Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:94

The refusal of the Idolators to believe because the Messenger was a Human -- and its refutation Allah says,

وما منع الناس

And nothing prevented men, means, most of them,

أن يومنوا

from believing, and following the Messengers, except the fact that they found it strange that human beings would be sent as Messengers, as Allah says:

أكان للناس عجبا أن أوحينا إلى رجل منهم أن أنذر الناس وبشر الذين ءامنوا أن لهم قدم صدق عند ربهم

Is it a wonder for mankind that We have sent Our revelation to a man from among themselves (saying): "Warn mankind, and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds.'' (10:2)

إذ جاءهم الهدى إﻻ أن قالوا أبعث الله بشرا رسوﻻ

when the guidance came to them, except that they said: "Has Allah sent a man as (His) Messenger!'' Allah says:

ذلك بٲنه كانت تٲتيهم رسلهم بالبينت فقالوا أبشر يهدوننا

That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they said: "Shall mere men guide us!'' (64:6) Fira`wn and his people said:

أنومن لبشرين مثلنا وقومهما لنا عبدون

They said: "Shall we believe in two men like ourselves, and their people are obedient to us with humility!'' (23: 47) Similarly, the nations said to their Messengers:

إن أنتم إﻻ بشر مثلنا تريدون أن تصدونا عما كان يعبد ءاباونا فٲتونا بسلطن مبين

"You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority.'' (14:10) And there are many other similar Ayat. Then Allah says, pointing out His kindness and mercy towards His servants, that He sends to them Messengers of their own kind so that they will understand what he says and will be able to speak to him directly. If He sent to mankind a Messenger from among the angels, they would not be able to deal with him face to face and learn from him, as Allah says:

لقد من الله على المومنين إذ بعث فيهم رسوﻻ من أنفسهم

Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves. (3:164)

لقد جاءكم رسول من أنفسكم

Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves. (10:128)

كما أرسلنا فيكم رسوﻻ منكم يتلوا عليكم آيتنا ويزكيكم ويعلمكم الكتب والحكمة ويعلمكم ما لم تكونوا تعلمون

فاذكرونى أذكركم واشكروا لي وﻻ تكفرون

Similarly, We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, reciting to you Our verses (the Qur'an) and purifying you, and teaching you the Book and the Hikmah, and teaching you that which you used not to know. Therefore remember Me. I will remember you, and be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful to Me. (2:151-152) Allah says here: