The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 208
CH. 57 AL-HADID PT. 27 مُهْتَدِ ۚ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَسِقُوْنَ ) followed the guidance, but many of them were rebellious. 4167 28. Then We "caused Messengers to follow in their ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَى أَثَارِهِمْ بِرُسُلِنَا Our وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَأَتَيْنَهُ footsteps; and We caused Jesus son of Mary, to follow them, الإنجيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِيْنَ and we gave him the Gospel اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّة b "And We created in the hearts of those who accepted him ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا compassion and mercy. But monasticism which they ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقٌّ invented for themselves We did not prescribe it for them- رِعَايَتِهَا فَاتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ أَمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ for the seeking of Allah's أَجْرَهُمْ ۚ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَسِقُونَ ٥ pleasure; but they did not observe it with due observance. Yet We gave those of them who believed their due reward, but many of them are rebellious. 4168 4167. Commentary: "2:88; 5:47. 5:83. In the preceding verse it was mentioned that in order to make men lead useful and righteous lives and realize the object for which God has brought this universe into existence, He sent His Messengers and revealed to them guidance from Himself and supported the claims of Divine Messengers with clear and sound arguments; and He also sent down iron which is of immense value and utility to mankind. The present verse gives the names of some of those Divine Messengers. Noah is probably the first law-bearing Prophet and Abraham the progenitor of the three 3104 great peoples Jews, Christians and Muslims. After these two Prophets, the system of prophethood continued till it found its final exponent in the Jesus to whom the next verse makes a Mosaic Dispensation in the person of pointed reference. 4168. Commentary: The verse may mean that the followers of Jesus invented monasticism in order to seek Allah's pleasure but Allah had not prescribed it for them; or they invented monasticism which God had not prescribed for them He had only prescribed for them the seeking of His pleasure.