Az-Zumar (The Groups)

3. Know that the pure religion is for Allah and those who take gods besides Allah [said justifyingly] “We solely worship them that they may bring us near to Allah.” Indeed Allah will judge between them regarding that wherein they differ. Allah never guides one who is a disbelieving liar.

The value of religion lies in its purity lest it is metamorphosed by vain desires and superstitious beliefs

(“the pure religion is for Allah”).

The opening clause of the blessed Verse may be interpreted in two ways.

Firstly, God Almighty solely accepts the pure religion, total submission to Divine Decree, whereas any polytheism, dissimulation, and confusion of Divine Laws to those besides them are unacceptable.

Secondly, pure religion is solely bestowed upon man by God Almighty, since human thought is imperfect and erroneous.

Taking the exegesis of the preceding Verse into account, it sounds more appropriate to acknowledge the former interpretation since the subject of purity or sincere devotion is

“God’s servants,”

as a consequence of which they are supposed to act accordingly.

Another argument substantiating the same is a Prophetic tradition according to which a certain man came unto him saying:

“O Messenger of God (S)! We give out possessions to others in order to gain reputation. Will we be rewarded thereby?”

The Noble Prophet (S) replied:

“No!”

The man inquired once more that at times they give their possessions for both acting upon Divine Decree and gaining reputation and he wondered whether there would be any reward for the same.

The Prophet (S) replied:

“God does not accept anything unless it is solely done for Him.”

Then, he recited the blessed Verse:

“Know that the pure religion is for Allah.”1

It is worthy of note that the third Verse substantiates the preceding One.

The former says:

“Worship God out of sincere devotion and sincerity of heart.”

The latter says:

“God Almighty solely accepts righteous deeds.”

Great emphasis is laid upon

“sincere devotion” (ikhlas)

in Qur’anic Verses and Islamic traditions. The opening word of the Verse, ala is usually employed to attract attention which also bears testimony to the significance of the subject in question.

The blessed Verse also makes a reference to the falsity of the polytheists’ baseless arguments since they turned away from the path of sincere devotion and went astray in error saying that those who acknowledge gods besides Allah as their objects of devotions justifying that they worship them to render them closer to God, God will judge between them regarding that wherein they differ on the Day of Resurrection.

The falsity and corruption of their thoughts and deeds will be knows to everyone on that Day:

(“Allah and those who take gods besides Allah [said justifyingly] ‘We solely worship them that they may bring us near to Allah.’ Indeed Allah will judge between them regarding that wherein they differ. Truly Allah guides not one who is a disbelieving liar.”

The blessed Verse serves as a serious warning to polytheists that the Day of Resurrection will be the Day on which differences shall be removed and the truth shall be clear. On such a Day, God Almighty will judge between them so that they will be recompensed for their deeds; furthermore, they will be disgraced before everyone on the Day of Resurrection.

Human immediate contact with God Almighty is accorded particular emphasis in the Qur’an- he may speak unto Him, offer Him his devotions, supplications, ask Him for forgiveness, and the acceptance of his repentance.

They are all within His Will and Omnipotence. Chapter 24 bears testimony to this fact since God’s servants recite it in all their daily prayers thereby they establish immediate contact with their Creator and invoke Him to answer their prayers.

The manner of repentance and asking God for forgiveness and answering prayers as mentioned in the devotions transmitted through many a tradition demonstrate that no intermediary is acknowledged in the Islamic faith and the same indicates the Truth of Divine Unity.

The question of intercession with God’s saints or favorites is also based on the Creator’s Permission which once more lays emphasis on the dogmatic principle of Divine Unity.

The attachment is supposed to be established since He is closer to us than ourselves, as it is thus said in the Holy Qur’an:

“We closer to him than his jugular vein” (50:16); “Know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart” (8:24).

Yet, He is neither far from us, nor are we far from Him; thus there is no need for intercession. He is closer to us than any other one; He is Ubiquitous and our hearts entertain Him.

Therefore worshipping intercessors, be them angels, jinn, and the like, or worshipping stone and wooden idols is baseless and false; furthermore, such worship is considered ingratitude for Divine Blessings, since the One Who bestows Bounties, rather than inanimate objects or needy creatures deserves worship.

Thus, the blessed Verse in question closes with:

“Allah never guides one who is a disbelieving liar.”

He neither guides disbelievers to the Straight Path in this world nor will He admit them to Paradise in the Hereafter, since they have turned away from Divine Guidance. God Almighty solely guides those who deserve and are willing to embrace it rather than those who have suppressed their faculty to accept the same.