The Noble Qur'an, a pure spring of guidance and knowledge, illuminates the path of felicity for humanity through its verses. Verse 103 of Surah Al-Imran, like a resplendent jewel, speaks of unity, empathy, and adherence to the Divine Rope, directing the Islamic society towards cohesion and salvation from the abyss of misguidance. This treatise, relying on profound and sociological analyses, elucidates this verse and the functions of religion in establishing social unity and spiritual guidance. Like a robust tree rooted in the soil of faith with branches extending towards the sky of unity, this exegesis endeavours to meticulously explore the semantic layers of the verse and clarify the connection between social affection and religious faith.
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا ۚ وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided; and remember the favour of Allah upon you when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favour, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.
Verse 103 of Surah Al-Imran, unlike preceding verses which concentrated on the individual dimension of faith and disbelief, steps toward social matters using collective language. This plural form, like a harmonious melody, calls the Islamic society to unity and cohesion. The emphasis on unity is introduced not merely as a religious necessity but as a foundation for social life. This verse acts as a bridge connecting the individual and society, urging the Islamic Ummah to avoid dispersion and fragmentation under the shelter of the Divine Rope.
The command وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ is an invitation to cling to the firm Divine Rope. The term "Rope of Allah" alludes to the Holy Qur'an, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), or the entirety of divine religion. This rope serves not only as the axis of unity but also as the source of guidance and salvation. The word Itisaam denotes profound dependence and attachment manifested in both belief and practice. This adherence acts like an anchor stabilising the ship of society amid the storms of discord and misguidance.
The emphasis on جَمِيعًا (all together), like a clear bell, underscores the necessity of universal participation in holding fast to the Divine Rope. This term guides the community toward comprehensive cohesion, indicating that adherence without the presence of all members of the Ummah would be incomplete. Unity resembles the warp and weft that connect the fabric of society and prevent its rupture under the winds of division.
The injunction وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا serves as a warning to the Islamic Ummah to abstain from dispersion and fragmentation in behaviour and action. Division is like a fire that consumes the harvest of unity and drives society towards disintegration. This prohibition primarily focuses on practical and social fragmentation rather than doctrinal differences. A society may share belief yet act in discordant manners, and such division hinders the achievement of adherence.
Adherence is defined in both the realm of belief (faith in the Divine Rope) and practice (holding fast in behaviour), whereas division pertains solely to scattered and uncoordinated actions. This distinction, like two branches of a single tree, illustrates two differentiated yet related aspects of social life. Adherence roots in both belief and action, but division arises from disharmony in practice.
The command وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ summons believers to recall divine blessings. This remembrance functions like a mirror reflecting the past filled with enmity and strife and highlighting the blessing of unity. By the advent of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and the revelation of the Qur'an, Allah created affection among scattered hearts and transformed previous animosities into brotherhood. This blessing resembles a pure stream that binds disparate hearts and produces a united society.
The phrase إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ refers to the pre-Islamic condition when Arab tribes were engulfed in conflict and hostility. Through the Qur'an and the Prophet (peace be upon him), Allah, like a skilful gardener, united scattered hearts and established lasting affection. This reconciliation not only led to social unity but laid the groundwork for religious brotherhood.
The expression فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا indicates a profound transformation from enmity to brotherhood. This brotherhood is akin to a flower blossoming in the garden of divine blessing, guiding the Islamic society towards cohesion and empathy. This blessing results from adherence to the Divine Rope and divine guidance which brought hearts closer and consolidated religious fraternity.
The phrase وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ depicts a horrifying image of the pre-Islamic state. The ignorant society, like a traveller in darkness, stood on the brink of an abyss of disbelief, polytheism, and misguidance. This abyss led not only to spiritual destruction but also to social and eschatological ruin.
The phrase فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا speaks of divine deliverance that saved society from falling into the pit of misguidance. This salvation is like a divine hand guiding humanity from the edge of the abyss to the safe shore. Deliverance means liberation from disbelief and polytheism and guidance towards faith and divine religion realised through the Qur'an and the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Reconciliation of hearts refers to the removal of enmity and the creation of social unity, while salvation encompasses rescue from misguidance and disbelief. Reconciliation is like the construction of a building stabilising the social structure, whereas salvation is like a light illuminating the heart and soul towards divine knowledge. Although complementary, each represents a distinct dimension of religion's function.