Tafsir of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And Muhammad is not but a Messenger; there have passed before him the Messengers"

Question:
He asks: What is the connection of the noble verse, "And Muhammad is not but a Messenger; there have passed before him the Messengers"?

Answer:
"Then if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels?" Its connection is that they should remain steadfast in their religion, even if the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) were to die. This is because some among them apostatized when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) died, saying, "If he had been a prophet, he would not have died." Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: This indicates that the Messenger is subject to death, just as it is subject to all other human beings, and just as it happened to the prophets and messengers before him (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.