The goal behind the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an is to...

The goal behind the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an is to provide humanity with pure religion as a consequence of which the Verse closes thus: “So worship Allah by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake.” The word religion may ad hoc designate worshipping God Almighty, since it is preceded by: “So worship Allah” which is followed by: “by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake,” making a reference to the fact that the prerequisite of the verity of worship lies in sincerity of heart and its purity from polytheism and dissimulation.

Yet, taking into account the wide range of the meaning of the word: “religion” (din) and its lack of restrictions one may notice that it signifies a wider range of meaning embracing worship, other deeds, as well as beliefs. In other words, the word: “religion” encompasses the corporeal and spiritual dimensions of man.

In this vein, sincere servants of God Almighty are supposed to refine all the aspects of life from impurities, reject other entities besides God Almighty from their hearts, souls, words, and deeds, reflect upon Him, love for His sake, speak and act for Him, and take steps for His satisfaction – this is “religious sincere devotion.” Therefore, there would be no need to restrict the meaning of the Verse to the declaration of faith by uttering “ There is no god but Allah, ” nor is there any firm ground to delimit the meaning to “worship.” Surah al-Zumar - Verse 3 أَلا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَي إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِی مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ 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.

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