms of revelation, yet all came from the same divine source.
The listing of prophets in this verse serves multiple purposes. First, it establishes the continuity of prophetic tradition, demonstrating that Islam is not a new religion but the culmination and perfection of the same message delivered by all previous prophets. Second, it refutes the claims of those who accepted some prophets while rejecting others (particularly the Jews who rejected Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them). Third, it provides reassurance to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by placing him in this honored lineage.
وَرُسُلاً قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلا 7.
“(We have sent) some Messengers We have already told you about, and some other Messengers We did not tell you about, and Allah has spoken to Mūsā verbally” (4:164)