By Hafidh Saif Al-Rawahy

The essential mission of the Qur’an was to unite the Jews, Christians, and people of other faiths in a common bond once again after they had divided themselves into these exclusive religious groups, and then pave the way to a wider unity of mankind.

Belief in the One Almighty God, if entertained in sincerity, must, in the field of action, express itself in the unity of mankind. The Qur’an proclaims that mankind was at first one community believing in one God, the God of all mankind. Therefore, mankind must pursue a way of life (religion) that is one and the same for all in accordance with . “All people were originally one single community, but later they differed. If it had not been for a word (postponing) from your Lord, the judgment would already have been passed between them regarding their difference” [Qur’an 10:19]. “Mankind was a single community, then God sent prophets to bring good news and warning, and with them He sent the Scripture with the Truth, to judge between people in their disagreement. Yet it was only those (same people) to whom it was given who disagreed about it after clear signs had come to them, because of rivalry between them...” [Qur’an 2:213].

The Qur’an put forward a strong argument to be considered by the Jews and Christians, using the example of Abraham, who is revered by both. If the exclusiveness of each group was identical to the truth, the Qur’an asks, to what group or religion did this common ancestor (Abraham) belong? As in his time, neither Judaism nor Christianity prevailed, what religion did he follow, exactly? “People of the Book (Jews and Christians), why do you dispute about Abraham when the Torah and Gospel were not revealed until after him? Do you not understand?” [Qur’an 3:65]. “Who but a fool would forsake the religion of Abraham? We have chosen him in this world, and he will rank among the righteous in the hereafter." [Qur’an 2:130]. “Were you (Jews and Christians) there to see when death came upon Jacob? When he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after I am gone?’ They replied, ‘We shall worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, one single God; we devote ourselves to Him’” [Qur’an 2:133]. “They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians, and you will be rightly guided.’ Say, ‘No, (ours is) the religion of Abraham, the upright, who did not worship any god besides God’” [Qur’an 2:135].

The attempt here was to point out to the Jews, Christians, and the rest of humanity that all believers in the time of Abraham followed a religion that neither was Judaism, nor Christianity, nor any other group. Judaism and Christianity arose centuries after Abraham was gone, in the name of Moses and Jesus. The path of salvation, which Abraham followed, was not meant for any exclusive group, as claimed by other faiths, but for all mankind, that is, the path of devotion to one God and of righteous living. The Qur’an states that the message, which Abraham and every other prophet delivered, was that mankind was really one community and that there was only one God for all of them; on that account, they should worship Him together and live as members of one family. “This is your community, one community—and I am your Lord: be mindful of Me—but they have split their community into sects, each rejoicing in their own” [Qur’an 23:52, 53]. “Those who divide their religion into sects, with each party rejoicing in their own” [Qur’an 30:32].

The Qur’an repeatedly makes it clear that it does not favor any exclusive religious group. On the contrary, it asserts that it has come to put an end to every form of grouping, and bring all mankind to one path of life, the path of truth, which, by its very nature, has had to remain the same throughout the course of time, the path to which all prophets have been invited. “In matters of faith, He has laid down for you the same commandment that He gave Noah, which We have revealed to you [Muhammad] and which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Uphold the faith and do not divide into factions within it...” [Qur’an 42:13]. “But those of them who are well grounded in knowledge and have faith do believe in what has been revealed to you [Muhammad], and in what was revealed before you—those who perform the prayers, pay the prescribed alms, and believe in God and the Last Day—to them We shall give a great reward." [Qur’an 4:162]. “We have sent revelation to you [Muhammad] as We did to Noah and the prophets after him, to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon – to David We gave the book [Psalms]—to other messengers We have already mentioned to you, and also to some We have not. To Moses, God spoke directly. They were messengers bearing good news and warning, so that mankind would have no excuse before God, after receiving the messengers: God is almighty and all wise. But God Himself bears witness to what He has sent down to you—He sent it down with His full knowledge—and the angels too bear witness, though God is sufficient witness. Those who have disbelieved and barred others from God’s path have gone astray; God will not forgive those who have disbelieved...” [Qur’an 4:162-168].

As part of the plan to bring the followers of all religions together on a single platform, the Qur’an recognized the founders of all religions as divinely inspired and endorsed their teachings. “Say [Muhammad], ‘We [Muslims] believe in God and in what has been sent down to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes. We believe in what has been given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make a distinction between any of them. It is to Him that we devote ourselves. If anyone seeks a religion other than complete devotion to God [Islam], it will not be accepted by him; he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter’” [Qur’an 3:84–85]. The Qur’an also calls upon everyone who cares to follow the way laid down by God, and to accept without discrimination all the prophets and all the scriptures revealed to them as the basic truth, which they all contain, and to accept it wherever found and in whatever language expressed. The Qur’an disapproves of the tendency to regard one prophet as superior to another or to accept one prophet while rejecting another as the bearer of truth. In fact, the Qur’an considers that discrimination between prophets or denial of any of them is tantamount to disbelief. “As those who ignore God and His messengers and want to make a distinction between them, saying ‘We believe in some but not in others,’ seeking a middle way, they are really disbelievers...” [Qur’an 4:150-151].

The Qur’an insists that the divine truth is a universal gift from God to all mankind. It is not exclusive to any race, any people, or any religious group, and it is not exclusively delivered in any particular language. Men may create for themselves geographical and racial boundaries, but they cannot divide the divine truth. The truth bears no national stamp, and recognizes no racial or geographical loyalties or group affiliations. Like the sun created by God, it shines in every corner of the globe and shines equally well on everyone. It is noticeable everywhere and has found expression in every age. The truth of God, wherever found and in whatever form, is man’s treasure, and man is heir to it.