The Promise of Succession on Earth in Surah An-Nur

Question

Surah An-Nur contains a promise of succession (istikhlaf) on earth. Is this promise given to the community of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ [on condition] that it fully carries out the commands of Allah, or does it apply to any community that fully carries out the commands of Allah? That is, does this verse carry a general ruling, or is it restricted by the condition that whichever people, at whatever time, fully carries out the commands of Allah will attain succession on earth — or is this restricted to the community of…

Answer

The specific promise contained in this verse, according to the view of most exegetes, has already been fulfilled — in the era of the two shaykhs [Abu Bakr and ‘Umar ﵁]. This is attested by [the form] "among you" (minkum), and the phrase [ar]كَمَا ٱسْتَخْلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ[/ar] "just as We granted succession to those before them" (Surah An-Nur, 24:55)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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