the only acceptable religion to Allah is Islam

[InvestigateTruth]

How do you interprete this verse?

"Verily the only acceptable religion to Allah is Islam." [Quran 3:19]

The point is to know what "the Author" of Quran meant.

Do you think that the Author of Quran, by Islam, He meant the Revelation that came to Muhammad, or He meant submission to God?


My position is that it should be interpreted this way:

"Verily the only acceptable religion to Allah is Submission to the God's commands."

and my reason is, in other verses, people who lived before Muhammad, were also called "Muslims", for example see Quran 7:126

and since, those who were called "Muslims" were not Muslims by name (as they even didn't speak Arabic), but by actions were submitters to God, then it follows that, by Islam, the Author of Quran meant "submission" and not just a name.

If you think, differently, please provide your point and support with verses of Quran, and Authentic Hadithes.

P.S. Please not that this thread is not to discuss whether Quran is from God or not, or if Islam is a good religion or not. It is only about interpretation, and what the Author of Quran meant regarding this verse.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

I guess everyone agreed with my interpretation, since no one really provided a different view.
"Verily the only acceptable religion to Allah is Submission to the God's commands."
Which means that anytime God renews the Religion through a New Messenger, the True Religion is submission to the commands of God. So, this is not limited to Revelation of Quran but also future Revelations as well. Now let's see if I get any feedback.

 

[F0uad]

I interpret it literally as it states since the words in the verse can have no broader meanings and Mohammed(saws) did name the religion Islam.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

I interpret it literally as it states since the words in the verse can have no broader meanings

So, why do you think, the broader meaning of Islam, is not "submission" to God?

The verses of Quran must be understood withing context. By that is meant the verse must be understood in its relation with other verses.
So, now let's look at previous verses:



"those who are patient in adversity, and true to their word, and truly devout, and who spend [in God's way], and pray for forgiveness from their innermost hearts.
GOD [Himself] proffers evidence - and [so do] the angels and all who are endowed with knowledge - that there is no deity save Him, the Upholder of Equity: there is no deity save Him, the Almighty, the Truly Wise.
Behold, the only [true] religion in the sight of God is [man's] self-surrender unto Him; and those who were vouchsafed revelation aforetime took, out of mutual jealousy, to divergent views [on this point] only after knowledge [thereof] had come unto them. But as for him who denies the truth of God's messages - behold, God is swift in reckoning!"

al-Imran 3:19

And the next verse makes it plain clear:


"Thus, [O Prophet,] if they argue with thee, say, "I have surrendered my whole being unto God, and [so have] all who follow me!" - and ask those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime, as well as all unlettered people, "Have you [too] surrendered yourselves unto Him?" And if they surrender themselves unto Him, they are on the right path; but if they turn away - behold, thy duty is no more than to deliver the message: for God sees all that is in [the hearts of] His creatures." al-Imran 3:20

and Mohammed(saws) did name the religion Islam.

How do you know that Muhammad did not mean "submission to God" by Islam?
Quran also called the followers of Jesus, Muslims. Were they called Muslim by name?

 

[Aquitaine]

I think the fact that this verse is only found in Islam's holy book is a bit of an indicator to it's validly.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

I think the fact that this verse is only found in Islam's holy book is a bit of an indicator to it's validly.

No, previous religions had said similar things:

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

 

[loverOfTruth]

No, previous religions had said similar things:

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

That statement is true for Jesus's(pbuh) companions/followers at that time - that can be true for any prophet and his followers - you don't know God without the Prophet. However, what the Qur'an says is : "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good)." (Al Qur'an 3:85) That 'never will it be accepted' is applicable from the time of revelation till the end of times.

 

[Aquitaine]

No, previous religions had said similar things:

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Indeed they have, which again just confirms to me their lack of validity. Every Religion seems to have a book which states that their specific teachings are the word of "God".

 

[F0uad]

So, why do you think, the broader meaning of Islam, is not "submission" to God?

The verses of Quran must be understood withing context. By that is meant the verse must be understood in its relation with other verses.
So, now let's look at previous verses:



"those who are patient in adversity, and true to their word, and truly devout, and who spend [in God's way], and pray for forgiveness from their innermost hearts.
GOD [Himself] proffers evidence - and [so do] the angels and all who are endowed with knowledge - that there is no deity save Him, the Upholder of Equity: there is no deity save Him, the Almighty, the Truly Wise.
Behold, the only [true] religion in the sight of God is [man's] self-surrender unto Him; and those who were vouchsafed revelation aforetime took, out of mutual jealousy, to divergent views [on this point] only after knowledge [thereof] had come unto them. But as for him who denies the truth of God's messages - behold, God is swift in reckoning!"

al-Imran 3:19

And the next verse makes it plain clear:


"Thus, [O Prophet,] if they argue with thee, say, "I have surrendered my whole being unto God, and [so have] all who follow me!" - and ask those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime, as well as all unlettered people, "Have you [too] surrendered yourselves unto Him?" And if they surrender themselves unto Him, they are on the right path; but if they turn away - behold, thy duty is no more than to deliver the message: for God sees all that is in [the hearts of] His creatures." al-Imran 3:20




How do you know that Muhammad did not mean "submission to God" by Islam?
Quran also called the followers of Jesus, Muslims. Were they called Muslim by name?

