Rafed English
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Moses, Aaron, Ishmael and Idris referred to as truthful selected apostles, praised for their faithful services.

51. " And mention Moses in the Book; for verily he was one purified, and he was an apostle, a prophet."

Commentary

This verse and the next couple of verses have a short explanation about Moses (a.s.), a progeny from the descent of Abraham. At first, the Qur'an addresses the Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.) and says:

" And mention Moses in the Book; …"

Then the Qur'an continues numerating five Divine merits given to this great prophet, Moses, in these holy verses. The abovementioned verse says:

" ... for verily he was one purified, and he was an apostle, a prophet."

Explanations

The Arabic term /muxlis/ is applied for the person who works sincerely for Allah only, but it is possible that Satan influences in him and drags him toward polytheism. There are many persons who are sincere at the time of agony, but after relief they tend to infidelity. But the Qur'anic word /muxlas/ refers to those chosen persons in whom Satan cannot penetrate: "Except Your chosen servants among them." 47 As Kashshaf Commentary cites, /muxlis/ is a person who works for Allah, and /muxlas/ is a person whom Allah has made sincere and has chosen him for Himself, and nothing may affect him but Allah.

Moses being chosen is recited in some other verses of the Qur'an. For example, Allah (s.w.t.) says: "and I have chosen you, …" 48; and somewhere else He says: "And I have chosen you for Myself." 49

Moses (a.s.) was both a Messenger and a prophet: "…he was an apostle, a prophet". A prophet hears the sound of the angel but he does not see the angel, while a Messenger, besides hearing the sound of the angel, sees him. 50

Notes:

47. Sura Al-Hijr, No. 15, verse 40

48. Sura Taha, No.20, verse 13

49. Sura Taha, No.20, verse 41

50. Tafsir-i-Al-Mizan, and Nur-uth -Thaqalayn

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Maryam" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"