The Demand of Faith
Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله states in the Holy Qur’ān:
‘O you who believe! Enter into Islam fully. And do not follow in the footsteps of Shaitān. Verily, he is your open enemy.’
(Surah al-Baqarah: Verse 208)
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmāni Sahib حفظه اللہ has shared that, belief and Islam are two separate things. The first point is that the address is to the believers who have expressed their belief through the Kalimah Shahādah and we should thus ponder what is implied when we are asked to enter into Islam fully.
Hazrat Mufti Taqi Sahib حفظه الله has said that it is generally accepted that anyone who has believed has joined the fold of Islam; but Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله says; ‘O you who believe! Enter into Islam fully…’ – this means that belief and Islam are two different things; this explains the necessity to enter into Islam fully after believing.
What do we understand regarding the concept of Islam? What is the wisdom of asking the believers to enter into Islam? Islam means to submit completely before Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله, surrender oneself to His obedience and do exactly what He ordains. This is the message of Islam to its adherents. Islam is not merely to recite the Kalimah Shahādah but it demands that a believer submit and surrender oneself completely to the commands of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and the teachings of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. If a believer does not submit and surrender, he has not entered into Islam in the true sense of the word.
The Annihilation and Surrender of Sayyiduna Ibrahim عليه السلام
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmāni Sahib حفظه الله has said that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله has used the word Islam when referring to Sayyiduna Ibrahīm عليه السلام in Surah as-Sāffāt. It was the command of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله that Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام sacrifice his son Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام :this is an incident the Ummah commemorates every year during Eid ul-Adhā. We must understand that Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام was the son for whom Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام prayed excessively. When Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام grew up and was able to assist his father; the command was issued to Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام to sacrifice his son. Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmāni Sahib حفظه الله has said that according to our intellect, there was no sensible reason, logic or wisdom behind this command of sacrificing Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام. No father will ever do such a thing and this type of act defies justice.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE COMMAND OF ALLAH TA’ALA جل جلاله WAS RECEIVED BY SAYYIDUNA IBRĀHĪM عليه السلام, HE SAID TO HIS SON SAYYIDUNA ISMĀ’EEL عليه السلام;
‘O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am offering you in sacrifice; now consider what is your opinion…
(Surah as-Sāffāt: Verse 102)
Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام is asking his son as to what he should do? The question was posed not because Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام was not committed but rather, it was a massive test for his son and his opinion was therefore sought. We need to remember that Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام was indeed the son of Sayyiduna Khaleelullāh عليه السلام; it was the decision of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله that our Noble Master Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was to be from amongst the progeny of Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام. The response of the son was indeed amazing; he did not ask why he was being ‘punished’ or what crime he had committed or why he was being killed. Instead he gave a reply that gave testimony of his true surrender to Islam;
‘O my father! Do as you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one of the persevering.’
(Surah as-Sāffāt: Verse 102)
What we learn is that Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام did not ask Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله to inform him of the wisdom behind the command to sacrifice his son. Both of them saw that it was the command of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله; they therefore submitted wholeheartedly without question. Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmāni Sahib حفظه الله has said that the incident is described very eloquently in the Holy Qur’ān. The father and son proceeded to comply with the command of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله; the father had the knife in his hand and the son was lying down; and the knife was about to be moved on the throat terminating the life of the son. The Holy Qur’ān says;
‘So when they had both submitted (to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله), and he عليه السلام turned his son on his side (for sacrifice)…’
(Surah as-Sāffāt: Verse 103)
Sayyiduna Ismā’eel عليه السلام was made to lie on his face and not on his back so that Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عليه السلام might not observe his beloved son’s face and the signs of pain on it, thereby not applying the full pressure on the knife and failing to comply with the command of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله has used the word أسلما which means they totally submitted to His commands. This is true slavery to our Rabb; may Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله inspire us towards total submission in our lives. آمين