I am pretty sure i read it in context what you did is mix things along and not all verses can be read in context because revelation didn't float out like 1 big book. Sometimes one verse was revealed sometimes a whole chapter was revealed. There are more verses that gives the indication that only Islam is acceptable what doesn't necessarily mean that who ever was not a Muslim will go to hell what is off-course a different subject.

 

[Assad91]

You had me up until

Which means that anytime God renews the Religion through a New Messenger, the True Religion is submission to the commands of God. So, this is not limited to Revelation of Quran but also future Revelations as well. Now let's see if I get any feedback.

Thing is, there is no new messenger after Prophet Muhammad (saws). So a muslim is one who submits to monothiesm. If they submit to Allah, then Quran will be followed.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

You had me up until
Thing is, there is no new messenger after Prophet Muhammad (saws). So a muslim is one who submits to monothiesm. If they submit to Allah, then Quran will be followed.

The thing is that, in Baha'i view, this is based on a misunderstanding. Even using both Hadithes and Quran, that often Muslims refer to as proof of finality of Muhammad, which the Baha'is accept those Hadithes and the Quran verse about seal of prophets, can be shown why Muslims misunderstood this.
It basically about how you interpret the Hadithes and Quran.

 

[Me Myself]

I would assume submission to God, given the Qraalso says there are jews and christians who will be saved and only Allah knows who those are and it will be because of their works.

 

[islam abduallah]

It's clear like the sun in the sky, and verse 3:85 confirms that meaning "And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers"

according to Islam, only Islam is accepted otherwise not

 

[InvestigateTruth]

It's clear like the sun in the sky, and verse 3:85 confirms that meaning "And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers"

according to Islam, only Islam is accepted otherwise not

"For, if one goes in search of a religion other than self-surrender unto God, it will never be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the lost." 3:85 (Muhammad Asad Translation)
Most Translations of Quran agrees that, it is meant "submission or self-surrender to God", not the particular revelation to Muhammad.
al-Imran 3:85

 

[InvestigateTruth]

I am pretty sure i read it in context what you did is mix things along and not all verses can be read in context because revelation didn't float out like 1 big book. Sometimes one verse was revealed sometimes a whole chapter was revealed. There are more verses that gives the indication that only Islam is acceptable what doesn't necessarily mean that who ever was not a Muslim will go to hell what is off-course a different subject.

Well, even there might be verses that are revealed as a single verse, in this case it is clearly related to the verses before and after it.
And most Translations of Quran agree about that, it is meant "submission to God" and not the particular revelation to Muhammad:

Check it out:

al-Imran 3:19

 

[LuisDantas]

Indeed they have, which again just confirms to me their lack of validity. Every Religion seems to have a book which states that their specific teachings are the word of "God".

I don't understand. If many religions claim to be the true and exclusive path to God, and even if we assume that exactly one of those claims is true while the others are not (which is not a given in my opinion), surely that still leaves the matter of deciding which one would that true faith be, doesn't it?

 

[Aquitaine]

I don't understand. If many religions claim to be the true and exclusive path to God, and even if we assume that exactly one of those claims is true while the others are not (which is not a given in my opinion), surely that still leaves the matter of deciding which one would that true faith be, doesn't it?

I suppose I'm talking about it from an objective veiwpoint, of course if we look at it subjectively then yeah, different religions can be "true" or "false" depending on the individual. I just get irritated how (particularly Monotheist) constantly argue and fight over who's invisible man is better.

 

[LuisDantas]

I suppose I'm talking about it from an objective veiwpoint, of course if we look at it subjectively then yeah, different religions can be "true" or "false" depending on the individual. I just get irritated how (particularly Monotheist) constantly argue and fight over who's invisible man is better.

Oh. I don't completely agree, but I think I see your point.

Until now I thought you took the stance that Islam is true while other monotheisms are not. But that is not really your stance, I see now.

 

[islam abduallah]

"For, if one goes in search of a religion other than self-surrender unto God, it will never be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the lost." 3:85 (Muhammad Asad Translation)
Most Translations of Quran agrees that, it is meant "submission or self-surrender to God", not the particular revelation to Muhammad.
al-Imran 3:85

wrong translation, note that i'm an arab so i can confirm to you that the word in arabic is islam

 

[atanu]

I suppose I'm talking about it from an objective veiwpoint, of course if we look at it subjectively then yeah, different religions can be "true" or "false" depending on the individual. I just get irritated how (particularly Monotheist) constantly argue and fight over who's invisible man is better.

There is no doubt that my invisible concept is the greatest and truest since I am the greatest and truest.