3:20 Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

ولما قرر أنه الإله الحق المعبود، بين العبادة والدين الذي يتعين أن يعبد به ويدان له، وهو الإسلام الذي هو الاستسلام لله بتوحيده وطاعته التي دعت إليها رسله، وحثت عليها كتبه، وهو الذي لا يقبل من أحد دين سواه، وهو متضمن للإخلاص له في الحب والخوف والرجاء والإنابة والدعاء ومتابعة رسوله في ذلك، وهذا هو دين الرسل كلهم، وكل من تابعهم فهو على طريقهم، وإنما اختلف أهل الكتاب بعد ما جاءتهم كتبهم تحثهم على الاجتماع على دين الله، بغيا بينهم، وظلما وعدوانا من أنفسهم، وإلا فقد جاءهم السبب الأكبر الموجب أن يتبعوا الحق ويتركوا الاختلاف، وهذا من كفرهم، فلهذا قال تعالى { وما اختلف الذين أوتوا الكتاب إلا من بعد ما جاءهم العلم بغيًا بينهم ومن يكفر بآيات الله فإن الله سريع الحساب } فيجازي كل عامل بعمله، وخصوصا من ترك الحق بعد معرفته، فهذا مستحق للوعيد الشديد والعقاب الأليم، ثم أمر تعالى رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم عند محاجة النصارى وغيرهم ممن يفضل غير دين الإسلام عليه أن يقول لهم: قد { أسلمت وجهي لله ومن اتبعن } أي: أنا ومن اتبعني قد أقررنا وشهدنا وأسلمنا وجوهنا لربنا، وتركنا ما سوى دين الإسلام، وجزمنا ببطلانه، ففي هذا تأييس لمن طمع فيكم، وتجديد لدينكم عند ورود الشبهات، وحجة على من اشتبه عليه الأمر، لأنه قد تقدم أن الله استشهد على توحيده بأهل العلم من عباده ليكونوا حجة على غيرهم، وسيد أهل العلم وأفضلهم وأعلمهم هو نبينا محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثم من بعده أتباعه على اختلاف مراتبهم وتفاوت درجاتهم، فلهم من العلم الصحيح والعقل الرجيح ما ليس لأحد من الخلق ما يساويهم أو يقاربهم، فإذا ثبت وتقرر توحيد الله ودينه بأدلته الظاهرة، وقام به أكمل الخلق وأعلمهم، حصل بذلك اليقين وانتفى كل شك وريب وقادح، وعرف أن ما سواه من الأديان باطلة، فلهذا قال { وقل للذين أوتوا الكتاب } من النصارى واليهود { والأميين } مشركي العرب وغيرهم { أأسلمتم فإن أسلموا } أي: بمثل ما أمنتم به { فقد اهتدوا } كما اهتديتم وصاروا إخوانكم، لهم ما لكم، وعليهم ما عليكم { وإن تولوا } عن الإسلام ورضوا بالأديان التي تخالفه { فإنما عليك البلاغ } فقد وجب أجرك على ربك، وقامت عليهم الحجة، ولم يبق بعد هذا إلا مجازاتهم بالعقاب على جرمهم، فلهذا قال { والله بصير بالعباد }

