al-Fatḥ

إِنَّا أرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِداً وَمُبَشِّراً وَنَذِيراً

لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأصِيلاً

8. Indeed, We have sent you as a witness [over deeds], as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner,

9. In order that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger and that you assist and honor him and that you glorify [His] praises morning and evening.

The Arabic verbal form tu’azziruhu derives from ‘azara (“keep from”) connoting that the Noble Prophet (S) should be preserved from any harm or harassment. The word shahid (“witness”) may refer to a perfect model. Applied to the Noble Prophet (S), the word indicates that he is the perfect model for humanity. The verbal forms tu’azziruhu and tuwaqqiruhu (“honor him”) may refer to God Almighty, i.e. assist and honor Him. It may also refer to the Noble Prophet (S) and it is to be noted that honoring him is honoring God Almighty.

Verse 8 is addressed to the Noble Prophet (S) saying unto him that God Almighty sent him on the Prophetic mission such that he serves as a witness for people confirming the words of true believers and reject those uttered by hypocrites. It is mentioned elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an that:

“The Messenger is a witness over them.”

It may also refer to the Noble Prophet’s (S) spiritual state implying that he attained to such intuitive knowledge that he may perceive through the eyes of his head and heart that he may bear glad tidings to believers that they shall enjoy Divine Mercy and elevated states in Paradise and he may warn disbelievers and polytheists against torments in Hell as the consequences of their polytheism and disbelieve such that he may impart the final argument to people and help them purify their souls.

Verse 9 is saying that thus he may show unto people the Path of Guidance so that through their intellect, they may believe in God Almighty and His Messenger (S), assist the True Religion, defeat disbelievers, and glorify God Almighty as a token of obedience to Him in the morning and in the evening. The Arabic words bukra and asil designate morning and evening and may also refer to the prayers established at these times. It is worthy of note that five significant injunctions are being mentioned as the causes and goals of the preceding attributes of the Noble Prophet (S).

Two injunctions concern obedience to God Almighty and glorifying Him and three Injunctions are related to obeying, defending, and honoring the elevated state of the Noble Prophet (S), saying that the goal of the Prophetic Call is that people believe in God Almighty and His Messenger (S), defend him against enemies, honor him, and glorify God Almighty in the morning and in the evening.