Allah Mtukufu anasema:

Allah the Almighty says:

{Na toa kwao mfano: habari ya watu wa mji, walipokuja kwao Mitume. Tulipowatuma kwao Mitume wawili, wakawakadhibisha wote wawili; basi Tukawaimarisha kwa wa tatu, nao wakasema: "Hakika sisi tumetumwa kwenu kuwa Mitume." Wakasema (watu wa mji): "Nyinyi si chochote ila ni binadamu kama sisi, na Mwingi wa Rehema (Allah) hakuteremsha kitu. Nyinyi si chochote ila mnasema uongo." Wakasema (Mitume): "Mola wetu Mlezi anajua kwamba sisi tumetumwa kwenu kuwa Mitume." Na wajibu wetu si kingine ila kufikisha ujumbe kwa uwazi." Wakasema (watu): "Sisi tunawaona kuwa ni kiashiria cha bahati mbaya kwetu. Mkiacha, bila shaka tutakupigeni mawe, na adhabu chungu itatufikia kutoka kwetu." Wakasema (Mitume):}

{And put forward to them a similitude: the (story of the) dwellers of the town, when there came Messengers to them. When We sent to them two Messengers, they belied them both; so We reinforced them with a third, and they said: "Verily we have been sent to you as Messengers." They (people of the town) said: "You are only human beings like ourselves and the Most Gracious (Allah) has revealed nothing. You are only telling lies." The Messengers said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent as Messengers to you." And our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message)." They (people) said: "For us, we see an evil omen from you: if you cease not, we will surely stone you, and a painful torment will touch you from us."They (Messengers) said:

Bahati yenu mbaya iwe pamoja nanyi! (Je, mnaiita "bahati mbaya" kwa sababu mmekumbushwa?) Hapana, bali ninyi ni watu waliopindukia mipaka (Musrifun), mnaotenda dhambi kubwa za kila aina na kumwasi Allah.

"Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it "evil omen") because you are admonished? Nay, but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah).

Kisha akaja mtu mmoja akikimbia kutoka sehemu ya mbali zaidi ya mji. Akasema: "Enyi watu wangu! Wafuateni Mitume." "Wafuateni wale ambao hawawaombi ujira (kwa ajili yao wenyewe), nao wameongoka." "Na kwa nini nisimwabudu Yule ambaye amenituumba, na ambaye kwake mtarejeshwa?" "Je, nijichagulie miungu badala yake? {Ikiwa Mwingi wa Rehema atanitakia dhara, uombezi wao hautanifaa kitu wala hawataweza kuniokoa.}"

And there came a man running from the farthest part of the town. He said: "O my people! Obey the Messengers. " “Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided. "And why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned." "Shall I take besides Him alihah (gods)?

Ikiwa Mwingi wa Rehema (Allah) atanitakia madhara, uombezi wao hautanisaidia kitu hata kidogo, wala hawataweza kuniokoa?" "Hakika basi, mimi ningekuwa katika upotovu ulio wazi." "Hakika! Mimi nimemwamini Mola wenu Mlezi, basi nisikilizeni!" Ilisemwa (kwake wakati makafiri walipomwua):

If the Most Gracious (Allah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me?" "Then verily, I should be in plain error." “Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!" It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him):

"Ingia Peponi." Alisema: "Laiti watu wangu wangejua. Kwamba Mola wangu (Allah) amenisamehe, na amenifanya miongoni mwa wenye heshima!" Wala Sisi hatukuwateremshia watu wake baada yake jeshi lolote kutoka mbinguni, wala haikuwa lazima kwetu kufanya hivyo. Haikuwa ila ukelele mmoja (Saihah).