ثم قال تعالى "فإن حاجوك" أي جادلوك في التوحيد "فقل أسلمت وجهي لله ومن اتبعن" أي فقل أخلصت عبادتي لله وحده لا شريك له ولا ندّ له ولا ولد ولا صاحبة له "ومن اتبعن" أي على ديني يقول كمقالتي كما قال " قل هذه سبيلي أدعو إلى الله على بصيرة أنا ومن اتبعني" الآية ثم قال تعالى آمرا لعبده ورسوله محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يدعو إلى طريقته ودينه والدخول في شرعه وما بعثه الله به: الكتابيين من المليين والأميين من المشركين فقال تعالى "وقل للذين أوتوا الكتاب والأميين أأسلمتم فإن أسلموا فقد اهتـدوا وإن تولوا فإنما عليك البلاغ" أي والله عليه حسابهم وإليه مرجعهم ومآبهم وهو الذي يهدي من يشاء ويضل من يشاء وله الحكمة البالغة والحجة الدامغة ولهذا قال تعالى "والله بصير بالعباد" أي هو عليم بمن يستحق الهداية ممن يستحق الضلالة وهو الذي "لا يسأل عما يفعل وهم يسألون" وما ذلك إلا لحكمته ورحمته وهذه الآية وأمثالها من أصرح الدلالات على عموم بعثته صلوات الله وسلامه عليه إلى جميع الخلق كما هو معلوم من دينه ضرورة وكما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة في غير ما آية وحديث فمن ذلك قوله تعالى "قل يا أيها الناس إني رسول الله لكم جميعا" وقال تعالى "تبارك الذي نزل الفرقان على عبده ليكون للعالمين نذيرا". وفي الصحيحين وغيرهما مما ثبت تواتره بالوقائع المتعددة أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم بعث كتبه يدعو إلى الله ملوك الآفاق وطوائف بني آدم من عربهم وعجمهم كتابيهم وأميهم امتثالا لأمر الله له بذلك. وقد روى عبدالرزاق عن معمر عن همام عن أبي هريرة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال "والذي نفسي بيده لا يسمع بي أحد من هذه الأمة يهودي ولا نصراني ومات ولم يؤمن بالذي أرسلت به إلا كان من أهل النار" رواه مسلم وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم "بعثت إلى الأحمر والأسود" وقال "كان النبي يبعث إلى قومه خاصة وبعثت إلى الناس عامة". وقال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا مؤمل حدثنا حماد حدثنا ثابت عن أنس رضي الله عنه: أن غلاما يهوديا كان يضع للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وضوءه ويناوله نعليه فمرض فأتاه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فدخل عليه وأبوه قاعد عند رأسه فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "يا فلان قل لا إله إلا الله" فنظر إلى أبيه فسكت أبوه فأعاد عليه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فنظر إلى أبيه فقال أبوه: أطع أبا القاسم فقال الغلام: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأنك رسول الله فخرج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يقول "الحمد لله الذي أخرجه بي من النار" رواه البخاري في الصحيح إلى غير ذلك من الآيات والأحاديث.

The Testimony of Tawhid

Allah bears witness, and verily, Allah is sufficient as a Witness, and He is the Most Truthful and Just Witness there is; His statement is the absolute truth,

أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ

(that La ilaha illa Huwa) meaning, He Alone is the Lord and God of all creation; everyone and everything are His servants, creation and in need of Him. Allah is the Most Rich, Free from needing anyone or anything. Allah said in another Ayah,

لَّـكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ

(But Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down (the Qur'an) unto you (O Muhammad )) 4:166.

Allah then mentioned the testimony of His angels and those who have knowledge after he mentioned His own testimony,

شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ

(Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also bear witness to this)). This Ayah emphasizes the great virtue of those who have knowledge.

قَآئِمَاً بِالْقِسْطِ

((He) maintains His creation in justice) in all that He does,

لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ

(None has the right to be worshipped but He) thus emphasizing this fact,

العَزِيزُ الحَكِيمُ

(the Almighty, the All-Wise.) the Mighty that does not submit to weakness due to His might and greatness, the Wise in all His statements, actions, legislation and decrees.

The Religion with Allah is Islam

Allah said,

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلَـمُ

(Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam.) Allah states that there is no religion accepted with Him from any person, except Islam. Islam includes obeying all of the Messengers until Muhammad who finalized their commission, thus closing all paths to Allah except through Muhammad . Therefore, after Allah sent Muhammad , whoever meets Allah following a path other than Muhammad's, it will not be accepted of him. In another Ayah, Allah said,

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلَـمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ

(And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him) 3:85.

In this Ayah 3:19, Allah said, asserting that the only religion accepted with Him is Islam,

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلَـمُ

(Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam.)

Allah then states that those who were given the Scripture beforehand divided in the religion after Allah sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to them providing them the necessary proofs to not do so. Allah said,

وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ

(Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except out of rivalry, after knowledge had come to them.) meaning, some of them wronged others. Therefore, they differed over the truth, out of envy, hatred and enmity for each other. This hatred made some of them defy those whom they hated even if they were correct. Allah then said,

وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَـتِ اللَّهِ

(And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat of Allah) meaning, whoever rejects what Allah sent down in His Book,

فَإِنَّ اللَّهِ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

(then surely, Allah is Swift in reckoning.) Allah will punish him for his rejection, reckon him for his denial, and torment him for defying His Book. Thereafter, Allah said.

