Regarding a Phrase of the Qur’an (Al-An`aam 6: 163)…

I just got a question from a Christian saying that the Holy Qur’an says at one place that prophet Abraham is the first Muslim then at another place, it says that prophet Moses is the first Muslim and then at yet another place, it says that the prophet Mohammed is the first of the believers. So I need some explanation about that please.

May ALLAH bless u and your family.

Yours in Islam

Ashraf

Reply

Our Christian friend has misconstrued the referred phrase. The words “Ana Awwal al Muslimeen” (i.e. I am the first Muslim) or “Awwal al Mu’mineen” (i.e. the first Mu’min) or their like do not imply that the person saying these words is declaring himself to be the first Muslim or the first Mu’min in absolute terms or with reference to the history of mankind. On the contrary, these words actually refer to the willingness, the zeal, the ardor and the enthusiasm of the person making this declaration. In these words, the person actually declares that after the truth has become apparent to him, he shall not waste time waiting for others to precede him in belief (which would make his decision easier). Once the truth has become apparent, he would have no other considerations but to surrender to it.

Seen in this perspective, it should be obvious that not only all the prophets of God, but also those who declared their belief in these prophets in the beginning of their ministries – when people were generally against the message that they proclaimed –belong to the same category of people who were Awwal al Muslimeen or Awwal al Mumineen. It is in this context, that the magicians who declared their faiths in the prophet hood of Moses also proclaim the phrase “ Kunna Awwal al Mu’mineen” (Al-Shu`araa 26: 51).

I hope this helps. In case any aspect of my answer remains unclear, please feel free in writing back to me at your own convenience.

May the Almighty guide us all to the path of His liking.

Regards

The Learner