1. Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the
polytheists were not to be parted [from disbelief] until therecame to
them clear evidence —
2. A Messenger from Allaah, reciting purified scriptures.
3. Within which are correct writings [i.e. rulings and laws].
4. Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until
after there had come to them clear evidence.
5. And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being]
sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and toestablish prayer
and to give Zakaah (alms). And that is the correct religion.
As for the People of the Scripture they are the Jews and Christians,
while the polytheists are those who worship idols and fire from
amongst the Arabs and the non-Arabs. Mujaahid said: " were not to be
parted " means that they (the People of the Scripture) will not cease
until the Clear Evidence came to them. What the 'Clear Evidence' is,
is explained by the following verse (which means): " A Messenger from
Allaah, reciting purified scriptures ", That is, Muhammad, sallAllaahu
alayhi wa sallam, and that which he recites from the Noble Quran,
which was copied by the Heavenly Host (i.e., the angels), on purified
sheets, as in the Words of Allaah (which mean) :
"[It is recorded] in honored sheets, exalted and purified, [carried]
by the hands of messenger-angels, noble and dutiful. " [Quran
80:13-16]
" Within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws] ."
Ibn Jareer said: "It means that amongst the purified scriptures are
Scriptures from theBooks of Allaah, of inestimable value, full of
justice, perfectly correct, without any error, because they are from
Allaah, theAlmighty, the All-Powerful."
Qataadah said: " A Messengerfrom Allaah, reciting purified scriptures
" means that the Quranis mentioned with the best description and that
Allaah extolsit in the most laudatory terms."
Ibn Zayd said, concerning theverse (which means): " Within which are
correct writings " : "It means correct and fair. I say: The Words of
Him, the Most High: " Nor did those who were given the Scripture
become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence " are
like His Words (which mean) : " And do not be like the ones who became
divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And
those will have a great punishment ." [Quran 3: 105] Thatis, the
communities (the People of the Books) before us, after Allaah, the
Exalted, revealed to them proofs and clear signs, became divided and
disputed amongst themselves as to what was required of them by Allaah,
the Most High, in their revealed books. They became involved in major
differences as is made clear by the Hadeeth (narration) in which the
Prophet, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Verily, theJews are
divided into seventy-onedifferent sects, and verily, the Christians
are divided into seventy-two sects, and verily, my community will be
divided into seventy-three different sects - all of whom will be in
the Hell-Fire except one." His Companions asked: "And who are they, O,
Messenger of Allaah?" He, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied:
"Those who follow the path of me and my Companions ."
And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere
to Him in religion, inclining to truth… " This is like Allaah's Words
(which mean) : "And We sent not before you any messenger except that
We revealed to him that, there is no deity except Me, so worship Me. "
[Quran 21: 25] For this reason, Allaah Says (which means): " inclining
to truth " that is, professing and practicing the True Religion
(Islamic Monotheism) without associatingany partners with Allaah, as
in HisWords (which mean) : "And We certainly sent into every nation a
messenger, [saying] 'Worship Allaah and avoid false deities.' " [Quran
16: 36]
" and to establish prayer " - whichis the most noble of all physical
activities .
"and to give Zakaah (alms) " - which is to be charitable towardsthe
poor and the needy .
" And that is the correct religion ."
That is the True, the Correct, and the Just Faith - to belong to the
most upright, religious community - a moderate community. Many
scholars, including Az-Zuhri and Ash-Shaafi'i have concluded from this
verse that true faith must include action (not just belief in the
heart), and for this reason, Allaah, the Exalted, Says (what means):
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere
to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to
give Zakaah (alms). And that is the correct religion . " :
No comments:
Post a Comment