فَإنْ حَآجُّوكَ

(So if they dispute with you (Muhammad )) so if they argue with you about Tawhid,

فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِىَ للَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ

(Say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me") meaning, Say, `I have made my worship sincere for Allah Alone without partners, rivals, offspring or companion,

وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ

(and those who follow me) who followed my religion and embraced my creed.' In another Ayah, Allah said,

قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِى أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِى

(Say (O Muhammad ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me...") 12:108.

Islam is the Religion of Mankind and the Prophet Was Sent to all Mankind

Allah commanded His servant and Messenger, Muhammad , to call the People of the Two Scriptures and the unlettered idolators to his religion, way, Law and all that Allah sent him with. Allah said,

وَقُلْ لِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ وَالاٍّمِّيِّينَ ءَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ

(And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message.) meaning, their reckoning is with Allah and their return and final destination is to Him. It is He Who guides whom He wills and allows whom He wills to stray, and He has the perfect wisdom and the unequivocal proof for all of this. This is why Allah said,

وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

(And Allah sees the servants.) for He has perfect knowledge of who deserves to be guided and who does not deserve to be guided. Verily,

لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَلُونَ

(He cannot be questioned for what He does, while they will be questioned.) 21:23 because of His perfect wisdom and mercy. This and similar Ayat are clear proofs that the Message of Muhammad is universal to all creation, as it is well established in the religion, according to the various texts of the Book and Sunnah. For instance, Allah said,

قُلْ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا

(Say (O Muhammad ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.") 7:158, and,

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَـلَمِينَ نَذِيراً

(Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion to His servant that he may be a warner to the `Alamin (mankind and Jinn).) 25:1.

The Two Sahihs and other collections of Hadith recorded that the Prophet sent letters to the kings of the earth during his time and to different peoples, Arabs and non-Arabs, People of the Book and the unlettered, just as Allah had commanded him. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ma`mar said, that Hammam said that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ: يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ، وَمَاتَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِالَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ، إِلَّا كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّار»

(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! No member of this Ummah, no Jew or Christian, hears of me but dies without believing in what I was sent with, but will be among the people of the Fire.) Muslim recorded this Hadith.

The Prophet said,

«بُعِثْتُ إِلَى الْأَحْمَرِ وَالْأَسْوَد»

(I was sent to the red and black. ) and,

«كَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّة»

(A Prophet used to be sent to his people, but I was sent to all mankind.)

So if they the disbelievers dispute with you O Muhammad (s) concerning religion say to them ‘I have surrendered my countenance to God that is to say I have submitted to Him I and whoever follows me’ wajh ‘countenance’ is chosen here because of its noble character for the other parts of the body will just as soon surrender once the countenance has; and say to those who have been given the Scripture the Jews and the Christians and to the uninstructed the Arab idolaters ‘Have you submitted?’ that is to say ‘Submit!’ And so if they have submitted they have been guided from error but if they turn their backs to Islam your duty is only to deliver the Message; and God sees His servants and so requites them for their deeds — this statement was revealed before the command to fight them had been revealed.

The Surah began with the confirmation of Divine Oneness and the refutation of Trinity. Answered here are argumentations in which the disbelievers and deniers among the people of the Book persist - even after the truth of Islam has been proved conclusively. The advice against such ongoing. and unnecessary disputations is that the acceptance or rejection of disputers should be of no use to a believer who simply has to declare that he and those with him have entered the fold of Islam being in no doubt about its truth. The Holy Prophet ﷺ was entrusted with the mission of calling the people of the Book, the Jews and Christians, and the disbelievers of Arabia to submit to Allah and embrace Islam which will be for their own good for they will be on the right path. In case they continue to maintain their hostile attitude, the Holy Prophet ﷺ has been comforted here by saying that his duty is only limited to conveying the message of Allah and His commandments. That the message does not seem to get across to them, as they elect to reject rather than accept, should really not be a matter of concern for him. This is something Allah will take care of in His own way for He is in full sight of what His servants are doing.