Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AN NAHL [89]

89. And on the Day when We resurrect a witness from each nation from among themselves, and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these. And We have revealed the Book (the Qur'an) to you as an explanation of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and good news for the Muslims. Allah addressed His servant and Messenger Muhammad , saying:

(And on the Day when We resurrect a witness from each nation from among themselves, and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these.), meaning, your Ummah. The Ayah means: remember that Day and its terrors, and the great honor and high position that Allah has bestowed upon you. This Ayah is like the Ayah with which `Abdullah bin Mas`ud ended when he recited to the Messenger of Allah from the beginning of Surat An-Nisa'. When he reached the Ayah:

(How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these) ï´¿4:41ï´¾ the Messenger of Allah said to him:

(Enough.) Ibn Mas`ud said: ”I turned to him and saw his eyes streaming with tears.''

(And We revealed the Book (the Qur'an) to you as an explanation of everything,) Ibn Mas`ud said: ”﴿Allah﴾ made it clear that in this Qur'an there is complete knowledge and about everything.'' The Qur'an contains all kinds of beneficial knowledge, such as reports of what happened in the past, information about what is yet to come, what is lawful and unlawful, and what people need to know about their worldly affairs, their religion, their livelihood in this world, and their destiny in the Hereafter.

(a guidance) means, for their hearts.

(a mercy, and good news for the Muslims.) Al-Awza`i said:

(And We have revealed the Book (the Qur'an) as an explanation of everything,) meaning, with the Sunnah. The is the reason why the phrase,

(And We have revealed the Book to you) is mentioned immediately after the phrase,

(And We shall bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these. ) the meaning - and Allah knows best - is that the One Who obligated you to convey the Book which He revealed to you, will also ask you about that on the Day of Resurrection.

(Then We shall indeed question those (people) to whom it (the Book) was sent and We shall indeed question the Messengers.) (7:6)

(So by your Lord We question them all about what they did.) (15:92-92)

(On the Day when Allah gathers the Messengers together and says to them: ”What was the response you received (to your Message)'' They will say: ”We have no knowledge, indeed only You are the Knower of all that is hidden.'') (5:109) And Allah says:

(Verily, He Who obligated the Qur'an upon you (O Muhammad) will surely bring you back to the return.) ï´¿28:85ï´¾ meaning, the One Who gave you the obligation of conveying the Qur'an will bring you back to Him, and your return will be on the Day of Resurrection, and He will question you about you commission of the duty He gave you. This is one of the opinions, and it presents a good understanding of it.