بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Quran mentions a word (Mithaq/ميثاق) in Al-Quran which means ‘covenant’ in English. Another similar word used is ‘Ahad/عهد’ meaning pledge or promise. Promise and pledge is a solemn assurance of performance that one party gives from their side without imposing an obligation of performance from other party. On the other hand in a covenant, both parties agree to perform with well defined performance obligations on part of both parties and generally documented as well. In this way, covenant can be considered as a two way promise or pledge.

How do we make a covenant with Allah, i.e when we solemnly utter and affirm our subservience to the below ayat and the belief therein that Allah is our Lord and we are Muslim/submitters to the revelation which He has revealed to all the prophets:

2:136 قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

Say you all: “We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Ibraheem, Isma’il, Ishaq, Yaqoob , and the tribes, and that given to Moosa and Essa, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: we make no difference among any one and we are submitters to it. “

When we affirm this belief (and we cannot deny it as a Muslim as it is stated in a clear ayat of Al-Quran), then the Revelation from Allah, becomes the document of our covenant with Allah with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for both parties i.e we and Allah.

5:7 وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

And remember the blessing of Allah on you, and His covenant, with which you made binding (with Him), when you said. “We heard and we obeyed”, and take guard of Allah, verily Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts.

The covenant is documented in Allah’s revelations i.e His Book. This revelation is mandatory on messengers and Muslims/submitters (85:28), that they will not ascribe to Allah any saying except for Al-Haq and they will study what is in the revelation.

7:169 فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا الْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَالدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

After them succeeded successors, who inherited the book, but they take this low offer and they say “We will be forgiven.”, if a similar offer comes their way, they would (again) seize it. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them, that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? And they study what is in the Book. For the righteous is the good home in the Hereafter, will you people not use your intellect.

The above ayat mentions covenant of the book of Allah with the people who have inherited the book. The ayat states, isn’t a covenant taken from them that they should not ascribe fallacies on Allah as they study the Book. So, if you have inherited the book of Allah and affirm that this is from Allah for your guidance, the book becomes your covenant with Allah with clearly defined responsibilities and rewards from Allah in return for your actions.

57:8 وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ۙ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

What is with you that you do not believe in Allah?- while the messenger calls you to believe in your Lord, and has indeed taken your covenant, if you (people) are believers.

The above ayat states that if you are believer your covenant has been made with Allah. The covenant is made through a ‘hijab’/barrier (which is Allah’s book for us), as Allah does not speak to humans except with the three ways given in below ayat.

42:51 وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ

And it is not for any human that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration or from behind a Hijab/Veil or He sends a messenger, then he (the messenger) inspires with His permission what He wills, surely, He is most high & Wise

Adam is representative of mankind. Mankind in general is oblivious of their pledge towards God and lacks perseverance.

20:115 وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ آدَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِيَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ عَزْمًا

And indeed We got a pledge from Adam earlier, then he forgot and We did not find perseverance in him.

The majority of mankind when they make a pledge, a portion of them throw away the pledge and don’t believe in it. And also majority makes one side promise to Allah as majority do not have knowledge of the Book which is the document of covenant with Allah.

2:100 أَوَكُلَّمَا عَاهَدُوا عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Is it not that every time they made a pledge, some party among them throw it aside?- Nay, Most of them don’t believe

When you have entered pledge with Allah i.e by becoming a believer then don’t break up the pledge.

16:91 وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا الْأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

Fulfil your pledge to  Allah when you have entered into it, and break not your oaths after you have confirmed them; indeed you have made Allah your guarantor over them ; for Allah knows all that you do.

Allah instructions to mankind is to spread peace in the World. Those people who engage in corruption and bloodshed in the world definitely are breaking His covenant.

2:27 الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

Those who break Allah’s pledge after it is ratified, and who cutoff what Allah Has ordered to be joined, and do mischief/violence on earth, they are the losers.

Bani Israel are those who are the successors of the Book, the orders (of Allah) and the prophethood. By believing in the Book and all the prophets, they have entered a covenant with Allah. Allah is asking them to fulfil their part of the pledge and Allah shall fulfil His part of the pledge.

2:40 يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ

O  Children of Israel! Remember the blessing that I have blessed over you and complete your pledge towards me, I will complete My pledge towards you and you should be afraid of Me only.

When people say falsehood, Allah challenges them to prove if it is part of the covenant. They need to prove any thing they say about Allah in the documented covenant i.e the Book of Allah.

