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﴿13﴾ شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّی بِهِ نُوحاً وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ
وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَی وَعِيسَی أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَی الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يُنِيبُ

13. He has ordained [from amongst religious laws] for you the same religion which He ordained for Noah and that which We have revealed to you [O Muhammad (SAW)] and that which We ordained for Abraham (AS), Moses (AS), and Jesus (AS) saying you should establish religion and make no divisions in it. Intolerable for the polytheists is that to which you [O Muhammad (SAW)] call them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides unto Himself who turns to Him in repentance and in obedience.

Exegesis:

The names of the five Arch-Prophets, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus (AS) and the Noble Prophet of Islam (SAW), are attested in the blessed Verse in question. Prophetic Calls rest on the same basis, since all these eminent Prophets called people unto monotheism, Resurrection, fearing God Almighty, justice, establishing prayers, fasting, doing good to one’s parents, and taking care of the needy. The Arabic verbal form shara'a is a cognate of sharī'a designating a tributary leading to larger rivers, e.g. Sharī'a 'Alqama leading to Euphrates. The word connotes religious laws since they lead

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to perfection attributes and states.

The blessed Verse in question is saying that there is one true religion since the religious laws of the Noble Prophet of Islam (SAW) are consistent with those of former Arch-Prophets. The Verse addresses the followers of their religions that if they convert to the Islamic faith they merely follow all true Prophets. The Noble Prophet of Islam (SAW) received Divine Revelation as it had been already revealed to Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Noah (AS). They were recommended to establish the religion of Truth and make no division in it. The blessed Verse refers to the fact that the religion and laws of all Prophets were on a par and they unanimously believed in Divine Unity, monotheism, steadfastness in beliefs, and abstention from division due to individual tastes and inclinations. It is worthy of note that polytheists and disbelievers do not follow any religion, since all Prophets called people to worship the One God, but they associated idols and other objects of worship with God Almighty imagining that they could intercede on their behalf. Thus, they disfavored Prophets’ unanimous call to monotheism.

The blessed Verse addresses the Noble Prophet of Islam (SAW) saying: “O Muhammad! God Almighty to Whom you call them to worship chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides unto Himself who turns to Him in repentance and in obedience.” Divine Guidance is granted to one who turns away from people and turn to Truth wholeheartedly and indubitably God Almighty paves the Path for such person. Thus, it becomes evident that it is incumbent upon God’s servant to turn to Truth voluntarily and God Almighty will guide him to the Straight Path.