Translation
Mohammad is only a prophet, and all prophets had passed away before him. So, if he dies or is killed, will you then forsake you faith? Whoever does so should know that they can do no harm to God, and God rewards the grateful. No human being can die but with God’s permission, for a term that is preordained. Whoever strives for the rewards of this world, God grants him such, and whoever strives for the rewards of the life to come, God grants him that what he strives for. God always rewards the grateful.209
Many prophets had to struggle, and with them [and after them] were men of God consciousness who struggled as well. They did not lose heart [or faith] for what misfortune came along their way, or became weak, or abased themselves [by submitting to falsehood or their adversaries]. God loves those who are steadfast in adversity. Their only question to God was, “Our God, forgive us our sins and any excess (lack of moderation) in managing our affairs, strengthen our resolve, and help us against people who fight the truth.” God rewarded such people in this world and in the hereafter; God loves the doer of good!210
Interpretation
209. The death of Prophet Mohammad was used in the context of the Battle of Uhud when the Prophet was wounded, and some Muslims were about to lose faith or lose heart, thinking that he may have died. But in a broader context, all prophets died like all human beings, whose time on this earth is preordained for a fixed time. Prophets are mortal like every one of us. The real challenge for all of us, as was the case with the disciples of Jesus and the companions of the Prophet Mohammad, is how to continue to have faith in God and follow the guidance that was given to our previous generations even after the prophets are gone. Abu Bakr, the first leader of the Muslim community after the Prophet, reminded the community, who were in a state of shock when the Prophet finally died, of this verse to bring them back to reality. Abu Bakr followed with his famous words: “Let those who worshipped Mohammad know that Mohammad is now dead! As for those who worshipped God, let them know that God is alive and never dies” (Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah, 6:75–76).
210. Faced with the death of prophets who were like guardians to their followers and the following generations who had with them not the Prophet but the guidance of God and the presence of the Living God, we are asked to demonstrate the same commitment and tenacity as was demonstrated by the early followers of the prophets—Prophet Mohammad, Prophet Jesus, and Prophet Moses, their accounts being more widely available to our generation.
REFLECTION
Every generation has the continued responsibility and obligation to continue to worship God, fight evils, and establish truth, peace, and justice in the face of any and all adversities. God is ever present among us, and His Guidance is in His books—the Qur’an, the Bible, the Torah, and other scriptures. God’s reward in this life and in the hereafter is for those who follow and sustain His guidance, irrespective of a particular label or particular religion one might claim to follow.
ACTION
Muslims and people of faith should unite in our common heritage of being the special creation of God. We need to show our gratitude to God for the gift of life and demonstrate our commitment to the peaceful preservation of this life and our living on this planet as long as we are here.