The blessed Surah l Imrn, one of the prominent chapters of the Holy Quran, serves as a gateway towards profound understanding of divine unity, knowledge, and faith. This Medinan revelation, with its profound and meaningful verses, functions as a guide to confront social and theological challenges. In this treatise, relying on the invaluable lectures, an attempt has been made to elucidate the teachings of this Surah in a clear, dignified language suitable for the domain of religious research. The objective is that the reader may approach the verses and concepts of this Surah with a novel perspective and benefit from the wisdom embedded therein.
Surah l Imrn, the third chapter of the lengthy Surahs of the Holy Quran, comprises two hundred verses and holds a special status among the Medinan Surahs. Positioned after Surah Al-Baqarah with two hundred eighty-six verses and Surah Al-Arf with two hundred six verses, it complements Surah Al-Baqarah qualitatively. The arrangement of its verses, according to narrations attributed to the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), differs from the Uthmanic arrangement. These differences in verse division are especially apparent in the Hijazi styles and other early Islamic recitations, reflecting diversity in the recitation and understanding of the verses during the early centuries of Islam.
Due to its Medinan nature, Surah l Imrn addresses emerging social issues and the challenges of its era, thus pioneering in presenting religious solutions for Islamic societies. The high quality of the themes of this Surah has made it one of the most important chapters of the Quran for the exposition of divine unity and social teachings. Just as the sun shines in the firmament of knowledge, this Surah, with its wise verses, illuminates the path for travellers on the way of faith.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الم اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ ۗ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Alif Lam Mim. Godthere is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. He has sent down upon you the Book with truth, confirming what was before it, and He revealed the Torah and the Gospel beforehand, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Criterion. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of God will have a severe punishment, and God is Mighty and Avenger.
These verses establish the centrality of divine unity as the foundational epistemology of the Surah. The emphasis on اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ resembles the Throne Verse (Ayat al-Kursi) in Surah Al-Baqarah; however, here it occupies the outset of the Surah, signifying the pivotal importance of tawd within its structure. The revelation of the Quran as a confirmer of prior scriptures underscores the continuity of divine guidance. These verses, like a pure spring, flow the knowledge of divine unity into the believers heart.
The main theme of Surah l Imrn is the exposition of divine unity, knowledge, and faith. The Surah addresses social and theological conflicts, especially with the Jews and Christians, emphasising steadfastness against adversities. Tawd in this Surah is presented not only as a theological principle but also as the basis for social and moral resilience. Just as a sturdy tree stands firm against storms, tawd makes the believer resistant to social hardships.
Because it is a Medinan Surah, it tackles newly emerging social issues and provides strategies to confront the challenges of the era. Its verses, like a beacon in darkness, illuminate the path of guidance for Islamic societies. Surah l Imrn, with its emphasis on tawd, acts as a door opening towards divine knowledge, guiding the believer towards perfection.
Surah l Imrn, due to the abundance of verses concerning wisdom, revelation, the unseen, truth, divine names and attributes, and the effects of faith, is recognised as the Surah of Wisdom in the Quran. It presents profound philosophical and mystical concepts, elucidating the meanings and epistemological foundations. Its verses serve as guidance for travellers and believers on the path of spiritual growth. This Surah, like an open book, offers divine wisdom to the reader and invites contemplation on the mysteries of existence.
Some interpretations concerning the divine names in this Surah, such as attributing ayy and Qayym to concepts like Bal and Baq, lack scientific and logical foundations. These interpretations, sometimes based on weak narrations, are indefensible from a scientific and logical standpoint. ayy refers to the intrinsic and eternal life of God, while Qayym denotes Gods sustaining and upholding of the cosmic order. Such incorrect interpretations lead to misguidance rather than elucidating Quranic knowledge. Just as stars in the night sky indicate the way, scientific interpretation must illuminate Quranic knowledge rather than obscuring it with superstition.
Certain interpretations of the disjointed letters such as Alif Lam Mim attribute them to unscientific meanings like God is the Glorious (Allah al-Majid), which lack substantiation. The disjointed letters are among the Qurans mysteries, and unsubstantiated interpretations lead to superstition instead of scientific explanation. Their analysis requires mathematical and scientific approaches, which have received little attention in religious sciences. These letters, like a hidden secret in the heart of the Holy Quran, demand deep and precise investigation.