"Enter Paradise." He said: "Would that my people knew. "That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honored ones!" And We sent not against his people after him a host from the heaven, nor was it needful for Us to send (such a thing). It was but one Saihah (shout)

Na tazama! Wote walikuwa bado (kimya, wamekufa, wameangamizwa)}. (Yasin, 13-29)

and lo! They (all) were still (silent, dead, destroyed)}. (Ya-Sin, 13-29)

'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas, Ka'b Al-Ahbar na Wahb Ibn Munabih na wengine wengi wamesimulia hadithi ya mji uitwao Antakiya (Antioch), uliotawaliwa na mfalme Antikhis Ibn Antikhis. Mfalme huyu alikuwa akiifuata ibada ya masanamu. Allah Mtukufu alimtumia wajumbe watatu, ambao aliwakanusha vikali. Wajumbe hao walikuwa:

'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas, Ka'b Al-Ahbar and Wahb Ibn Munabih and many others narrated a story of a town called Antioch (Antakiyah), governed by the king Antikhis Ibn Antikhis. This king used to observe idol worship. Allah Almighty sent him three Messengers whom he severely belied. The Messengers were:

Sadiq, Masduq na Shalom.

Sadiq, Masduq and Shalom.

Ni dhahiri kwamba walikuwa Mitume waliotumwa na Allah Mtukufu. Qatadah alidai kwamba walikuwa mitume waliotumwa na Yesu Kristo. Maoni hayo hayo yalishikiliwa na Ibn Jarir kutoka kwa Wahb, kutoka kwa Ibn Sulaiman, kutoka kwa Shu'aib Al-Jiba'i, ambaye aliongeza kwamba mitume hao waliitwa Shimon, Yona na Paulo, na mji ulikuwa unaitwa Antiokia. Maoni haya hayana msingi kwa sababu watu wa Antiokia walipowapokea watatu kati ya wanafunzi wa Yesu Kristo (amani iwe juu yake)

It is evidently apparent that they were Messengers sent by Allah the Almighty. Qatadah claimed them to be messengers sent by Jesus Christ. The same view was held by Ibn Jarir after Wahb after Ibn Sulaiman after Shu' aib Al- Jiba'i who added that: those messengers were called: Shimon, Jonah and Paul and the town was called Antioch. This view is groundless because the people of Antioch when received three of the disciples of Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him)

-walikuwa wa kwanza kumwamini wakati huo. Kisha, Antiokia ilikuwa mojawapo ya miji minne ya kwanza ambamo Mapatriarki wa Kikristo walikuwepo kwanza. Miji hii minne ilikuwa Antiokia, Yerusalemu, Aleksandria na Roma. Hata hivyo, watu wa miji hii hawakuangamizwa, ilhali watu wa mji uliotajwa hapo juu katika aya za Qur'ani waliangamizwa kabisa, baada ya kuuawa kwa mwenzao ambaye Allah alimtuma awaonye. Allah Mtukufu anasema: {Haikuwa ila ukelele mmoja tu, na tazama! Wao wote walikuwa kimya (wamekufa na kuangamia)}. (Yasini, 29) Hakuna mkanganyiko kati ya tafsiri hizi mbili, ikiwa jambo lilikuwa kwamba Wajumbe watatu wa Allah walitumwa kwa wakazi wa awali wa Antiokia na kwamba walikanushwa, jambo lililosababisha uangamivu kamili. Kisha, ardhi yao ilikaliwa tena, na wakati wa uhai wa Isa (amani iwe juu yake) wakazi wapya waliwaamini wajumbe wake watatu.

-were the first to believe in him at that very time. Thereupon, Antioch was one of the first four towns in which there first existed Christian Patriarchs. These four towns were Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and Rome. However, the people of these towns were not destroyed, whereas the people of the aforementioned town in the Qur'anic verses were totally annihilated, following the killing of their companion whom Allah sent to admonish them. Allah the Almighty says: {It was but one Saihah (shout) and lo! They (all) were still (silent, dead and destroyed)}. (Ya-Sin, 29) There is no contradiction between the two interpretations, if the case was that the three Messengers of Allah were sent to the earlier dwellers of Antioch and that they were belied, the matter which incurred complete destruction. Then, their land was re-inhabited and during the lifetime of Jesus (Peace be upon him) the new dwellers believed in his three messengers.

Dai kwamba hadithi iliyotajwa katika Qur'ani Tukufu ni ya wajumbe wa Yesu (amani iwe juu yake) ni ya kushangaza sana na haina msingi wowote.

The claim that the story mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an is that of the messengers of Jesus (Peace be upon him) is very absurd and groundless.

Ni dhahiri, kutokana na muktadha, kwamba wao, Mitume, walitumwa na Allah Mtukufu.

