The narration about Prophet Moses (PBUH) ends. This implies the greatness of the Holy Quran; here it does not merely relates the story of the Prophet Moses (PBUH) and the nation of Children of Israel, rather, it provides moral lessons and insights. All Messages are revealed by Allah (swt) and the Quranic narratives transcend specific stories, providing believers with a profound understanding of their religious duties. This verse directly moves on to the following:
( الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ ) (Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet): The Jews were the most to resist believing in the Prophet (saws). When Allah (swt) speaks about mercy in: (but My mercy encompasses all things.” So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses), He (swt) directly links it to: (Those), thereby specifying the ones who are entitled to receive this mercy, and they are: (Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet). The term (Messenger) means the one who carries a Message, and (Prophet) refers to someone who receives divine revelations. There’s a distinction between a Messenger and a Prophet. There are many Prophets who do not bring new Messages but rather follow the Message of previous Prophets (PBUT). As for Prophet Muhammad (saws), he holds the titles of both Messenger and Prophet.
(Unlettered) means that he had never learned to write or studied under a teacher, rather, his knowledge was directly bestowed by Allah (swt).
( الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ ) (whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel): The speech here is about Prophet Muhammad (saws). It could mean that Allah (swt) says that Divine religions do not contradict but rather all complementary, as their origin is one, sent from One Lord (swt). The People of the Scriptures find the characteristics of Prophet Muhammad (saws) written in the Torah and in the Gospel.
( يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ) (who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong): Calling them to what the sound nature and upright dispositions dictate of commanding good and forbidding evil. The unlettered Prophet Muhammad (saws) enjoins righteousness and forbids every evil and anything harmful. Allah (swt) describes him (saws) in the following verse as:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
(And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.) (Al-Anbiyaa: 107)
Therefore, his (saws) calling is entirely a call to goodness, as the Prophet (saws) said:
“I am but a mercy that has been granted.”[1]
( وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ ) (and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil):. The Prophet (saws) makes lawful for them the good things which had been forbidden to them, which Allah (swt) had made unlawful to them as requital for their tyranny and misguidance.
( وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ) (and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them): The (burden) refers to a heavy loan, and (shackles) is made from iron used to tie the hands to the neck. This refers to the heavy restrictions placed on the nation of Children of Israel due to their violation of the covenants with Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says:
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ
(So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages) (Al-Maaida: 13)
Hence, the Prophet (saws) came to enjoin upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong, make lawful the good things for them, forbid the impure, and relieve them of these heavy loads and restrictions imposed on them.
( فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ) (So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful): Those who believed in the Prophet (saws).
(honored him, supported him): The ones who supported him (saws) and stood up for him and his calling (saws).
(and followed the light which was sent down with him): Referring to the Holy Quran.
(it is those who will be the successful): The result is that they will be successful and winners in the Hereafter.
[1] Sunan Ad-Darimy, no. 15.