“…a party of the Children of Israel believed, while a party disbelieved. Then We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they came to prevail.” (As-Ṣaff: 6–14)

Thus Jesus—peace be upon him—was the last of the prophets sent to the Children of Israel. He stood among them as an orator, giving glad tidings of the Seal of the Prophets who would come after him, expressly mentioning his name and describing his features so that they might recognise him and follow him once they saw him. This was to establish the proof against them and as a grace from Allah to them, as He, the Exalted, says:

“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written of in the Torah and the Gospel that are with them—he enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong, makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the foul, and relieves them of their burden and the shackles that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honour him, support him, and follow the light sent down with him—it is they who will prosper.” (al-Aʿrāf: 157)

Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq said: Thawr ibn Yazīd related to me, from Khālid ibn Maʿdān, from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, that they said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell us about yourself.” He replied:

“I am the answer to my father Abraham’s supplication and the glad tidings of Jesus. My mother, when she conceived me, saw a light issue from her that illuminated the palaces of Buṣrā in the land of Syria.” (1)

A similar report has come from al-ʿIrbāḍ (2) ibn Sāriyah and Abū Umāmah, from the Prophet ﷺ, containing the words: “the supplication of Abraham and the glad tidings of Jesus.” When Abraham finished building the Kaʿbah he prayed, “Our Lord, raise up among them a messenger from among themselves…” (al-Baqarah: 129). And when prophethood among the Children of Israel came to an end with Jesus, he addressed them, informing them that prophethood had been cut off from them and that after him it would be found in the unlettered Arab Prophet, the absolute Seal of the Prophets, Aḥmad—namely Muḥammad son of ʿAbd Allāh son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib son of Hāshim, a descendant of Ishmael son of Abraham, the Friend—peace be upon them.

Allah the Exalted says: “Yet when he brought them clear proofs they said, ‘This is manifest sorcery.’” (As-Ṣaff: 6). The pronoun may refer to Jesus—peace be upon him—or it may refer to Muḥammad ﷺ.

Allah then urged His believing servants to support Islam and its people, to aid His Prophet, back him, and assist him in establishing the religion and spreading the call, saying:

“O you who believe, be Allah’s helpers, just as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, ‘Who are my helpers toward Allah?’” —meaning, Who will assist me (4) in calling to Allah—“The disciples said, ‘We are Allah’s helpers.’” This occurred in a village called Nāṣirah (Nazareth); hence they were called Naṣārā (Christians).

Allah the Exalted says: “So a group of the Children of Israel believed, and a group disbelieved.” (As-Ṣaff: 14) That is, when Jesus invited the Children of Israel and others to Allah, some believed while others