Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:19): O People of the Scripture...

Issues Discussed Here:

There are two interpretations:

1. Assuming an implied object: The implied object could be:
   • The Religion and Laws: This is appropriate because it is universally known that the Messenger was sent specifically to clarify the laws.
   • What you used to conceal (ما كنتم تخفون): This is appropriate because this matter was previously mentioned.

2. Not assuming an implied object: The meaning becomes "He makes the clarification clear to you" (يبين لكم البيان). Omitting the object is considered more eloquent (akmal) because this interpretation yields a broader benefit.

It is in the accusative case (nasb) as a circumstantial adverb (hal), meaning "while making clear to you."

Ibn Abbas said this means "after a cessation of prophets." The word fatara (فتر) means that intensity subsides and something becomes less than it was. The period between prophets was called a fatra because the impetus to act upon those previous laws had waned.

The phrase {after a period} is related to {He came to you} (جاءكم), meaning He came to you at a time when the sending of messengers had slowed down.

It is said that there were 600 years, more or less, between Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them). Al-Kalbi reported that there were 1,700 years between Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them), and 1,000 prophets. Between Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them), there were four prophets: three from the Children of Israel and one Arab, Khālid ibn Sinān al-'Absī.

The wisdom behind sending Muhammad (PBUH) during this fatra is that alteration and corruption had crept into the previous laws due to the long time elapsed since their revelation. Consequently, truth became mixed with falsehood, and honesty with lies. This created an apparent excuse for people to turn away from worship, as they could argue: "Our Lord, we know we must worship You, but we do not know how to worship You."

Therefore, Allah sent Muhammad (PBUH) at this time to remove this excuse. This is explained by the verse: {lest you should say, 'No bringer of good tidings or warner has come to us'} (ما جاءنا من بشير ولا نذير). Meaning, the Messenger was sent to you during this period of cessation precisely to prevent you from saying that no bringer of good tidings or warner had come to you at that time.

Then Allah Almighty said: {Indeed, a bringer of good tidings and a warner has come to you} (فقد جاءكم بشير ونذير). Thus, this defect and excuse were removed.

Then He said: {And Allah is over all things competent} (والله على كل شيء قدير). The meaning is that the existence of a fatra necessitates the need of creation for the sending of messengers. Allah Almighty is competent over all things, so He was competent to send them. Since creation needed the sending, and the Generous, Merciful One was competent to send them, it was incumbent upon His generosity and mercy to send messengers to them. Therefore, what is meant by {And Allah is over all things competent} is a reference to the proof we have established.

{And recall when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you kings and gave you what He had not given anyone among the worlds."} (5:20)