2:80 وَقَالُوا لَن تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ إِلَّا أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ اللَّهُ عَهْدَهُ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And they say. “The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days.” Say. “Have you taken a pledge from Allah, for He never breaks His pledges? or is it that you say of Allah what you do not know?”

The zalimeen/wrong doers don’t fulfil Allah’s pledge because they mix things with Allah’s Word. Allah’s pledge has to be fulfilled with His Word.

2:124 وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ

And when his Lord put Ibrahim to trial with words, thus he completed them. He said. “Surely I have made you the Imam for mankind”, he said “and from my offspring?” He said “My covenant shall not reach the oppressors.”

Those people who give their own orders i.e they pass on religious doctrines as part of ‘Sharia’ without backing from Allah’s Book, are ‘Zalimeen’ as per Quran. They don’t deserve to be people’s Imam. A Imam of people will not order any thing not backed by the Book of Allah.

5:45 ….. وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

And any who does not judge/govern with what Allah has sent down, they are Zalmeen/Wrong-doers.

Those people who sell off Allah’s pledge i.e they mislead other people by projecting false hood and attributing it towards Allah, they get a miserable price for this evil work.

3:77 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَٰئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

As for those who sell their pledge with Allah and their faith for a small price, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter. Nor will Allah speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleanse them (of sin). They shall have a grievous penalty.

Some important points of Allah’s pledge to believers which are documented in the Covenant i.e His Book are highlighted in below ayat i.e do not misuse the property of the orphans and do all your transactions with justice even if your nearest and dearests are involved against others.

6:152 وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

And do not come near the orphan’s money/property, except with a noble way, until he attains the age of full strength; And complete measurement and balance with justice;- We don’t burden any nafs/one, but according to its capacity;- and when you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfil the pledge of Allah. Thus He enjoins you, so that you may remember.

The people who remain conscious of the fact that this Book is revealed from the Lord and is the truth, they are not like those who remain oblivious to it. Those people are considered ‘Oolul albab’/(those who try to reach to the core of knowledge) who act upon the covenant of Allah which are the orders of Allah in the Book and fulfil them and they fear their Lord of accountability. They know that their patience and perseverance in the world will be paid off by their Lord, they establish as-salat, they spend openly and secretly seeking good pleasure of the Lord and they respond to evil with goodness.

13:19-22 أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

Is the one who knows that what had been revealed unto you (the messenger) from your Lord is the Truth, like one who is blind? those who are endued with understanding receive remembrance. Those who fulfil the pledge towards Allah and do not break the covenant. Those who deliver what Allah has commanded to be delivered, and remain conscious of their Lord and fear a terrible reckoning. Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Lord; establish the ‘salat’; spend (do Zakat), out of what We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and return evil with goodness, for such there is the final attainment of the (eternal) home,-

People should not sell off the pledge of Allah for a small price. For a small worldly gain they should not spread false hood about Allah.

16:95 وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Nor sell the pledge of Allah for a miserable price, for with Allah is (a prize) far better for you, if you only knew.

As per our pledge with Allah, the wealth of the orphans and weak should not be accessed except in a way which is for their best interest. Of course, beware that our pledge with Allah will be accounted for.

17:34 وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۚ وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا

Do not come near the orphan’s property except in the best manner, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil the pledge, for the pledge will be questioned upon.

A breach of the covenant of a nation of any messenger, is that they forego patience for Allah’s revelation and instead revert to half cooked concoctions which often time include sounds of chants and be misled by likes of Samri, the story teller.

20:86 فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَلَمْ يَعِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا ۚ أَفَطَالَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَهْدُ أَمْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن يَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُم مَّوْعِدِي

Thus Moosa returned to his people in indignation and sorrow. He said. “O my people! did not your Lord make a beautiful promise to you? Had the pledge become too long for you? Or did you desire that wrath should descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me?”

The majority pays lip service to their ‘kalima’ (statement) assuming that this is their statement of being a submitter to Allah, that ‘there is no god but Allah’, however, most of them take all their religious orders from sources other than the Book of Allah, thus practically making their illah/god the other sources of religious doctrines and sharing these injunctions with the Book of Allah.

33:15 وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ الْأَدْبَارَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا

And yet they had made pledge with Allah from before, not to turn their backs, and a pledge with Allah will be questioned (definitely)

The believers when they believe in Allah and accountability of hereafter and the Book of Allah brought by the messenger, then the Book of Allah becomes their covenant with Allah. The mountain of the ‘Toor’ is a sign for the believers (along with the other signs in the Holy valley of Makkah) with the broken pieces of stones(see post Toor e Sineen).

2:63 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

And remember We took covenant from you and We raised above you Al-Toor. “Hold firmly to what We have given you and remember what is therein. So that you may acquire Taqwa/ fear of Allah.”

The covenant of Allah is to hold fast what is given by Allah and listen to it. However what people did was to get involved in fabricated concoction of stories and chants referred to as ‘Al-Ijl/the calf in Quran. (please see previous post ‘Al-Ijl the calf of bani-Israel)

2:93 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاسْمَعُوا ۖ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُوا فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِهِ إِيمَانُكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you At-Toor.  “Hold firmly to what We have given you, and Listen”. They said.” We hear, and we disobey.” And they were made to drink into their hearts the Ijl/calf because of their rejection. Say. “Vile indeed are the orders of your faith if you are the believers!”

Important points of the covenant in the Book of Allah are reiterated in below ayat i.e not to hold any idol or idolize anyone and any personality other than Allah, show excellent behavior to your parents, relatives, orphans and poor and talk to people nicely. Establish as-salat and give zakat. But people turn away from the covenant of Allah except for a few of them.

2:83 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

When We took a covenant with the Bani-Israeel/Children of Israel that you will serve none but Allah and do goodness with your parents and with relatives and the orphan and the poor and say to mankind kind words and establish as-Salah and give az-Zakat. then except few from you, turn away avoiding it.

Another important aspect of the covenant of Allah is reiterated in below ayas i.e not to shed your blood and don’t expel people out of your circles. Example of expelling people out of the circles is that in a labeled Muslim community, some groups are expelled out of community because their beliefs don’t conform to the criteria made by the majority and they are labeled as ‘infidels’.

2:84 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ

And when We took a covenant with you, not to shed your blood and do not expel your selves from your circles then you confirmed and you are witness to it.

The covenant of the Book is not to hide things from the Book, however (as an example) we can see that many ayahs regarding the personality of the messenger (pbuh) are not told to people by the religious leaders thus hiding the true personality of the messenger of Allah and instead projecting a different personality of the messenger from alternate sources.

3:187 وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ

And when Allah took a covenant from the those people who were given the Book, that they must explain it to the masses, and  they will not hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some little gain! Thus what a vile bargain they made!

For details of At-Toor, please see previous post. The believers who enter into the covenant of Allah are asked to remain subservient to Allah’s ayahs and not to transgress in laziness (please see earlier post on As-Sabt)

4:154 وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ الطُّورَ بِمِيثَاقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا فِي السَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا

And We raised over them At-Toor with their covenant ; and We said for them: “Enter the door in the state of prostration”; and We said for them: “Do not transgress in the matter of the Sabt/Rest.” and We took from them a solemn covenant.

When believers deviate from the covenant of Allah which is His Book and they attribute all kinds of false stories with the prophets of Allah while the Book clearly state not to say anything about Allah and his prophets except Al-Haq , then Allah puts seal on the hearts of deviators. This seal is the false pride and infatuation with personalities which does not let them accept Allah’s message.

4:155 فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ الْأَنبِيَاءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

With their breaking of the covenant and their rejection of the ayahs of Allah and their killing of the prophet’s of Allah without ‘haq’; and their saying that, “Our hearts have covers”;- Instead, Allah has set a seal on their hearts for their Kufr/rejection, and only little of them would believe;

How do people kill a prophet; they do it by attributing fabricated stories about the prophet thus doing his character assassination by projecting a character of the prophet which is not described by the Book of Allah.

Allah says that if you keep your part of the covenant by establishing prayers (continuous communication with Allah and the book of Allah) and giving Zakat and by honoring His messengers (not attributing out of Quran stories to them) and giving loan of righteousness to Allah, Allah will fulfil his promise of good life for you by removing your faults from you and entering you in gardens with flowing rivers.

5:12 وَلَقَدْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَبَعَثْنَا مِنْهُمُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا ۖ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ ۖ لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ وَآمَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ

Allah did take a covenant from the children of Israel, and we raised twelve captains among them, and Allah said. “I am with you. If you establish as-salat, give az-zakat, believe in my messengers and honor them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, verily I will cover from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, covered/rejected faith, he has truly wandered away from the right path.”

However when you deviate from the covenant of Allah and change the context of the Word ( e.g by adding narrations and stories to take away impact and focus of the Word to some event in the past and distant people) so that the meanings and scope of the message change and forget the part which was meant to be remembered (which is the first message of all messengers in the Book, i.e serve Allah alone), and your dishonestly is common knowledge, then Allah hardens your hearts to the His message.