Obviously, the context shows that they, the Messengers were sent by Allah the Almighty.

Mwenyezi Mungu Mtukufu anasema: {Na wapigie mfano} yaani kwa watu wako, ewe Muhammad ﷺ. {Hadithi ya watu wa mji, walipowajia Mitume. Tulipowatumia wawili, wakawakadhibisha wote wawili, basi Tukawaimarisha kwa wa tatu} yaani Tuliwaunga mkono kwa Mtume wa tatu, {nao wakasema:}

Allah the Almighty says: {And put forward to them a similitude} i.e. for your people 0 Muhammad (Peace be upon him). {The (story of the) dwellers of the town, when there came Messengers to them. When We sent to them two Messengers, they belied them both, so We reinforced them with a third} i.e. We supported them with a third Messenger, {and they said:

Hakika sisi tumetumwa kwenu kuwa Mitume}. Watu wa mji walisema kuwa Mitume hao walikuwa binadamu tu, nao wakaupuuza wazo kwamba Allah Mtukufu huenda akatuma binadamu kuwa Mitume Wake kwa wanadamu.

Verily we have been sent to you as Messengers}. The people of the town said that the Messengers were only human beings and they set aside the idea that Allah Almighty might send human beings as His Messengers to mankind.

Mitume walithibitisha kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu anajua kwamba wametumwa kwao, na kwamba ikiwa watamsingizia uongo Yeye, bila shaka atawaadhibu adhabu kali kuliko zote. Waliongeza: {wajibu wetu ni kufikisha tu ujumbe kwa uwazi}, yaani kile walichotumwa nacho, na kwamba uongozi na upotofu viko mikononi mwa Mwenyezi Mungu Mtukufu Peke Yake. {Wakasema: Sisi tunaona mkosi kutokana nanyi}, yaani kutokana na yale mliyotuletea. {Msipoacha, bila shaka tutakupigeni mawe} kwa maneno mabaya na pia kwa mawe; {na adhabu chungu itakukumbeni kutoka kwetu}, yaani waliwatishia udhalilishaji unaoumiza (maneno mabaya) na kuuawa (kupigwa mawe hadi kufa). {Wakasema (Mitume): Mkosi wenu uwe pamoja nanyi!}, yaani utawapata vibaya. {(Je, mnauita "mkosi") kwa sababu mmekumbushwa?}, yaani kwa sababu tuliwakumbusha kwa uongofu na kuwaalika kwake, mlitutishia kuuawa na udhalilishaji unaoumiza. {Bali ninyi ni watu waliopindukia mipaka}, yaani mnavuka mipaka yote kwa kutenda aina zote za dhambi, na kwa kumwasi Mwenyezi Mungu.

The Messengers asserted that Allah knows that they have been sent to them and that if they lie to Him, He would certainly give them the severest of all punishment. They added: {our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message)} i.e. what they were sent with and that guidance and misleading are in the Hand of Allah the Almighty Alone. {They (people) said: For us, we see an evil omen from you} i.e. from what you have brought us. {If you cease not, we will surely stone you} with bad words and stones as well; {and a painful torment will touch you from us} i.e. they threatened them with afflicting humiliation (bad words) and killing (stoning to death). {They (Messengers) said: Your evil omens be with you!} i.e. they will badly affect you. {(Do you call it "evil omen ") because you are admonished?} i.e. because we reminded you with guidance and invited you to it you threatened us with killing and afflicting humiliation. {Nay, but you are a people Musrifun} i.e. you transgress all bounds by committing all kinds of sinful deeds, and by disobeying Allah.

Allah Mtukufu anasema: {Akaja mtu mbio kutoka sehemu ya mbali kabisa ya mji} ili kuwasaidia Mitume na kutangaza imani yake kwao. {Akasema: Enyi watu wangu! Watiini Mitume. Watiini wale wasiowaomba ujira, nao wameongoka} yaani.

