(79–80) “It is not for any human being to whom Allah has given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood then to say to the people, ‘Be worshippers of me instead of Allah.’ Rather, he would say, ‘Be devoted servants of the Lord because you have been teaching the Scripture and because you have been studying it.’ Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelieve after you have become Muslims?”

This verse was revealed in response to those among the People of the Scripture who, when the Prophet ﷺ commanded them to believe in him and called them to obey him, said, “O Muhammad, do you want us to worship you alongside Allah?” His words, “It is not for any human being,” mean that it is impossible and inconceivable for a human being—whom Allah has favored by revealing the Scripture to him, teaching him what he did not know, and sending him to creation—to “say to the people, ‘Be worshippers of me instead of Allah.’” It is utterly impossible for such a thing to proceed from any of the prophets—upon them be the choicest blessings and peace—because this is the vilest command imaginable, whereas the prophets are the most perfect of all creation. Their commands therefore befit their standing: they command only the loftiest things, and no one forbids vile matters more emphatically than they do.

Hence He says, “Rather, be devoted servants of the Lord because you have been teaching the Scripture and because you have been studying it.” That is, he commands them to be devoted servants of the Lord: learned, wise, and forbearing; teachers and nurturers of people, teaching them the elementary matters of knowledge before its advanced matters and acting upon that knowledge. Thus, they enjoin knowledge, practice, and instruction—the three things upon which happiness hinges. When any one of them is absent, deficiency and disorder result. The preposition rendered “because” in His words, “because you have been teaching,” and so forth, expresses causation. In other words, you become devoted servants of the Lord by virtue of teaching others—which presupposes your own knowledge—and by studying Allah’s Book and the sunnah of His Prophet, for studying them makes knowledge firmly rooted and enduring.

“Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords.” This is a generalization following a specific example. That is, he would command you neither to worship himself nor to worship any other created being, whether angels, prophets, or others. “Would he command you to disbelieve after you have become Muslims?” Such a thing could never occur, nor can it be imagined to proceed from anyone whom Allah has favored with prophethood. Whoever maligns any prophet by attributing anything of that nature to him has committed a grave sin and ruinous disbelief.