Sincerity and the Righteous
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ. رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا، فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ، وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ، وَمَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ، وَنَطْمَعُ، أَنْ يُدْخِلَنَا. رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ.
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ
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“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, ‘Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses. And why should we not believe in Allah and what has come to us of the truth? And we aspire that our Lord will admit us [to Paradise] with the righteous people.’”
Form: the imperative “uktubna” (اكْتُبْنَا). The dua of the righteous (such as the ruler of Ethiopia, an-Najashi, and his close associates), who wept while listening to the Quran and accepted Islam.
Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi
Shaykh as-Saadi explains: “When these sincere people heard the verses of the Quran, their eyes filled with tears from the realisation of the truth, and they openly prayed to be written among the believers and to be admitted into Paradise together with the righteous.”
Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir points out: “These verses were revealed concerning the Negus of Ethiopia, Najashi, and his delegation, who believed after hearing the recitation of Surah Maryam from Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib.”
Tafsir al-Baghawi
“And when they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger…”—Muhammad. “…you see their eyes overflowing…”—tears flowing. “…with tears because of the truth they have recognized…”
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said in a report transmitted by ‘Ata: “Those meant are the Negus, the king of Ethiopia, and his entourage. When Ja‘far, while in Ethiopia, began reciting to them verses from the beginning of Surah ‘Maryam,’ they began to weep and continued weeping until he stopped reciting.”
“…They say: ‘Our Lord! We believe, so record us among the witnesses!’ …”—that is, make us part of the community of the Prophet Muhammad, so that, as members of this community, we may bear witness against other communities on the Day of Resurrection. Evidence for this is the saying of Allah Almighty: “…so that you may be witnesses concerning mankind…” (Surah “al-Baqarah,” verse 143).
“And why should we not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us…”—this is because the Jews reproached them, saying, “Why have you believed?” And they answered them in this way.
“…when we hope that our Lord will admit us (to Paradise) together with righteous people?”—that is, with the community of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Evidence that this refers specifically to the community of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the saying of Allah: “…that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth…” (Surah “al-Anbiya,” verse 105).
In Sahih al-Bukhari (No. 3877) it is reported that when Najashi died, the Prophet (peace be upon him) announced his death and performed the funeral prayer (janaza) for him in absentia.