Allah the Almighty says: {And there came a man running from the farthest part of the town} to support the Messengers and to declare his faith in them. {He said: 0 my people! Obey the Messengers. Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided} i.e.

wao wanakualika kwenye ukweli wa hakika bila kuomba ujira wala malipo kwa ajili yao wenyewe kutoka kwenu. Kisha yeye aliwalingania kumwabudu Allah Peke Yake, na wasiabudu kitu kingine isipokuwa Yeye, ambacho hakiwezi kufanya chochote katika maisha haya ya sasa wala katika Akhera. {Hakika mimi basi ningekuwa katika upotevu wa wazi} yaani, ikiwa ningeacha kumwabudu Allah na kuabudu kitu kingine chochote badala yake.

they invite you to the absolute truth without asking wages or reward for themselves of you. Then he invited them to worship Allah Alone, and not to worship other than Him that can do nothing in this present life or in the Hereafter. {Then verily, I should be in plain error} i.e. if I abandoned the worship of Allah and worshipped anything else besides Him.

Kisha, yule mwanaume mwenye imani aliwaambia wale Mitume watatu: {Hakika mimi nimemwamini Mola wenu, basi nisikilizeni!}, yaani, mnapaswa kusikiliza kauli yangu na kushuhudia hili mbele ya Mola wenu. Au, Enyi watu wangu! Sikilizeni tamko langu la imani la Mitume hawa. Hapo watu wakamuua, kwa kumpiga mawe hadi kufa, au kwa kumng'ata, au kwa kumshambulia kwa ghafla mara moja. Imesimuliwa na Ibn Ishaq kutoka kwa baadhi ya wenzake, kwa mamlaka ya `Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud, kwamba watu walikanyaga mwili wake hadi wakavunja shingo yake.

Then, the believing man said to the three Messengers: {Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!}, i.e. you should listen to my statement and bear witness to this before your Lord. Or, 0 my people! Listen to my declaration of faith of these Messengers. Thereupon, the people killed him either by stoning him to death, or biting, or making one sudden assault against him. Narrated Ibn Ishaq after some of his counterparts on the authority of `Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud that the people stepped over his body till they broke his neck.

Amesimuliwa kutoka kwa Ath-Thawri, kutoka kwa `Asim Al-Ahwal, kutoka kwa Abu Majlaz, kwamba alisema: Jina la yule mtu muumini lilikuwa Habib Ibn Murriy, ambaye inasemekana alikuwa seremala, au mtengenezaji wa kamba, au mtengenezaji wa viatu. Pia inasemekana kwamba alikuwa akifanya ibada zake za kidini katika pango lililotengwa. `Abdullah Ibn `Abbas (Allah amridhie) alisema: Alikuwa Habib, seremala aliyeugua ukoma. Alikuwa mtu wa kutoa sadaka, lakini mwishowe aliuawa mikononi mwa watu wake mwenyewe.

Narrated Ath-Thawri after `Asim Al-Ahwal after Abu Majlaz his saying: The name of that believing man was Habib Ibn Murriy who was said to be a carpenter, or rope-maker, or shoe-maker. It is also said that he used to observe his religious rituals in an isolated cave. `Abdullah Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: He was Habib, the carpenter who was afflicted with leprosy. He was charitable, but killed at the end at the hands of his own people.

Kisha, Allah Mtukufu anasema: {Ingia Peponi} yaani, alipouawa na watu wake, Allah Mtukufu alimwingiza Peponi. Alipoona starehe na furaha zilizomo humo, alisema: {Laiti watu wangu wangejua! Kwamba Mola wangu (Allah) amenisamehe, na kunifanya miongoni mwa wenye heshima!}, yaani, waamini kile nilichokiamini na hivyo wapate kile nilichokipata sasa hivi. Ibn `Abbas (Allah amridhie) alisema: Alikuwa akiwanasihi watu wake wakati wa uhai wake akisema: {Enyi watu wangu! Watiini Mitume}, na baada ya kufa kwake {Laiti watu wangu wangejua! Kwamba Mola wangu (Allah) amenisamehe, na kunifanya miongoni mwa wenye heshima!}. Zaidi ya hayo, Qatadah alisema: Muumini daima hutoa nasaha kwa sababu ya kile anachokiona cha thawabu alizopewa na Allah {Laiti watu wangu wangejua! Kwamba Mola wangu (Allah) amenisamehe, na kunifanya miongoni mwa wenye heshima!}, yaani, alitamani watu wake wajue heshima ambayo Allah alimpa. Qatadah aliongeza: Naapa kwa Allah! Allah hakuwakemea wala hata kuwalaumu watu wale baada ya kumuua (yule mtu muumini) {Haikuwa ila ukelele mmoja tu, na tahamaki wao wakawa wametulia (wamekufa, wameangamizwa)}. Allah Mtukufu anasema: {Wala hatukuwateremshia watu wake baada yake jeshi lolote kutoka mbinguni, wala haikuwa sisi ni wenye kuteremsha}, yaani, haikuwa lazima kwa Allah Mtukufu kuwateremshia jeshi kutoka mbinguni ili kulipiza kisasi kwa Mitume.

