Arguments from the Quran

so that you may be witnesses over the people, and the Messenger may be a witness over you.” (Quran, 2:143) When we consult scholars of tafsir (exegesis) to understand this verse, we find that nearly all of them interpret “bearing witness” here as a role that belongs not to this world but to the Hereafter. This means that on the Day of Judgment, Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) community will be presented as witnesses in cases involving previous prophets and their disbelieving nations. This interpretation is based on certain narrations, which tell us that: “On the Day of Judgment, there will be some prophets with only one or two or a few believers, while the rest of their people would have denied them. Then that nation to whom the Prophet was sent will be summoned. They will be asked, ‘Did Our message reach you?’ The people will respond, ‘No, it did not reach us.’ Then the Prophet will be asked, and he will say, ‘Yes, I delivered it.’ He will then be asked, ‘Do you have a witness?’ In response, the Prophet will name Muhammad œ and his community. Then, Muhammad œ and his community will be called and asked, ‘Did this prophet deliver the message to his people?’ They will answer,