(32:23) Verily We bestowed the Book upon Moses. So entertain no
doubt if (the
Prophet Muhammad) received the same.35 We had made that Book a guidance for the Children of
Israel,36
35. The address apparently is to the
Prophet (peace be upon him), but the real addressees are the people who doubted his prophethood and the revelation of the
divine Book to him. From here the discourse turns to the same theme that was mentioned in the beginning of the Surah (Ayats 2-3). The disbelievers of Makkah were saying: “No book has come down to
Muhammad (peace be upon him) from
Allah. He has himself forged it, but claims that it has been sent down by
Allah.” The first answer to this was given in the initial verses. This is the second answer. The first thing
said in this regard is: “O
Prophet, these ignorant people regard it as impossible that a Book should be sent down to you, and want that every other person
also should at least be involved in suspicion about it even if he does not reject it altogether.
But the revelation of a Book to a servant from
Allah is not a novel and new event, which might have occurred for the first time today in
human history. Before this, Books have been sent down to several Prophets, the most well-known among these being the Book which was sent down to the
Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). A Book of the same nature has been sent down to you now. Therefore, there is nothing odd and strange in this, which
may cause doubts in the minds of the people.”
36. That is, “That Book was made a means of guidance for the children of
Israel, and this Book, likewise, has been sent down for your guidance.” As has already been elucidated in (
Ayat 3), the full meaning of this verse can be understood only if one keeps in view the historical background.
History bears evidence, and the disbelievers of Makkah
also were not unaware, that the children of
Israel had been passing miserable lives for centuries in Egypt.
At such a Juncture,
Allah raised the
Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) among them, and delivered them from bondage. Then He sent down the Book to them, because of which the same very suppressed and subdued nation received guidance and became a prominent nation in the world. Alluding to this historical background, the Arabs are being told: “Just as that Book was sent for the guidance of the Israelites, so has this Book been sent for your guidance.”