Transliteration:( Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba wa qaffainaa mim ba'dihee bir Rusuli wa aatainaa 'Eesab-na-Maryamal baiyinaati wa ayyadnaahu bi Roohil Qudus; afakullamaa jaaa'akum Rasoolum bimaa laa tahwaaa anfusukumus takbartum fafareeqan kazzabtum wa fareeqan taqtuloon )
"And verily We bestowed upon Musa the Scripture [161], and then appointed Messengers of Allah (Rasools) in sequence. And We gave Isa, son of Maryam, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [162]. But is it not that every time a Messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, you became arrogant? [163] You falsified a group and killed another group. [164]"
After Hazrat Musa (عليه السلام), Allah sent four thousand Prophets who continued to protect and preach the Mosaic Law.
However, since our Holy Prophet ﷺ is the final Prophet, the responsibility of preserving the Qur’an and its teachings has been entrusted to the Ulema (Islamic scholars) of this Ummah.
By the grace of Allah, these scholars have fulfilled this duty with sincerity.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ stated:
"The Ulema of my Ummah are like the Prophets of Bani Israel."
This indicates their noble role in safeguarding divine guidance after prophethood came to a close.
Ruhul Qudus refers to Hazrat Jibraeel (عليه السلام), the pure and spiritual angel who brought revelation to the Prophets.
Revelation is considered the very essence of faith, free from defects, and central to divine communication.
Hazrat Jibraeel was constantly present with Hazrat Isa (عليه السلام) to assist him when needed.
This demonstrates that seeking help from someone other than Allah, such as a divinely appointed angel or Prophet, is not shirk.
If Hazrat Jibraeel can offer help, then surely our Holy Prophet ﷺ, the greatest of all creation, can also intercede and assist—with the permission of Allah.
Pride against non-believers in the context of defending truth can be praiseworthy.
However, pride against fellow believers becomes a sin, and any display of conceit in the presence of the Prophet is considered blasphemy.
The Israelites’ arrogance led them to reject the Prophets who brought teachings that clashed with their desires.
This verse teaches that true submission requires one to accept divine guidance even when it challenges personal preferences.
No Prophet was ever killed in battle by non-believers, as Allah’s help in such contexts is guaranteed.
The Prophets who were martyred were those on whom Jihad was not made obligatory, such as Hazrat Zakariya and Hazrat Yahya (عليهما السلام).
Hence, this verse does not contradict the Qur’anic verses:
"And it is Our binding grace to help the Muslims." (Surah Ar-Rum: 47)
"Most surely I (Allah) will prevail, and My Messengers." (Surah As-Saffat: 171 or Al-Mujadilah: 21)
The verse highlights that despite divine protection, some Prophets were persecuted and even killed by those who rejected truth knowingly.
87. And indeed, We gave Musa the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers. And We gave `Isa, the son of Maryam, clear signs and supported him with Ruh-il-Qudus. Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant Some you disbelieved and some you killed.
Allah described the insolence of Children of Israel, their rebelliousness, defiance and arrogance towards the Prophets, following their lusts and desires. Allah mentioned that He gave Musa the Book, the Tawrah, and that the Jews changed, distorted, and defied its commands, as well as altered its meanings.
Allah sent Messengers and Prophets after Musa who followed his law, as Allah stated,
(Verily, We did reveal the Tawrah (to Musa), therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah’s will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests (too judged for the Jews by the Tawrah after those Prophets), for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s Book, and they were witnesses thereto) (5:44). This is why Allah said here,
(And Qaffayna him with Messengers).
As-Suddi said that Abu Malik said that Qaffayna means, “Succeeded”, while others said, “Followed”. Both meanings are plausible, since Allah said,
(Then We sent Our Messengers in succession) (23:44).
Thereafter, Allah sent the last Prophet among the Children of Israel, `Isa the son of Mary, who was sent with some laws that differed with some in the Tawrah. This is why Allah also sent miracles to support `Isa. These included bringing the dead back to life, forming the shape of birds from clay and blowing into them, afterwhich they became living birds by Allah’s leave, healing the sick and foretelling the Unseen, as Ibn `Abbas stated. Allah also aided him with Ruh Al-Qudus, and that refers to Jibril. All of these signs testified to the truthfulness of `Isa and what he was sent with. Yet, the Children of Israel became more defiant and envious of him and did not want to differ with even one part of the Tawrah, as Allah said about `Isa,
(And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a proof from your Lord) (3:50).
Hence, the Children of Israel treated the Prophets in the worst manner, rejecting some of them and killing some of them. All of this occurred because the Prophets used to command the Jews with what differed from their desires and opinions. The Prophets also upheld the rulings of the Tawrah that the Jews had changed, and this is why it was difficult for them to believe in these Prophets. Therefore, they rejected the Prophets and killed some of them. Allah said,
(Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not,you grew arrogant Some you disbelieved and some you kill).
The proof that Jibril is the Ruh Al-Qudus is the statement of Ibn Mas`ud in explanation of this Ayah. This is also the view of Ibn `Abbas, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Isma`il bin Khalid, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, `Atiyah Al-`Awfi and Qatadah. Additionally, Allah said,
(Which the trustworthy Ruh (Jibril) has brought down. Upon your heart (O Muhammad ) that you may be (one) of the warners) (26:193-194).
Al-Bukhari recorded `A’ishah saying that the Messenger of Allah erected a Minbar in the Masjid on which Hassan bin Thabit (the renowned poet) used to defend the Messenger of Allah (with his poems). The Messenger of Allah said,
(O Allah! Aid Hassan with Ruh Al-Qudus, for he defended Your Prophet.)
Abu Dawud recorded this Hadith in his Sunan as did At-Tirmidhi who graded it Hasan Sahih. Further, Ibn Hibban recorded in his Sahih that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Prophet said,
(Ruh Al-Qudus informed me that no soul shall die until it finishes its set provisions and term limit. Therefore, have Taqwa of Allah and seek your sustenance in the most suitable way.)
Az-Zamakhshari commented on Allah’s statement,
(Some you disbelieved and some you kill), “Allah did not say `killed’ here, because the Jews would still try to kill the Prophet in the future, using poison and magic.” During the illness that preceded his death, the Prophet said,
(I kept feeling the effect of what I ate (from the poisoned sheep) during the day of Khaybar, until now, when it is the time that the aorta will be cut off (meaning when death is near).)
This Hadith was collected by Al-Bukhari and others
(2:87) Surely We gave Moses the Scripture and caused a train of Messengers to follow him and then sent Jesus, the son of Mary, with Clear Proofs and supported him with the spirit of holiness.[93] But is it not true that every time a Messenger brought to you something that was not to your liking, you acted arrogantly: you called some Messengers liars and killed others?
93. The ‘spirit of holiness’ signifies the knowledge derived through revelation. It also signifies the angel Gabriel who brought this revelation. It also denotes the holy spirit of Jesus, the spirit which God had endowed with angelic character.
The expression ‘clear proofs’ refers to those signs which are likely to convince a truth-seeking and truth-loving person that Jesus is a Prophet of God.
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