5:13 فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ ۙ وَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَائِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Thus because of their breaking of the covenant, We cursed them and We made their hearts hard. They maneuver the word from its subject (change the context) and they forgot the portion of what they were reminded with. And you will never cease to get news about their dishonesty barring a few of them, so pardon them and bear with them, Surely Allah loves the good doers.

The people who identify themselves as ‘Nasara’/Christians they also forgot part of the message which was meant to be remembered (and associated others with God and brought forth man written books while hiding the original revelation behind their backs). As a result they will suffer among them hatred and animosity forever till they meet Allah on the day of judgement.

5:14 وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَهُمْ فَنَسُوا حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ

and from those who said “We are Nasara”, We did take their covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message with which they were made to remember, thus we put enmity and hatred among them till the day of establishment and soon will Allah inform them what they used to fabricate.

Bani-Israel are the people who inherit the Book of Allah and prophethood. It is the practice of them to belie any messenger who comes to revert them back purely to the Book of Allah. They will not accept him as the personality described in the book of Allah and do character assassination of him by ascribing fabricated stories to him in religious books.

5:70 لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا ۖ كُلَّمَا جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ

We took Covenant with Bani-Israeel and We send to them Our messengers. Whenever comes to them a messenger with what their nafs/psyche did not desire, some they belied and some they killed.

Covenant of the prophets:

In ayat 3:81, Al-Quran mentions a covenant of the prophets with Allah i.e after they are given knowledge of book/writing and wisdom, then a messenger will come to them:

3:81 وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

And when Allah took the covenant from the prophets, “When I have given you from book and wisdom; then comes to you a messenger, confirming what is with you; then you must believe in him and render him help.” Allah said. “Do you render your consent, and take this my burden on you?” They said. “We agree.” He said. “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”

3:82 فَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

If any turn back after this, they are perverted transgressors.

A covenant of Allah and His prophets is mentioned in the above ayas, that when they attain from book and wisdom and then comes to them a messenger; they should then indeed believe in him and support him.

Worth noting is that prophets are mentioned as a group and a messenger is stated to come to the prophets.

Difference between Nabi (prophet) and Rasool (messenger):

The below ayat 22:75 states that messengers are chosen among angels and among people.

22:75 اللَّهُ يَصْطَفِي مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ النَّاسِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ

Allah chooses messengers from angels and from people, for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things).

And the Rooh/Spirit from Allah is also messenger of Allah as per below ayas.

The Rooh/Spirit is the spirit of the ‘Word’ of Allah. Allah mentions sending the Spirit to Mariam (a.s) which was in the form of a human. The spirit comes after one distances oneself from the people around and their teachings.

19:16-19 وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ انتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا

Remember in the book, Mariam, when she withdrew from her family to an Eastern place. Then she took a hijab/veil apart from them, thus We sent to her Our Rooh/Spirit. So he was an even example of a human for her. She said. “I seek refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious, if you fear Allah.” He said. “Without doubt, I am a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you a holy son.

So the messengers can be from men, angels and Spirit (of Allah).

The prophets however are only humans. The below ayat addresses a ‘bashar’ i.e human prophet:

16:43 وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

We did not sent before you but men to whom We sent inspiration, thus you ask the people who posses the Zikr/remembrance if you do not know.

3:79 مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِّي مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِن كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ

It is not for a human whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the Prophethood; should say to people. “You become my servants rather than Allah’s”, on the contrary (He would say) “You become the servants of the Lord, for you teach the Book and you study it.”

All ‘prophets’ are also ‘messengers’ of Allah as they convey the message of Allah to people.

Who is the messenger mentioned in 3:81?

A school of scholars have the view that the messenger mentioned in this ayat is ‘Mohammad’ (pbuh). However the problem with this view point is that the prophets were sent in different time periods and Mohammad (pbuh) as a ‘bashar’/human cannot be present in different eras of time to meet these prophets. In addition this covenant is also taken from Mohammad (pbuh) as per below ayat 33:7.

33:7 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا

And when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you (pbuh) and from Nooh, Ibrahim, Moosa, and Essa the son of Mary and We took from them a solemn covenant.

At a few places in Quran, Allah specifically mentioned that you, meaning the prophet (pbuh), was not present in the past eras, such as with prophet Moosa (a.s) when Allah called him from the side of Toor. Therefore Mohammad (pbuh) as a human/bashar was not the one present in his era signifying he could not have met him.

