Some have argued that the phrase “taking the covenant from the prophets” really means that it was taken from their peoples, for it is the latter who would live to meet the promised Prophet. They cite, as evidence, a non-canonical reading attributed to Ibn Masʿūd and Ubayy ibn Kaʿb that renders the verse: “And when Allah took the covenant of those who had been given the Scripture….” A few of them even claim that this reading is the correct, original version and that the scribes of the muṣḥaf erred. Such a claim is false. Had it not already been mentioned, I would not have bothered to report it, for everything found between the two covers of the muṣḥaf has reached us through recurrent, incontrovertible transmission, and the Qur’an plainly states that Allah took the covenant from the prophets themselves. Therefore no attention is owed to anyone who contends that it was taken only from their nations.

The prophets were merely commanded to uphold that covenant, even though Allah—and those among them whom He informed—knew that they would not live to witness Muhammad. The situation resembles our own faith in the prophets and scriptures that preceded us, despite never having met them. All were instructed that, should they encounter him, they must believe in him and support him—just as the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) told us that Jesus son of Mary will descend from heaven to the white minaret to the east of Damascus and that he will kill the Antichrist. We are therefore obliged to believe in Jesus son of Mary and obey him if we meet him, even though he will command us only according to the law of Muhammad; and we are likewise obliged to reject the Antichrist. Most Muslims will never witness those events, but a few will.

Ṭāwūs said:

“Allah took the covenant of the prophets, one from another—
‘Then there will come to you a messenger confirming what you have; you must believe in him and support him.’
He then commented, ‘This verse is addressed to the People of the Book: Allah took their covenant that they would believe in Muhammad and confirm him.’ ”

By this he meant that those of them who actually encountered Muhammad were the ones to whom the verse’s injunction applied, while still affirming that the covenant had indeed been taken from the prophets, each concerning the other, as a pledge and acknowledgment even though they knew they would never meet him.

Al-Suddi likewise said:

“Allah has never sent a prophet, from the time of Noah onward, without first taking from him the covenant that he would surely believe in Muhammad and support him if Muhammad appeared during his lifetime. If not, Allah took the same covenant from that prophet’s people: that they would believe in him and support him should he come while they were alive.”

Muhammad ibn Isḥāq said:

“Then He mentioned the covenant that He had taken from them and from their prophets—that they would affirm him when he came to them.”