(253) “Those messengers—We favored some over others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in rank. We gave Jesus son of Mary clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah willed, those who came after them would not have fought one another after clear proofs had come to them. Yet they differed: some believed and some disbelieved. Had Allah willed, they would not have fought one another, but Allah does whatever He wills.”
Allah Most High informs us that He favored some messengers over others. He first favored them all over the rest of mankind by singling them out for His revelation, sending them to the people, and commissioning them to call creation to Allah. He then favored some over others through the praiseworthy qualities, upright deeds, and universal benefit He placed within them. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, such as Moses son of Imrān, whom He singled out by speaking to him. Among them were those whom He raised in rank above all the others, such as our Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in whom were combined virtues that were dispersed among others. Allah gathered in him merits by which he surpassed all who came before and after him.
“We gave Jesus son of Mary clear proofs” demonstrating his prophethood and that he was Allah’s servant and messenger, His Word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him. “We strengthened him with the Holy Spirit”; that is, with the faith and certainty by which Allah supported him and strengthened him to fulfill what he had been commanded. It has also been said that Allah supported him with Gabriel—peace be upon him—who accompanied him throughout his circumstances.
“Had Allah willed, those who came after them would not have fought one another after clear proofs had come to them”—proofs that required them to unite upon faith. “Yet they differed: some believed and some disbelieved.” This difference necessarily led to division, hostility, and fighting. Even after this disagreement, however, had Allah willed, they would not have fought one another. This demonstrates that Allah’s will unfailingly takes effect and prevails over all causes. Means are effective only when they are not countermanded by His will; whenever His will countermanding them is present, every means comes to nothing and every necessitating factor disappears. Hence He said, “But Allah does whatever He wills.” What He wills prevails, and His will inevitably takes effect.
This and similar passages demonstrate that Allah Most High has always done whatever His will and wisdom entail. Among His acts are those of which He has informed us about Himself and of which His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—has informed us about Him, including His rising over the Throne, His descent, His speech, and the actions described as volitional actions.
A useful point: Just as every morally responsible person must know his Lord, so too must he know His messengers—what must necessarily be true of them, what is impossible for them, and what is possible in their case. All of this is derived from the descriptions Allah gives of them in numerous verses. These include: that they are men, not women; that they come from ⦗110⦘ settled communities, not desert-dwelling people; that they are selected and chosen, Allah having united in them the praiseworthy qualities befitting such selection and choice; that they are free of everything that would impugn their messengership, including lying, treachery, concealment, and disgraceful defects; that they are not allowed to persist in any error concerning the divine message or religious duties; and that Allah Most High singled them out for His revelation. For this reason, belief in them and obedience to them are obligatory. Whoever does not believe in them is a disbeliever, and whoever disparages or insults even one of them is a disbeliever who must be put to death. The proofs for these statements are abundant. Whoever reflects upon the Quran will have the truth made clear to him. Then Allah Most High said: