Surah Al Imran ayat 103 Tafsir Quran 3:103

﴿وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ﴾
[ آل عمران: 103]

3:103 And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, 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.

And hold fast to clutch God’s bond namely His religion together and do not scatter after submitting to Islam; remember God’s grace His bestowing of favours upon you O companies of the Aws and the Khazraj when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together through Islam so that by His grace you became brothers in religion and comradeship; and you were upon the brink the edge of a pit of fire such that to fall into it you only had to die disbelieving; but He delivered you from it through belief. So just as He has made clear for you what has been mentioned God makes clear to you His signs that you might be guided.

Hold firmly together and grasp the eternal and unchangeable sublime system of Allah! Lay hold of it with the mind and do not be discordant among yourselves. Call to mind Allah’s favour that you wear. You were enemies and He accorded your differences and you cherished different principles and practices and by His grace you are now in one accord. You were on the edge of the bottomless abyss of Hell and He saved you from eternal disaster. Thus, Allah expounds to you His revelations so that you may hopefully be guided to His path of righteousness

Meaning of `Taqwa of Allah Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud commented on the Ayah, اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ ( Have Taqwa of Allah as is His due, ) "That He is obeyed and not defied, remembered and not forgotten and appreciated and not unappreciated." This has an authentic chain of narration to `Abdullah bin Mas`ud.
Al-Hakim collected this Hadith in his Mustadrak, from Ibn Mas`ud, who related it to the Prophet .
Al-Hakim said, "It is authentic according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs Al-Bukhari and Muslim, and they did not record it." This is what he said, but it appears that it is only a statement of `Abdullah bin Mas`ud, and Allah knows best.
It was also reported that Anas said, "The servant will not have Taqwa of Allah as is His due until he keeps his tongue idle." Allah's statement, وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( and die not except as (true ) Muslims) 3:102, means, preserve your Islam while you are well and safe, so that you die as a Muslim.
The Most Generous Allah has made it His decision that whatever state one lives in, that is what he dies upon and is resurrected upon.
We seek refuge from dying on other than Islam. Imam Ahmad recorded that Mujahid said, "The people were circling around the Sacred House when Ibn `Abbas was sitting, holding a bent-handled walking stick.
Ibn `Abbas said, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( Have Taqwa of Allah as is His due, die not except as (true ) Muslims.) 3:102, then he said;
«وَلَوْ أَنَّ قَطْرَةً مِنَ الزَّقُّومِ قُطِرَتْ لَأَمَرَّتْ عَلى أَهْلِ الْأرْضِ عِيشَتَهُمْ، فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا الزَّقُّومُ؟»
( Verily, if a drop of Zaqqum (a tree in Hell ) falls, it will spoil life for the people of earth.
What about those whose food is only from Zaqqum)" This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih and Al-Hakim his Mustadrak.
At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih"' while Al-Hakim said; "It meets the conditions of the Two Sahihs and they did not record it." Imam Ahmad recorded that Jabir said that three nights before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died he heard him saying;
«لَا يَمُوتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُحْسِنُ الظَّنَّ بِاللهِ عَزَّ وَجَل»
( None of you should die except while having sincere trust in Allah, the Exalted and Most Honorable. ) Muslim also recorded it.
The Two Sahihs record that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«يَقُولُ اللهُ: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي»
( Allah said, "I am as My servant thinks of Me." ) The Necessity of Holding to the Path of Allah and the Community of the Believers Allah said next, وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ ( And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves. ) It was said that, بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ ( to the Rope of Allah ) refers to Allah's covenant, just as Allah said in the following Ayah, ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُواْ إِلاَّ بِحَبْلٍ مِّنْ اللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ النَّاسِ ( Indignity is put over them wherever they may be, except when under a covenant (of protection ) from Allah, and from men;) 3:112, in reference to pledges and peace treaties. Allah's statement وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ ( and be not divided among yourselves ), orders sticking to the community of the believers and forbids division.
There are several Hadiths that require adhering to the Jama`ah ( congregation of believers ) and prohibit division.
Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ يَرْضَى لَكُمْ ثَلَاثًا، وَيَسْخَطُ لَكُمْ ثَلَاثًا: يَرْضَى لَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوهُ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَأَنْ تَعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا،وَأَنْ تَنَاصَحُوا مَنْ وَلَّاهُ اللهُ أَمْرَكُمْ.
وَيَسْخَطُ لَكُمْ ثَلَاثًا: قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤَالِ، وَإِضَاعَةَ الْمَال»
( It pleases Allah for you to acquire three qualities and displeases Him that you acquire three characteristics.
It pleases Him that you worship Him Alone and not associate anything or anyone with Him in worship, that you hold on to the Rope of Allah altogether and do not divide, and that you advise whoever Allah appoints as your Leader.
The three that displease Him are that you say, `It was said,' and, `So-and-so said,' asking many unnecessary questions and wasting money. ) Allah said, وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُم أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً ( and remember Allah's favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became brethren ) 3:103. This was revealed about the Aws and Khazraj.
During the time of Jahiliyyah, the Aws and Khazraj were at war and had great hatred, enmity and ill feelings towards each other, causing long conflicts and battles to occur between them.
When Allah brought Islam, those among them who embraced it became brothers who loved each other by Allah's grace, having good ties for Allah's sake and helping each other in righteousness and piety.
Allah said, هُوَ الَّذِى أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَوَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعاً مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ( He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers.
And He has united their hearts.
If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them )8:62,63, until the end of the Ayah.
Before Islam, their disbelief had them standing at the edge of a pit of the Fire, but Allah saved them from it and delivered them to faith.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ reminded the Ansar from both Aws and Khazraj of this bounty when he was dividing the war booty of Hunayn.
During that time, some Ansar did not like the way the booty was divided, since they did not get what the others did, although that was what Allah directed His Prophet to do.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave them a speech, in which he said,
«يَا مَعْشَرَ الْأَنْصَارِ أَلَمْ أَجِدْكُمْ ضُلَّالًا فَهَدَاكُمُ اللهُ بِي، وَكُنْتُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ فَأَلَّفَكُمُ اللهُ بِي، وَعَالَةً فَأَغْنَاكُمُ اللهُ بِي؟»
( O Ansar! Did I not find you misguided and Allah directed you to guidance because of me Were you not divided beforehand and Allah united you around me Were you not poor and Allah enriched you because of me ) Whenever the Prophet asked them a question, they would answer, "Indeed, Allah and His Messenger have granted us bounty."

(3:103) Hold fast together to the cable of Allah *83 and be not divided. Remember the blessing that Allah bestowed upon you: you were once enemies then He brought your hearts together, so that through His blessing you became brothers. You stood on the brink of a pit of fire and He delivered you from it. *84 Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you that you may be guided to the right way. *85

And hold firmly to the rope of meaning

*83).
The expression 'cable of Allah', in this verse, refers to the 'religion of God'.
The reason for use of the word 'cable' ( habl ) is that it both establishes a bond between man and God and joins all believers together.
To take a firm hold on this cable means that the believers should attach profound importance to their religion: this should always be the centre of their concerns; they should continually strive to establish it; and the common desire to serve it should make them co-operate with each other.
As soon as Muslims turn their attentions away from the fundamental teachings of their religion and lose sight of establishing its hegemony in life they begin to concern themselves with matters of secondary importance.
And, just as they rent the communities of the former Prophets, enticing people away from their true objective in life, so schisms and dissensions are bound to plague their lives.
If Muslims do this they are bound to suffer indignity and disgrace both in this world and the Next as happened with the followers of the previous Prophets.

*84).
This refers to the state of the Arabs on the eve of the advent of Islam.
There were animosities among the tribes which regularly broke out into fighting; every now and then there was much bloodshed.
Things had reached a point that the entire Arabian nation seemed to be on the verge of destroying itself.
It was due to the blessings of Islam alone that it was saved from being consumed by the fire to which this verse alludes.
The people of Madina had embraced Islam some three or four years before these verses were revealed.
They had witnessed the blessing of Islam as it unified into one brotherhood the Aws and Khazraj, two tribes which had long been sworn enemies.
Moreover, both tribes treated the migrants from Makka in a spirit of sacrifice and love seldom seen even among members of the same family.

*85).
If they had eyes to see they could conclude for themselves whether their salvation lay in adhering firmly to this religion or in abandoning it and reverting to their former state; i.e.
decide whether their true well-wishers were God and His Messenger or those Jews, polytheists and hypocrites who strove to plunge them back into their former state.

 

