Ali 'Imran · Madani · ayah 53 of 200

Ali 'Imran 3:53

رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا بِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ وَٱتَّبَعْنَا ٱلرَّسُولَ فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ

“Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger [i.e., Jesus], so register us among the witnesses [to truth]."”

Saheeh International

Essence

The disciples turned from ʿĪsā to their Lord: we believed what You revealed and followed the messenger, so write us among the witnesses.

A reflection

A disciple's prayer, phrase by phrase

The disciples had just spoken to ʿĪsā: bear witness that we submit. Now they turn and speak to Allah directly. A classical commentator notes the order. Having laid their state before the messenger, they laid it before their Lord, hoping the clouds of answer would rain. The prayer is short, and every phrase can be carried into our own.

Rabbanā: 'our Lord'. They speak as a group, a community, not as isolated individuals.

Āmannā bi-mā anzalta: 'we have believed in what You sent down'. A concise commentary specifies: the Gospel. Faith begins with accepting what Allah has revealed, not what we would have preferred Him to say.

Wa-ttabaʿnā r-rasūla: 'and we have followed the messenger'. The lexicons picture following as a calf at its mother's heels. A major early commentator explains: we became followers of ʿĪsā on Your religion. Notice how close this is to the surah's opening test: 'if you love Allah, follow me' (3:31). Belief that does not move the feet is not yet following.

Fa-ktubnā: 'so write us down'. The lexicons picture kataba as stitching a water-skin shut so that not a drop escapes. They ask to be recorded firmly, bound in, not lost.

Maʿa sh-shāhidīn: 'among the witnesses'. Shahāda joins presence, knowledge and declaration: saying what you saw because you were there. A major early commentator explains: those who bore witness to the truth, affirmed Your oneness and believed Your messengers.

The shape is worth learning. Name what you believe. Name whom you follow. Then ask to be counted among the people of truth.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.