Author: Sheikh-ul-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (رحمه الله)
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmed Nadwi (حفظه الله)
Allah further states:
"And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself? And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, 'Submit [i.e., be Muslim],' he said, 'I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.' And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same], and [so did] Jacob, [saying], 'O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims.' "
[Surah Al-Baqarah (2:130-132)]
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmed Nadwi (حفظه الله)
The Practice of Jahiliyyah: Denying Affirmed Aspects of Religion
One of the actions of the people of ignorance (Ahl al-Jahiliyyah) was their denial of certain matters they acknowledged as being part of their religion. An example of this is their attitude toward the pilgrimage (Hajj) to the House of Allah (Baytullah). Although they recognized it as part of their religion, they denied it and disassociated themselves from it. Allah highlights this contradiction in His words:Evidence from the Quran
- Establishing the Kaaba as a Place of Gathering and Security
Allah says:
"And [mention] when We made the House [i.e., the Kaaba] a place of return for the people and a place of security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer."
[Surah Al-Baqarah (2:125)]
Allah further states:
"And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself? And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, 'Submit [i.e., be Muslim],' he said, 'I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.' And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same], and [so did] Jacob, [saying], 'O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims.' "
[Surah Al-Baqarah (2:130-132)]
Context of Revelation (Asbab Al-Nuzul)
This verse is linked to an incident involving Abdullah bin Salam (رضي الله عنه) and his two nephews, Salamah and Muhajir. Abdullah bin Salam invited them to accept Islam, reminding them of the prophecy in the Torah that a prophet would emerge from the progeny of Ismail (عليه السلام), named Ahmed. He explained that those who believe in him would find guidance, while those who reject him would be cursed. Salamah embraced Islam, but Muhajir rejected it. In response, Allah revealed this verse, affirming the truth of Islam and warning against deviation from the religion of Ibrahim (عليه السلام).Key Lessons
- Hypocrisy in Denial:
The people of ignorance recognized certain truths of their religion yet denied them out of pride or self-interest, showing their inconsistency and hypocrisy. - Importance of Submission:
The example of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and his unwavering submission to Allah’s command serves as a model for all believers to uphold the true religion without deviation. - Adherence to Divine Guidance:
Islam emphasizes following the teachings of the prophets and the guidance of Allah, as deviation leads to loss and misguidance. - Prophecy Fulfilled in Islam:
The Quranic verses affirm the connection between previous scriptures and the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), calling for belief in his message as a continuation of Abrahamic monotheism.