الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴾

This verse continues describing the people of taqwā, expanding on their faith and affirming their relationship with revelation.

1. “Those who believe in what has been sent down to you” (يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ)

Ibn Kathīr explains:

a. “What has been sent down to you” = The Qur’an

This includes:

• all of its commands and prohibitions
• its narratives
• its laws
• its promises and warnings
• everything revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in totality, without rejection

b. Belief includes acceptance and obedience

According to Ibn Kathīr (and the early Salaf):

• Belief is not only acknowledgement
• It requires submission, compliance, and acting upon the Qur’an

The believers accept the Qur’an as:

• truth,
• guidance,
• mercy,
• and the final revelation.

2. “And what was sent down before you” (وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ)

Ibn Kathīr cites Ibn ‘Abbās, Mujāhid, Qatādah, and As-Suddi:

✔️ This refers to all revealed scriptures:

• The Tawrah (Torah)
• The Injīl (Gospel)
• The Zabūr (Psalms)
• The Suhuf of Ibrahim and Musa
• All authentic revelations given to previous prophets

The believers accept:

• that these were originally from Allah,
• containing truth,
• guiding their communities.

Notably — this includes belief, not blind following

Ibn Kathīr stresses:

• We believe they were revealed,
• but we follow only the Qur’an, since earlier books were altered.

He quotes early scholars:

“The believer affirms the truth in all the books, but the Qur’an is the final criterion.”

3. Why belief in all revelation is essential

Ibn Kathīr emphasizes:

• The religion of all prophets is one: Tawḥīd.
• Whoever denies one prophet has denied them all.
• To reject a single revealed scripture is to deny Allah’s wisdom and plan.

He cites the verse:

“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and the believers…” (2:285)

This unity of revelation is a major theme of Surah al-Baqarah.

4. “And in the Hereafter they have certainty” (وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ)

Ibn Kathīr explains:

a. Yaqīn (certainty) is stronger than ordinary belief

It means:

• full conviction
• no doubt
• absolute affirmation
• clear knowledge that what Allah promised will occur

The believer is certain about:

• Resurrection
• Judgment
• The Bridge (Sirāt)
• The Scale (Mīzān)
• The Record of deeds
• Paradise
• Hell

b. Why “certainty” is used only for the Hereafter

Ibn Kathīr explains:

• The Hereafter is the most denied reality by disbelievers.
• Therefore Allah praises those who have absolute certainty in it.
• Yaqīn in the Hereafter shapes a person’s entire life, choices, morals, and priorities.

c. Certainty is the highest level of faith

Ibn Kathīr notes three levels of certainty (based on the Qur’an):

1. ‘Ilm al-Yaqīn — knowledge of certainty
2. ‘Ayn al-Yaqīn — seeing certainty
3. Ḥaqq al-Yaqīn — reality of certainty (experienced)

The believers possess the first two in this life and the third in the next.

5. Why this verse connects previous scriptures, the Qur’an, and the Hereafter

Ibn Kathīr explains that these are the three great pillars of belief:

• The Book of Allah (present revelation)
• The Books of Allah before it (past revelation)
• The Day of Meeting Allah (future accountability)

Thus, the believer connects:

• the beginning,
• the middle,
• and the end of the journey of revelation.

6. The completeness of the believer’s faith

Ibn Kathīr says:

• A true believer accepts every revelation sent by Allah,
• respects every prophet sent by Allah,
• and is convinced of the Day when all deeds will be judged.

This is why these believers are described as the people who benefit from the Qur’an.

About The Author

Ainan Ahmed

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Meet Anian Ahmed, a rising star in the literary cosmos and a captivating historian on the brink of earning his Ph.D. in history. As the intellectual heartbeat of the JFLN Academy for Islamic Study and Quran Teaching, Anian’s brilliance radiates through the corridors of academia.

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