Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:46

"And We caused them to follow in their footsteps"

This is an initiation into the explanation of the rulings of the Gospel, as it is said, following the explanation of the rulings of the Torah. It is a conjunction linked to "We revealed the Torah." The plural pronoun in the genitive case refers to the prophets who submitted [to Allah], as stated by most commentators and as chosen by Ali ibn Isa and al-Balkhi. It has also been said that it refers to those upon whom the judgment previously mentioned was imposed, which is narrated from al-Juba'i, though it is not the preferred view.

At-tafiyah means "following." It is said, "So-and-so followed in the footsteps of so-and-so," if he succeeded him; and "I caused him to follow so-and-so" if I made him succeed him. The estimation here is: "We made them follow in their footsteps."

"With Isa, son of Maryam"

The verb, as it is said, is transitive to two objects: one directly and the other by means of the particle ba (with). The first object is elided, and "in their footsteps" acts as its substitute, because if He made him follow in their footsteps, He has indeed made them follow him. It was objected that the verb, before the doubling (tashdid), was transitive to only one object, and the transitivization of a verb already transitive to one object to a second via the particle ba is not permissible, whether by the causative hamza or by the doubling of the middle consonant. This was countered by the assertion that the correct view is that it is permissible, though rare. Expressions of this nature have occurred, such as: "The stone struck the stone" (sakka al-hajaru al-hajara) and "I struck the stone with the stone" (sakaktu al-hajara bil-hajari); and "Zayd repelled Amr" and "I made Zayd repel Amr" (dafa'tu Zaydan bi-Amr), meaning I made him a repeller of him.

Some researchers hold that the doubling in the instance we are discussing is not for the purpose of transitivization, and that the prepositional phrase attaches to the verb because it is imbued with the meaning of "coming." That is: "We brought Isa, son of Maryam, in their footsteps, following them." Thus, it is transitive to one object only via the ba. The essence of the meaning is: "We sent Isa, peace be upon him, after them."

"Confirming what was before him of the Torah"

This is a state (hal) from Isa, and it is a confirming state, for that is a necessary attribute of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

"And We gave him the Gospel"

This is a conjunction linked to "We caused them to follow." Al-Hasan read it with a fathah on the hamza. The justification for the correctness of this is that it is a foreign proper noun, so there is no objection to it having a form not found in the patterns of the Arabs; it is either af'il or fa'lil with a fathah. As for if'il with a kasrah, it has precedents, such as ibzim (buckle), ihlil (urethra), and others.

"In it is guidance and light"

Just as in the Torah. The sentence is in the position of the accusative as it is a state from the Gospel. His saying, the Almighty:

"And confirming what was before it of the Torah"

This is a conjunction linked to the preceding state, and it is also a state. The conjunction of a single state to a nominal sentence state—and vice versa—is permissible, as it is interpreted as a single term. This repetition is for the sake of added emphasis.

His saying, the Almighty:

"And guidance and instruction for the God-fearing"

This is a conjunction linked to what preceded, consistent with it in the sequence of states. Making the entirety of it "guidance"—after having made it contain it—is an exaggeration in highlighting its importance, because it contains the glad tidings of our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The God-fearing are specifically mentioned because they are the ones who are guided by its guidance and benefit from its utility.

It is permissible to take "guidance" and "instruction" as accusative due to them being the "object for which" (maf'ul lahu), linked to an elided object for which; meaning: "as an affirmation of his prophethood, and as guidance, etc." It is also permissible for them to be causally related to an elided verb that governs them, meaning: "And as guidance and instruction for the God-fearing, We gave him that."