Chapter Five

The speciality of the Prophet صَىلَّ الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلم that a covenant was taken from the Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلََم that they would believe in him. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ states:

وَاِذْ اَخَذَ الّٰلُّٰ مِيْثَاقَ النَّبِ نيَّٖ لَمَآ اٰتَيْتُكُمْ ِّمنْ كِتٰبٍ وَّحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاۗءَكُمْ رَسُوْلٌ مُّصَ ِّدقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِ ن نيَُّ بِهٖ وَلَتَنْصُُُنَّهٗ ۭ قَالَ ءَاَقْرَرْتُمْ وَاَخَذْتُمْ عَ يلَّٰ ذٰلِكُمْ اِصِْْيْ ۭ قَالُوْْٓا اَقْرَرْنَا ۭ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوْا وَاَنَا مَعَكُمْ ِّمنَ الشّٰهِدِيْ نَ

“And remember when Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ took a covenant from the Prophets; ‘If I give you the Book and knowledge and the (promised) Noble Messenger (Prophet Muhammad صَلَّ الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلم) comes to you, confirming the Books you possess, you shall positively, definitely believe in him and you shall positively, definitely help him’; He said, ‘Do you agree, and accept My binding responsibility in this matter?’ They all answered, ‘We agree’; He said, ‘Then bear witness amongst yourselves, and I Myself am a witness with you.’”

References

1. Imam Ibn Abi Hatim (d. 327 AH) رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه narrates from Sayyiduna Al-Suddi رَضَِِ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ under the above verse that no Prophet عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلََم has come from the time of Sayyiduna Nuh عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلََم except that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ took a pledge from them to put their faith in Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّ الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلم and to help him if he came while they were alive. Otherwise, they were to take a pledge from their Ummah that they would put their faith in him and help him.
2. Imam Ibn Asaakir (d. 571 AH) رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه narrates from the chain of Kurayb from Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رَضَِِ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُمَا that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ took pledges from Sayyiduna Aadam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلََم and those who came after him regarding the Prophet صَلَّ الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلم. All the nations were given glad tidings about him and would supplicate through him for victory until Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ brought the Prophet out amongst the best Ummah, during the best era, amongst the best companions, and in the best city.

This city is the Haram of Sayyiduna Ibrahim عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلََم. Then Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ took him to Taybah, which is the Haram of the Prophet صَىلَّ الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلم. The place where the Prophet was sent is a Haram (Makkah) and the place where he migrated to is also a Haram (Madinah).

صَلَّ الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلم