Surah al-`Ankabut (The Spider ) 29 : 46

Explanatory Note

The divine message preached by Noah and subsequent messengers until the last Prophet, Muhammad, (peace be upon them all), is one and the same message. It was given by one God for one purpose, which is to guide mankind, who have gone astray, back to their Lord and to re-educate them in accordance with the way of life He has laid down. Believers in any of these messages are brethren to the believers in all messages. They are all one community worshipping the One God. Mankind, throughout all generations, has been divided into two groups: the believers, who are God’s party, and the rejecters, who are Satan’s party. This division transcends time and place. Every generation of believers is merely one ring in a long chain stretching over many centuries.

This is the great, noble truth that forms the basis of Islam. It is laid down in this verse which puts human relations at a level much higher than that of blood, race, nationality, or commercial exchange. It gives these relations an additional dimension: that of a link with God based on a single faith that transcends race, colour, nationality, time and place. This leaves only the strongest tie, that of faith.

Thus, Muslims are instructed not to argue with the people of earlier revelations except in accordance with what is best: which means explaining the purpose behind the new message and outlining the links between it and all earlier divine messages. It also stresses the importance of accepting the final form of the divine message which is in full agreement with all previous messages, complementing them in accordance with God’s knowledge of what suits people and their needs. There is, however, one exception to be singled out “those of them who are intent on wrongdoing.” These have deviated from the basic belief in God’s oneness, associated partners with Him and violated the principles of His way of life. With these no argument is of use. Indeed, there is no need to maintain the same code with them. These are the ones Islam fought when it established its state in Madinah.

Some people fabricate falsehood against the Prophet claiming that he extended good treatment to the people of earlier revelations when he was in Makkah and facing hardship and opposition from the idolaters. Then when he established a state in Madinah he adopted a different policy, waging war against them, and going against everything he had earlier said about them when in Makkah. All such claims are false as is clearly apparent from this Makkan verse. Arguing with the people of earlier revelations in accordance with what is best is limited only to those of them who are not intent on wrongdoing and who have not deviated from the divine faith based on God’s absolute oneness.

“And say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us, as well as that which has been revealed to you, for our God and your God is one. It is to Him that we submit ourselves.” There is no need for conflict, argument or dispute, as they all believe in one God, and Muslims believe in what was revealed to the prophets before them. It is all essentially the same. Indeed, the divine way of life follows a smooth way of progress.