The Inclusiveness of the Verse’s Address to the Prophet

The divine address “Say” (qūlū) at the beginning of the verse is not exclusively for the community in relation to their leader and guide, but also includes the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.), as in another verse where the address is explicitly and directly aimed at the honorable Prophet:

“Say, ‘We believe in God and what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’”(493) The content of this verse and the verse under discussion is the same.

The beginning of this verse is in the singular form and addressed to the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.); however, considering that he is the prophet of the community, the address to him is also an address to the community. Therefore, it does not say “Say, ‘I believe in God and…’” but rather says: “Say, ‘We believe…’”

Another evidence for the inclusiveness of the address “Say” (qūlū) to the noble Prophet is the noble verse: “The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in God and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], ‘We make no distinction between any of His messengers.’”(494) Therefore, the Prophet (s.a.w.), like the community, is obligated to say: “I believe in God and what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to Abraham and…”

Note: “Say, ‘We believe in God’” is evidence for the invalidity of the views of the people of instruction (ahl al-taʿlīm) and the people of imitation (ahl al-taqlīd).(495)

In the discussion of allusions and subtleties of verse 136, the belief and notion of the taʿlīmīya and muqallida were mentioned.