Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

2. “And We gave Moses the Book, and made him a Guide for the Children of Israel, (saying:) ‘Do not take other than Me a guardian’.”

As the first verse of this Surah dealt with the grandeur of the Prophet (S), and as such issues were rejected mainly by pagans and dissidents basing their argument on the subject that how might it be possible for a prophet to be selected from among us with so many distinctions, thus the Qur’an alludes here to the call of Moses (as) and his Divine Book so as to make it clear that such a prophetic mission is not new and entirely a novelty.

Moreover, such an obstinate type of opposition and biased dissidence of the pagans against the Prophet of Islam (S) had not been unprecedented throughout history in general and throughout the history of The Children of Israel in particular.

The verse declares:

“And We gave Moses the Book, and made him a Guide for the Children of Israel…”

It is unequivocal that the objective of naming of the ‘Book’ in this verse is the ‘Torah’ which Allah provided Moses (as) for the guidance of the Children of Israel.

Afterwards, the Qur’an refers to the main objective of the mission of the prophets, including Musa, to whom He has commanded:

“…(saying:) ‘Do not take other than Me a guardian’.”

This issue raises one of the main branches of monotheism, that is, ‘practical monotheism’ which in turn indicates to ‘monotheism in ideology’. He, who considers the ‘Prime Cause’ of the entire world of existence to be only Allah, will necessarily not rely on anyone else. And those who rely on and count on others do so because of their weakness in their monotheistic ideology.

The supreme outcome of the illumination by celestial Books is the enlightenment of the light of monotheism which they bring about in people’s hearts and will consequently lead to one’s cutting off of all, and his eventual reliance on Him.