Verse 130 of Surah Al-Baqarah, within the framework of the Abrahamic verses, elucidates the rational creed of the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, and censures the folly of those who turn away from it. This verse, by emphasising the exalted status of Abraham, peace be upon him, as the Chief of the Prophets, highlights rationality, monotheism, and the importance of the concepts of Millah (religious community) and Ummah (nation/community) within the religious structure. The present text, adopting a scientific and systematic approach, analyses this verse and its associated concepts in the Holy Quran and contemporary global developments. The objective is to offer a comprehensive and profound exegesis that, through refined analogies and allusions, clarifies the theological, sociological, and lexical meanings for a specialised audience. This analysis, whilst preserving all details of the lecture and complementary assessments, reconstructs these concepts scientifically and academically in a coherent and engaging format.
وَمَنْ يَرْغَبُ عَنْ مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَنْ سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ ۚ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
"And who turns away from the religion of Abraham except one who foolishly misleads himself? And indeed We chose him in this world, and he is surely among the righteous in the Hereafter."
Verse 130 of Surah Al-Baqarah introduces the creed of Abraham, peace be upon him, as a rational religion, wherein turning away from it signifies folly and intellectual disarray. In this context, folly denotes irrational and unhealthy behaviour incompatible with the monotheistic and logical principles of the Abrahamic religion. This emphasis portrays religiosity as a reason-centred path aligned with human innate nature (fitrah), where any deviation is tantamount to a rupture from intellect and wisdom.
This viewpoint is consistent with another verse of the Holy Quran:
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا
"And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life." (Surah Ta-Ha: 124)
This verse describes the consequences of turning away from religion as a constricted and difficult life, aligning with the concept of folly in verse 130.
The rationality of the Abrahamic religion, like a steadfast pillar, provides the foundation for human guidance. This section demonstrated that verse 130, by emphasising the reason-based nature of the religion, condemns any deviation as a sign of folly.
The Holy Quran employs the terms Millah and Ummah with distinct meanings. Millah refers to a group whose identity is primarily defined by geography and region, and subsequently by belief and people. Conversely, Ummah emphasises religious faith and beliefs, with geography playing a secondary role. This distinction, like two branches of a single tree, clarifies the social and religious structures within the Quran.
Statistical examination shows the term Ummah appears approximately 64 times, and Millah about 15 times in the Holy Quran. This prevalence indicates the greater significance of Ummah as a faith-based concept. Millah is often used in specific contexts, such as the Millah of Abraham, peace be upon him, demonstrating its linkage to geography and belief.
For example, a verse that confirms this concept is:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ
"You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind." (Surah Aal Imran: 110)
This verse introduces Ummah as a faith-centred and superior community responsible for guiding others.
In the Holy Quran, Millah emphasises region and geography initially, then belief and people. Ummah, on the other hand, prioritises belief and regards geography as a secondary element. This structure indicates the profound connection of religion with social and geographical contexts, such that Millah is like the soil in which the seed of belief is planted, and Ummah is like a tree rooted in monotheistic beliefs.
The conceptual distinction between Millah and Ummah acts as two wings for soaring in the sky of Quranic knowledge. This section showed that Ummah, with its emphasis on belief, is distinct from Millah, which prioritises geography, providing a framework for understanding the social and religious structures in the Holy Quran.
Over the past two centuries, influenced by secularism, the meaning of Millah has shifted from a geo-religious concept to a purely geographical-demographic one. This transformation excludes belief from national identity and renders Millah a secular concept limited to geography and populace. This process is like the separation of soul from body, weakening the religious identity of nations.
In contrast, Ummah, by discarding geographical restrictions, has experienced positive growth and has become a global concept. Islamic, Jewish, or Christian Ummah, irrespective of region, is defined by belief. This growth is akin to the opening of the gates of heaven, transforming Ummah into a comprehensive and powerful concept.
This is affirmed in the following verse:
إِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً
"Indeed, this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me." (Surah Al-Anbiya: 92)
This verse introduces Ummah as a united and faith-centred society operating beyond geographical limitations.
The terms Millah and Ummah, like humans or trees, evolve and their meanings transform over time. Ummah, with the removal of geographical limitations, has positively developed, whereas Millah, with the removal of belief, has undergone negative development. These changes are like the branches of a tree growing in different directions: one toward the sky of belief and the other toward the soil of geography.
The semantic evolutions of Millah and Ummah represent two contrasting paths in human history. Ummah, freed from geographical constraints, has become a global force, while Millah, having lost belief, has been diminished to a weak and secular concept.
Understanding Quranic concepts such as Millah and Ummah requires sociological and psychological analyses to clarify their semantic developments in the contemporary world. The Holy Quran, like an immense ocean, contains knowledge that cannot be utilised without scientific tools.