Then, Allah the Almighty says: {Enter Paradise} i.e. when he was killed by his people, Allah Almighty admitted him into Paradise. When he saw of the pleasures and joys therein, he said: {Would that my people knew? That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honored ones!}, i.e. to believe in what I have believed in and thus gain what I have just obtained. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: He advised his people during his life saying: {O my people! Obey the Messengers}, and after his death {Would that my people knew? That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honored ones!}. In addition, Qatadah said: The believer always gives counseling because of what he sees of the rewards granted by Allah {Would that my people knew? That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honored ones!}, i.e. he wished that his people would know the honor Allah bestowed on him. Qatadah added: By Allah! Allah did not admonish or even blame those people after killing him (the believing man) {It was but one Saihah (shout) and lo! They (all) were still (silent, dead, destroyed)}. Allah the Almighty says: {And We sent not against his people after him a host from the heaven, nor was it needful for Us to send (such a thing)}, i.e. it was not needful for Allah the Almighty to send against them a host from the heaven to avenge the Messengers.

Mujahid na Qatadah walisema: Hii inamaanisha kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu hakuwatumia ujumbe mwingine. Ibn Jarir alisema: Tafsiri ya kwanza inaonekana kuwa sahihi zaidi kwa sababu Mwenyezi Mungu Mtukufu anasema baada ya hapo: {wala hatukuhitaji kuwateremshia jeshi kutoka mbinguni}, yaani, Mwenyezi Mungu hakuhitaji kutuma kitu kama hicho ili kuwaadhibu walipowakadhibisha Mitume Wake na kumuua mtu wake mcha Mungu, {Haikuwa ila ukelele mmoja tu, na papo hapo wakawa wametulia kimya, wamekufa, wameangamia}.

Mujahid and Qatadah said: This means that Allah did not send them another Message. Ibn Jarir said: The first interpretation looks more proper because Allah the Almighty says after this: {nor was it needful for Us to send (such a thing)}, i.e. Allah was not in need to send such a thing to punish them when they belied His Messengers and killed His godly man, {It was but one Saihah (shout) and lo! They (all) were still (silent, dead, destroyed)}.

Wafasiri walisema: Allah Mtukufu alimtuma Gabriel (amani iwe juu yake) ambaye alishika lango la mji wao na kupiga kelele moja {Kelele moja tu, na tazama! Wakawa wametulia kabisa (kimya, wamekufa, wameangamizwa)}, yaani, wakawa kimya, bila kutikisika na wamekufa.

Interpreters said: Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel (Peace be upon him) who maintained a grasp on their town's gate and made a single shout {one Saihah (shout) and lo! They (all) were still (silent, dead, destroyed)}, i.e. they turned to be silent, motionless and dead.

Hatimaye, haya yote yanaonyesha kwamba mji uliotajwa katika aya za Qur'ani haukuwa Antiokia, kwa sababu watu wa Antiokia walimwamini Mwenyezi Mungu na kuwafuata wajumbe wa Yesu (amani iwe juu yake). Zaidi ya hayo, ilisemwa kwamba Antiokia ndio mji wa kwanza kutangaza imani kwa Yesu (amani iwe juu yake).

Finally, all these indicate that the town mentioned in the Qur'anic verses was not Antioch because the people of Antioch believed in Allah and followed the messengers of Jesus (Peace be upon him). Moreover, Antioch was said to be the first town to declare faith in Jesus (Peace be upon him).