Transliteration:( Wa laqadikh tarnaahum 'alaa 'ilmin 'alal 'aalameen )
31. This means that in that period We had made the Israelites superior people in the entire world because they were the progeny of Prophets. A few Qibtees who had brought faith in Hazrat Musa (On whom be peace) also reached a very high status. The magicians of the Pharaoh and Hazrat Asiya, too, are persons of a very lofty status, but, because the Israelites were the progeny of Prophets, they had enjoyed superiority over all.
32. This tells us that being the progeny of Prophets is a means of gaining honour and respect. The Israelites were superior, only because they were the progeny of Prophets.
But, this family nobility is for the believers only. Being a blood relative of a Prophet is useless for an infidel. Kanaan was the son of Hazrat Nuh (On whom be peace), but this did not save him from destruction.
33. From this verse it is not necessarily proven that the Israelites are superior to the progeny of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم or his followers.
Now, the Ummah of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم enjoys superiority over all the people. Thus, there is no inconsistency in the verse.
Says Allah Almighty: "You are the best among all those nations appeared unto mankind" (S3: V110). Allah Almighty further says: "O wives of the Prophet! You are not like other women" (S33:V32).
The tafsir of Surah Ad-Dukhan verse 32 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Dukhan ayat 17 which provides the complete commentary from verse 17 through 33.
28. That is, Allah was well aware both of the qualities and of the weaknesses of the children of Israel. He had not chosen them blindly. For when he chose them from among the contemporary nations to become the standard bearers of His message and His Tauhid, they were the most suitable people in His knowledge for the purpose.
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