the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, had he drawn up a testament in writing, would have enjoined nothing but what Allah the Exalted has already enjoined, for everything contained in those verses is Allah’s own testament. He Himself concluded each verse with the words, “That is what He has instructed you.” Ibn Masʿūd said this in response to Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both), who had lamented, “The true calamity—yes, the very calamity—was what prevented the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from writing his testament for us.” Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) therefore reminded them that the Qur’an already provided all they needed, and that, had the Prophet ﷺ left a written testament, he would only have repeated what is found in the Book of Allah.

Relevance of this report to the chapter: it clarifies that whatever Allah has presented in these verses as His testament is likewise the testament of His Messenger ﷺ, for the Messenger only enjoins what Allah enjoins.

Lessons drawn from Ibn Masʿūd’s statement:

1. The great importance of these ten commandments.
2. The Messenger ﷺ conveys the very injunctions that Allah conveys; every divine command is equally a prophetic command.
3. The depth of the Companions’ knowledge and the precision of their understanding of the Book of Allah.