Allah the Exalted said: "And those who disbelieved said to their messengers: 'We will surely drive you out of our land, or you will return to our religion.'"

The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, Allah the Exalted said: What is the meaning of "return" in this verse? We ask for a detailed answer and clarification of the issue raised: were the messengers, peace be upon them, on the religion of their people, i.e., polytheists, before the revelation was sent down to them? And is it possible to say that this verse agrees with the saying of Allah the Exalted: ?

The Shaykh : This verse does not indicate that the messengers were on the polytheism that their people were upon, because "return" does not necessarily imply a prior existence. Rather, "return" is used to mean mere agreement. So their saying: means "you will agree with us in what we are upon of polytheism." This is like the saying of Shu'ayb to his people: even though he was not on polytheism, but the intended meaning is only agreeing with these polytheists in what they are upon. Perhaps from this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): It does not follow from this that the land of Arabia was rivers and meadows before this. Rather, the meaning of "return" is that it becomes meadows and rivers. Based on this explanation, there is no longer any issue in the matter. As for the saying of Allah the Exalted to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): it is like His saying: meaning that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not, before the revelation, aware of the law of Allah until Allah sent down the revelation to him and guided him by what He sent down to him.