Ramadan and the Quran (10): The Themes of Surah Aal-E-Imran (Part Two)

 

Surah Aal-E-Imran is one of the most profound chapters in the Quran that emphasizes the concept of Tawheed (the Oneness of God). The declaration of God’s unity is explicitly mentioned five times in this Surah, making it the most frequent assertion of Tawheed in a single chapter. These declarations include:

• ‏“Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence.” (Verse 2)
• ‏“There is no god but He, the Almighty, the Wise.” (Verse 6)
• ‏“Allah Himself bears witness that there is no god but He, as do the angels and those endowed with knowledge—upholding justice. There is no god but He, the Almighty, the Wise.” (Verse 18)
• ‏“There is no deity except Allah, and indeed, Allah is the Almighty, the Wise.” (Verse 62)

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It is remarkable that the phrase “There is no god but He” appears twice in a single verse (18), something unique to Surah Aal-E-Imran, further reinforcing the emphasis on monotheism.

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The Call to Worship God Alone

Beyond affirming God’s oneness, the Surah commands exclusive worship of Him, rejecting all forms of polytheism. A striking example of this is found in the following verse:

‏“Say, ‘O People of the Book! Let us come to a common word between us and you: that we will worship none but Allah, associate nothing with Him, and not take one another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’” (Verse 64)

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This verse stands out among Quranic verses calling to monotheism because it explicitly commands not only the worship of Allah but also forbids taking humans as deities, a direct refutation of the divinization of Jesus Christ.

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The Unique Emphasis on Islam in Surah Aal-E-Imran

Surah Aal-E-Imran also distinguishes itself by mentioning the word “Islam” and its derivatives more frequently than any other chapter in the Quran. Some examples include:

• ‏“Indeed, the only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam.” (Verse 19)
• ‏“If they argue with you, say, ‘I have submitted myself to Allah, and so have my followers.’ And ask those who were given the Scripture, as well as the unlettered, ‘Have you submitted?’ If they submit, they will be rightly guided.” (Verse 20)
• ‏“The disciples said, ‘We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims.’” (Verse 52)
• ‏“But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’” (Verse 64)

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Furthermore, the verb “Aslam” (submitted to God) appears three times in a single verse, a rare occurrence in the Quran, as seen in:

‏“If they argue with you, say, ‘I have submitted myself to Allah, and so have my followers.’ And ask those who were given the Scripture, as well as the unlettered, ‘Have you submitted?’ If they submit, they will be rightly guided. But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the message. And Allah is All-Seeing of His servants.” (Verse 20)

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Conclusion

Surah Aal-E-Imran magnificently underscores the supremacy of monotheism and the centrality of Islam. It reiterates the testimony of faith more than any other chapter, firmly establishing the concept of God’s absolute unity. Additionally, it addresses the People of the Book with reasoned dialogue, inviting them to embrace the truth of Islam and reject all forms of polytheism. These thematic elements make Surah Aal-E-Imran a cornerstone in understanding Islamic theology and the universal call to faith.

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Reference: This series draws insights from Thematic Interpretation of the Surahs of the Quran, compiled by a distinguished group of scholars under the supervision of Dr. Mustafa Muslim.