16
And the proof is the Almighty’s statement: “Say, O mankind, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all” (al-Aʿrāf 7:158). [67]
Allah also perfected the religion through him, and the proof is His statement: “Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and approved Islam for you as a religion” (al-Māʾidah 5:3). [68]
(67) As already noted, the sacred law was sent down in stages until—by Allah’s grace—it reached completion before the Prophet’s death, at which point Allah revealed: “Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and approved Islam for you as a religion.” A short time after this verse was revealed, the Prophet passed away, while his religion endures until the Day of Resurrection.
(68) The Messenger did not depart this world until Allah had, through him, perfected the religion and completed the blessing, revealing His statement: “Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and approved Islam for you as a religion” (al-Maidah 5:3). This verse came down while the Prophet was standing on the plain of Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage on a Friday. He lived only briefly thereafter before joining the Highest Companion, leaving his community upon a radiant path whose night is as bright as its day; none turns away from it except one who is destined for ruin.
وَالدَّلِيلُ: قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا﴾ [سورة الأعراف: ١٥٨] . [٦٧]
وأكمل اللهُ بِهِ الدِّينَ.
وَالدَّلِيلُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾ [المائدة: ٣] . [٦٨]
[٦٧] هذا كما سبق بيانه أن الشريعة نزلت بالتدريج حتى تكاملت -ولله الحمد- قبل وفاة النبي ﷺ وأنزل الله عليه: ﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾ وبعد نزول هذه الآية بمدة يسيرة توفي النبي ﷺ ودينه باق إلى أن تقوم الساعة.
[٦٨] فلم يتوف ﷺ إلا بعد أن أكمل الله به الدين وأتم به النعمة، وأنزل عليه قوله تعالى: ﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾ [المائدة: ٣] .
نزلت هذه الآية على رسول الله ﷺ وهو واقف في عرفة في حجة الوداع من يوم الجمعة، وعاش بعدها ﷺ مدة يسيرة وانتقل إلى الرفيق الأعلى، وترك أمته على المحجة البيضاء ليلها كنهارها، لا يزيغ عنها إلا هالك.