بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Shaikh Salih al Fawzaan حفظه الله comments regarding His Statement (The Most High):

وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكُم مِّن كِتَٰبٖ وَحِكۡمَةٖ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولٞ مُّصَدِّقٞ لِّمَا مَعَكُمۡ لَتُؤۡمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥۚ قَالَ ءَأَقۡرَرۡتُمۡ وَأَخَذۡتُمۡ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمۡ إِصۡرِيۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَقۡرَرۡنَاۚ قَالَ فَٱشۡهَدُواْ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ

And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah, etc.), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.” Allah said: “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this).” [Surah Aal Imraan, Ayah 81]

ًWhat can be taken from this verse is Allaah’s Testimony and the Testimony of the Prophets regarding the disbelief of one who does not believe in Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم , because Allaah took the covenant from the Prophets to believe in Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  and help him, and the Prophets bore witness to that [Ref 1] [End of quote. Abu Idrees].

Additional benefit from Imaam Ibn Katheer [rahimahullaah] on the above statement of Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [hafidhahullaah]

Imaam Ibn Katheer [rahimahullaah] stated in his commentary on Surah Aal Imraan Aayah 81: Allaah [The Exalted] informed us that He took a covenant from every Messenger He sent – between Aadam and Eesaa – that regardless the Book and religious laws given to them and the status they reach, they must believe and help the next Messenger when he comes to them, and that which they have been given of knowledge and Prophethood cannot prevent them from following the other Prophet sent after them. Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] is the seal of the Prophets [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them] until the day of Judgement and He is the Greatest Imaam who is to be followed in every era. [Ref 2] [End of quote. Salaficentre.com Admin]

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan continued: Allaah سبحانه وتعالى  said: ” فَٱشۡهَدُواْ ” meaning ” then bear witness” and Allah also bore witness to that by saying ” وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِين ” meaning ” and I am with you among the witnesses.” So whoever does not believe in Muhammad, then he is a disbeliever and that is what Allaah and the Prophets were witnesses to, even if a person claims to believe in Moses, like the Jews do or he claims to believe in Jesus like the Christians do, when they don’t believe in Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  and they don’t follow him, then neither is true and valid faith nor religion ascribed to them because after the sending of the Messenger, everyone has been ordered to follow him and obey him صلى الله عليه وسلم. [Ref 3] [End of quote Abu Idrees]

Ref 1: Min Ahkhaam Al-Qur’aan by Shaikh Salih al Fawzaan حفظه الله  vol.1 pgs. 42 – 43

Ref 2: An Excerpt from Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer. Daarus Salaam Publishers. 2nd Edition 1421AH [Year 2000]

Ref 3: Min Ahkhaam Al-Qur’aan by Shaikh Salih al Fawzaan حفظه الله  vol.1 pgs. 42 – 43