33 . Sura Al-Ahzab

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍ...

33:7 [Ali] And remember We took from the Prophets their Covenant as (We did) from thee: from Noah,

C3677. Cf. 3:81.

There is an implied covenant on all created things to follow Allah's Law, which is the law of their being; see 5:1.

But there is a special implied covenant with all Prophets, strict and solemn, that they shall carry out their mission, proclaim Allah's Truth without fear or favour, and be ever ready in His service in all circumstances. That gives them their position and dignity as explained in the last verse, and their tremendous responsibility in respect of the people whom they come to instruct and lead to the right Path.

...وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ...

Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary:

...وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا ﴿٧﴾

We took from them a solemn Covenant:

لِيَسْأَلَ الصَّادِقِينَ عَن صِدْقِهِمْ...

33: 8. That (Allah) may question the (Custodians) of Truth concerning the Truth they (were charged with):

C3678. The men to whom Allah's Truth has been committed for promulgation will be asked in the Hereafter as to how the Truth fared in the world-how it was received, who opposed it, and who assisted it.

Like all trustees, they will have to give a full account of their trust. Allah knows all, and it will not add to His information. But it will be evidence for and against those to whom it was preached, so that the responsibility of those who dishonoured it may be duly enforced.

The primary custodians of spiritual Truth are the Prophets, but in descending degrees all men to whom Allah's Message comes are included.

...وَأَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ﴿٨﴾

and He has prepared for the Unbelievers a grievous Penalty.

Asad’s Version:

33:7 {Asad]

AND LO! We did accept a solemn pledge from all the prophets" - from thee, [O Muhammad,]

as well as from Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary -: for We accepted a most weighty, solemn pledge from [all of] them,

(33:8) so that [at the end of time] He might ask those men of truth as to [what response] their truthfulness [had received on earth]. 12 And grievous suffering has He readied for all who deny the truth!

[[ Asad’s note - 12 Cf 5:109 and, more particularly, 7:6 "We shall most certainly call to account all those unto whom Our message was sent, and We shall most certainly call to account the message-bearers [themselves]". ]]