The Relationship Between the Quran, Sunnah, and Previous Scriptures: A Tafsir of Surah Al-Ma’idah 110

Unlocking the Meaning of Al-Hikmah and the Return of Isa in the End Times

Sheikh Saleem Al-Hilali ḥafidhahullāh states:

Before I begin explaining the book ‘Virtue of the Salaf’s knowledge over that of the Khalaf’, I would like to remind you of a benefit relating to the recitation this morning, which was read by Brother Is-haaq. It is the Āyah 

{وَإِذۡ عَلَّمۡتُكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةَ وَٱلۡإِنجِیلَ}

"When We gave you the Book and Al-Hikmah (wisdom) and the Torah and the Gospel." [Surah Al-Māʾidah: 110]

The Torah is the book of Musa, and what is it called among them? The Old Testament. The Gospel is the book of Ēsa, and what is it called among them? The New Testament. The combination of the Old Testament and the New Testament is referred to as what among them? The Holy Bible. Is that clear? 

Allah, the Exalted, taught the Torah because it is the book of Musa, and He taught the Gospel because it is the book of Ēsa. Now, regarding Al-Hikmah—what is the relationship between the Book and Al-Hikmah? 

Abu Bassam, what do you think? 

Student: The Book refers to the Qur’an and Al-Hikmah refers to the Sunnah. 

Sheikh: The Qur’ān and Sunnah came before Muhammad by…five hundred seventy years?! 

How many times have you read this without paying attention to it? In fact, I believe many of the mufassireen have not payed attention to this Āyah either. 

Memorise it well; this Āyah is evidence of the return of Ēsa in the end times and that he will rule by the Book of Allah (Qur’ān) and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and he will be a follower of Islam, not a replacer of it. He is a member of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ. Adh-Dhahabi stated in his work on the Companions that Ēsa is a Prophet and a Companion. How is he a Companion? He said because he saw the Prophet during the Night of Isra and Mi’raj. 

This is a benefit; write it down from me, for you may not find it in the books of Tafsīr.