Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | RELATIONS WITH OTHER RELIGIONSMessenger, is the one to which reference is made in the previous Qur’ānic statement:“Fight against those who — despite having been given Scriptures — do not truly believe inGod and the Last Day, and do not treat as forbidden that which God and His Messenger haveforbidden, and do not follow the religion of truth, till they [agree to] pay the submission taxwith a willing hand, after they have been humbled.” (Verse 29) It is also clear that thisorder to fight is targeted against those who do not believe in this religion.This is true however we may interpret this verse. Generally speaking, the religionof truth means submission to God alone as reflected in beliefs, worship rituals andlaws. This is the basic foundation of all divine faith which takes its final form in themessage of the Prophet Muĥammad (peace he upon him). Any individual and anycommunity who do not clearly submit totally to God alone in beliefs, worship andlaws may be described as ones who do not believe in the religion of truth. Therefore,they are included among those to whom the verse of fighting applies. However, wehave always to consider the nature of the Islamic method of action, and the differentstages the message of Islam may go through and the tools and means it may employ.“It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, so that Hemay cause it to prevail over all [other] religions, however hateful this may be to the idolaters.”(Verse 33) This statement confirms God’s first promise: “But God will not allowanything but to bring His light to perfection, however hateful this may be to the unbelievers.”(Verse 32) The confirmation, however, takes a much more specific form. The lightwhich God, who is limitless in His glory, has decided to bring to full perfection is thereligion of truth with which He has sent His last Messenger so that He may cause itto prevail over all other religions.As we have already explained, the religion of truth is submission to God in beliefs,worship and laws altogether. It is represented in every divine message given to anyformer prophet. Needless to say, it does not include any form of the distortedversions that the Jews and Christians of today profess, as these have been adulteratedwith pagan beliefs. Nor can be included under it any situation that raises the bannerof faith while at the same time assigning lordship to beings other than God, andassociating partners with God in the form of following laws and legislations enactedby those partners without reference to God’s law.God, limitless is He in His glory, says that He has sent His Messenger withguidance and the religion of truth in order to make it prevail over all other religions.We must take the term ‘religion’ in its broader sense which we have outlined in orderto appreciate the scope of God’s promise. Since ‘religion’ means ‘submission’, then itincludes every creed and system which requires people to submit to its edicts andfollow its rules. God also declares His ruling that the religion of truth will surelyprevail over all religion, in this broad sense of the word. This means that allsubmission will be to God alone, and the final triumph will be for the system which112