Tafsir of Az-Zukhruf 43:45

(That is: Did We rule for the worship of other than Allah—Glory be to Him—and did it appear in any of the creeds of the messengers—peace be upon them?) The intent is to invoke the consensus of the messengers upon monotheism, and to alert [the listeners] that this is not a novelty invented by the Prophet—may Allah exalt him and grant him peace—that would justify accusing him of lying or opposing him.

The phrasing contains an implied addition: "Ask the nations of those whom We sent," or [it is based] on treating the questioning of the nations as equivalent to questioning the messengers sent to them. Al-Farra’ said: They only report what is in the scriptures of the messengers, so when the Prophet—upon him be peace and blessings—asks them, it is as if he had asked the messengers themselves. Both interpretations [eventually] point to the nations. This has been narrated from al-Hasan, Mujahid, Qatadah, al-Suddi, and ‘Ata’, and it is also a narration from Ibn ‘Abbas.

Ibn al-Mundhir and others narrated from Qatadah that he said: "In some readings, it is: 'And ask those to whom We sent Our messengers before you.'" He and Sa‘id ibn Mansur also narrated from Mujahid that he said: ‘Abdullah [ibn Mas‘ud] used to read: "And ask those who were sent to before you from Our messengers." And it is narrated from Ibn Mas‘ud that he read: "And ask those who read the Book from before you, the believers among the People of the Book."

Some have interpreted "ask" metaphorically, implying an examination and investigation into their creeds, similar to [the idiom of] asking about dwellings or landscapes, and others of that nature—derived from their saying: "Ask the earth who cleaved your rivers, planted your trees, and brought forth your fruits."

It is also narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn Jubayr, al-Zuhri, and Ibn Zayd that the speech is taken literally, and that it was said to him—upon him be peace and blessings—on the night of the Isra’ (Night Journey), when the prophets were gathered for him in the Holy House [Jerusalem]. Understand this. Yet he—upon him be peace and blessings—did not actually ask them, for he was in no doubt. In some traditions, it is mentioned that Michael said to Gabriel—peace be upon both of them—: "Did Muhammad—may Allah exalt him and grant him peace—ask about that?" He replied: "He is of greater certainty and firmer faith than to ask." This view is criticized on the grounds that the purpose of this question is to compel the polytheists, yet they deny the Isra’ [altogether], and there is room for debate here. The address in all that you have heard is to our Prophet—upon him be peace and blessings.

In al-Bahr, it appears that it is an address to the listener who wishes to examine religions; it is said to him: "Ask, O examiner, the followers of the messengers: did their messengers come with the worship of other than Allah, the Mighty and Majestic?" For they will inform you that this did not happen, and it is impossible that they would bring such a thing. By my life, this is highly contrary to the apparent meaning.

Among the things that incite wonder is what was said: that the meaning is "And ask Me," or "And ask Us about those whom We sent," making "ask" [a verb] and "who" (man)—which is an interrogative noun—rise [in grammatical status] as the subject, with "We sent" as its predicate. The [interrogative] clause would then be in the position of an object for "ask" after the deletion of the preposition [i.e., 'ask Me about...'], as if his question were: "O Lord, whom did You send before me from Your messengers? Did You make gods to be worshipped in their message?" Then he presents the question and relates the meaning, returning the address to the Prophet—may Allah exalt him and grant him peace—in His saying: "before you."

End of quote. Will anyone who has learned the alphabet be pleased with this speech and consider this an appropriate interpretation of the Glorious Word of Allah?