28:44 وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ الْغَرْبِيِّ إِذْ قَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَى الْأَمْرَ وَمَا كُنتَ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Thou wast not on the West side when We decreed the order to Moosa, nor wast thou a witness (of those events).

28:46 وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ الطُّورِ إِذْ نَادَيْنَا وَلَٰكِن رَّحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّا أَتَاهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

You (pbuh) were not at the side of Tur when We called. Yet a mercy from your Lord, so that you give warning to a people to whom no warner had come before you so that they may remember.

Some scholars hold the view that this covenant took place in the realm of sprit world, when the prophets were not sent to the world yet. But then if it had taken place at that time, the prophet (pbuh) would have known about this covenant, but the ayat 11:49 while narrating events of previous prophets, says that you (pbuh) did not know about the the events of previous prophets.

11:49 تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَا إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كُنتَ تَعْلَمُهَا أَنتَ وَلَا قَوْمُكَ مِن قَبْلِ هَٰذَا ۖ فَاصْبِرْ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

Such are some of the news of the unseen, which We have revealed unto thee, before this, neither thou nor your people knew them. So persevere patiently, for the End is for those who are righteous.

Another school of thought is that the covenant was for prophets including their nations. So when the messenger Mohammad (pbuh) would come to the nations of previous prophets then they should believe in him and support him. However the problem with this view point is that the ayat specifically mentions the covenant of the prophets and does not mention their nations. Also, the covenant is taken with the prophets after they attained the book and wisdom which the whole nation cannot attain, So, we cannot assume the covenant of prophets to include their nations. (By the way, all the prophets are from Muslim/submitter nation. It is incorrect to assume for example, that present day Jews are prophet Moosa’s nation, just because they adhere to his name and a personality of Moosa described in Bible and not in Al-Quran).

It is a no brainer that for a human/bashar to be present in earlier prophets’ eras and taking covenant from them is not possible. Therefore this messenger mentioned in ayat 3:81 has to be either an angel or Rooh/ the Sprit. The angels and Rooh are also stated to be messengers in Al-Quran.

Allah sends the angels with the Spirit on a ‘bashar/human’ who He chooses to be a warner to people.

16:2 يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرُوا أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاتَّقُونِ

He sends down the angels with the Spirit for His Command, to such of His servants as He pleases, (saying). “Warn (people) that there is no god but I, so be conscious of Me.”

Before getting the Spirit (of the Word of Allah), the prophets don’t have the true understanding of the message of Allah.

42:52 وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَن نَّشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

And Likewise, We have inspired you (the messenger) the Rooh/Spirit from Our order, you did not have the perception, what is The Book and the Belief, but We have made it a light, We guide with it whom We will from Our servants. And surely you guide towards the straight path.

When first confronted with the truth of the Message of Allah when the Spirit of the Word becomes apparent, it is so much out of phase with the teachings of people in one’s surrounding, that it appears as if it can’t be true. The challenge to the bashar/human prophet is to confirm the truth of the Words of Allah and support in its implementation.

33:8 لِّيَسْأَلَ الصَّادِقِينَ عَن صِدْقِهِمْ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

That (Allah) may question the truthfuls about their truth, and He has prepared for the rejecters a grievous penalty.

After the covenant ayat of 33:7 the next ayat tells about why this covenant was taken, so that the truth-fuls are tested in their truths. When the truth first becomes apparent with the Rooh/Sprit of Allah, it is so much different from the existing teachings that people come into some kind shock. Only those true to the Word of Allah are able to pass this test of truthfulness. This is also stated with the incident of Mariam (a.s), that the first time she confronted the Sprit of Allah, she was awe-stricken and said that “I seek refuge of Allah from you.”

When the Spirit becomes apparent to the prophets then they are obliged to support it. How to support the Spirit, when it comes to them is to respond to it and start spreading the message of Allah to the masses. (When the human/bashar prophet starts spreading the message of Allah, he is addressed as messenger/rasool):

5:67 يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ

O’ Messenger ! proclaim The (message) which has been sent to you from your Lord. If you did not, you would not have proclaimed His message. And Allah will defend you from masses, for Allah guides not the nation of rejecters.

Al-Quran mentions aiding prophet Essa ibne Mariam with Rooh.

2:87 وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ بِالرُّسُلِ ۖ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰ أَنفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ

We gave Moosa the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Essa the son of Mary Clear Signs and strengthened him with the holy Spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what your nafs/soul desire not, you are puffed up with pride?- Some of them you called impostors, and others you slew!