Meaning of `Taqwa of Allah Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud commented on the Ayah, اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ ( Have Taqwa of Allah as is His due, ) "That He is obeyed and not defied, remembered and not forgotten and appreciated and not unappreciated." This has an authentic chain of narration to `Abdullah bin Mas`ud.
Al-Hakim collected this Hadith in his Mustadrak, from Ibn Mas`ud, who related it to the Prophet .
Al-Hakim said, "It is authentic according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs Al-Bukhari and Muslim, and they did not record it." This is what he said, but it appears that it is only a statement of `Abdullah bin Mas`ud, and Allah knows best.
It was also reported that Anas said, "The servant will not have Taqwa of Allah as is His due until he keeps his tongue idle." Allah's statement, وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( and die not except as (true ) Muslims) 3:102, means, preserve your Islam while you are well and safe, so that you die as a Muslim.
The Most Generous Allah has made it His decision that whatever state one lives in, that is what he dies upon and is resurrected upon.
We seek refuge from dying on other than Islam. Imam Ahmad recorded that Mujahid said, "The people were circling around the Sacred House when Ibn `Abbas was sitting, holding a bent-handled walking stick.
Ibn `Abbas said, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( Have Taqwa of Allah as is His due, die not except as (true ) Muslims.) 3:102, then he said; «وَلَوْ أَنَّ قَطْرَةً مِنَ الزَّقُّومِ قُطِرَتْ لَأَمَرَّتْ عَلى أَهْلِ الْأرْضِ عِيشَتَهُمْ، فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا الزَّقُّومُ؟» ( Verily, if a drop of Zaqqum (a tree in Hell ) falls, it will spoil life for the people of earth.
What about those whose food is only from Zaqqum)" This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih and Al-Hakim his Mustadrak.
At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih"' while Al-Hakim said; "It meets the conditions of the Two Sahihs and they did not record it." Imam Ahmad recorded that Jabir said that three nights before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died he heard him saying; «لَا يَمُوتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُحْسِنُ الظَّنَّ بِاللهِ عَزَّ وَجَل» ( None of you should die except while having sincere trust in Allah, the Exalted and Most Honorable. ) Muslim also recorded it.
The Two Sahihs record that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «يَقُولُ اللهُ: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي» ( Allah said, "I am as My servant thinks of Me." ) The Necessity of Holding to the Path of Allah and the Community of the Believers Allah said next, وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ ( And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves. ) It was said that, بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ ( to the Rope of Allah ) refers to Allah's covenant, just as Allah said in the following Ayah, ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُواْ إِلاَّ بِحَبْلٍ مِّنْ اللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ النَّاسِ ( Indignity is put over them wherever they may be, except when under a covenant (of protection ) from Allah, and from men;) 3:112, in reference to pledges and peace treaties. Allah's statement وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ ( and be not divided among yourselves ), orders sticking to the community of the believers and forbids division.
There are several Hadiths that require adhering to the Jama`ah ( congregation of believers ) and prohibit division.
Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ اللهَ يَرْضَى لَكُمْ ثَلَاثًا، وَيَسْخَطُ لَكُمْ ثَلَاثًا: يَرْضَى لَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوهُ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَأَنْ تَعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا،وَأَنْ تَنَاصَحُوا مَنْ وَلَّاهُ اللهُ أَمْرَكُمْ.
وَيَسْخَطُ لَكُمْ ثَلَاثًا: قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤَالِ، وَإِضَاعَةَ الْمَال» ( It pleases Allah for you to acquire three qualities and displeases Him that you acquire three characteristics.
It pleases Him that you worship Him Alone and not associate anything or anyone with Him in worship, that you hold on to the Rope of Allah altogether and do not divide, and that you advise whoever Allah appoints as your Leader.
The three that displease Him are that you say, `It was said,' and, `So-and-so said,' asking many unnecessary questions and wasting money. ) Allah said, وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُم أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً ( and remember Allah's favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became brethren ) 3:103. This was revealed about the Aws and Khazraj.
During the time of Jahiliyyah, the Aws and Khazraj were at war and had great hatred, enmity and ill feelings towards each other, causing long conflicts and battles to occur between them.
When Allah brought Islam, those among them who embraced it became brothers who loved each other by Allah's grace, having good ties for Allah's sake and helping each other in righteousness and piety.
Allah said, هُوَ الَّذِى أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَوَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعاً مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ( He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers.
And He has united their hearts.
If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them )8:62,63, until the end of the Ayah.
Before Islam, their disbelief had them standing at the edge of a pit of the Fire, but Allah saved them from it and delivered them to faith.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ reminded the Ansar from both Aws and Khazraj of this bounty when he was dividing the war booty of Hunayn.
During that time, some Ansar did not like the way the booty was divided, since they did not get what the others did, although that was what Allah directed His Prophet to do.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave them a speech, in which he said, «يَا مَعْشَرَ الْأَنْصَارِ أَلَمْ أَجِدْكُمْ ضُلَّالًا فَهَدَاكُمُ اللهُ بِي، وَكُنْتُمْ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ فَأَلَّفَكُمُ اللهُ بِي، وَعَالَةً فَأَغْنَاكُمُ اللهُ بِي؟» ( O Ansar! Did I not find you misguided and Allah directed you to guidance because of me Were you not divided beforehand and Allah united you around me Were you not poor and Allah enriched you because of me ) Whenever the Prophet asked them a question, they would answer, "Indeed, Allah and His Messenger have granted us bounty."

( And hold fast, all of you together, to the cable of Allah ) hold fast to the Religion of Allah and His Book, ( and do not separate ) in religion. ( And remember Allah’s favour unto you ) by giving you Islam: ( how ye were enemies ) before Islam ( and He made friendship between your hearts ) through Islam ( so that ye became as brothers by His grace ) by His religion, Islam; ( and (how ) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire) i.e. because of disbelief, ( and He did save you from it ) by means of faith. ( Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations ) His commands, prohibitions and favours ( unto you, that haply ye may be guided ) from error.

And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Quran), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.

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