Insights
The term “holding on the rope of Allah,” is found in the noble Quran in the context as shown below:
“And hold fast, all of you together to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’an) 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 Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided” (Quran 3:103).
It is also found in the Sunnah in the following context:
In a narration Ibn Masood (RA) reported that the prophet of Allah (SAW) stated “The Qur’an is the strong rope of Allah and it is the wise remembrance and it is what the tongue cannot deviate from and no matter how much it is repeated cannot be worn out and scholars do not get enough”
As stated in the Sunnah, the Qur’an is the rope of Allah by which we Muslims must abide to and make part of us. In addition, without the Sunnah we would not be able to understand and the Quranic text would be perceived on self interest basis. Sunnah is significant to the extent of procedures and interpretations. The ayah goes further to state that we should hold onto the rope together. This points out to the fact that we must strive together hand in hand as Muslims who have been bestowed upon brotherhood by Allah (SWT).
Our brotherhood and sisterhood is fundamental in implementing this ayah we must stick to the teachings in unison, remind one another, and most importantly we must remember that this very brotherhood is a favour of Allah, thus we must embrace this blessing whole heartedly.
As stated in the history of Islam, when the prophet (P.B.U.H) was initially in Makkah during the first 13 years of Prophet-hood, he did not teach on how to pay zakat. He (SAW), taught the message of Aqeedah (la ilaha illAllah: no deity is worthy of worship save Allah) and consequently made firm the bond of brotherhood among the initial sahabas. Later on when he moved to Madina, there were a lot of disputes among the ansar. Conflict existed between the Aws and Hazraj and in a bid to solve the quarrels the sharia slowly took root. Muhammad (SAW) for every emigrant (Mujahireen ), made a bond of brotherhood with a member of the Ansar. This bond meant that if any of the brothers died he would be inherited by the other. SubhanAllah these people learnt the Quran together, lived together and implemented it together without discrimination despite their differences. Even when they argued they would remain brothers and never fought based on their disparity.
Yunus as-Sadafi (R.A) said, “I debated with Imam Shafee’ once and we differed and the following morning he came and he greeted me, he took my hand and he said ‘Yunus isn’t it possible that we differed and debate but we are still brothers in Islam?” Despite everything the wisdom of Imam Shafee led him to humility and he put the brotherhood first. May Allah make us among those who value our brotherhood.
Abdullah ibn Masood said: Unity is beneficial whilst disputing is evil
It is essential to note that it is with great importance to sow the seeds of the deen at an individual level. As much as we hold on to the rope together we must strive at a personal level to learn and practice the teaching of the Quran and the way to do this is stated in the Quran where Allah says:
“O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.” (Quran 3:102).
The two must go hand in hand in unity. Brotherhood and personal effort should be instilled in strive to perfect ourselves on the values of Islam.
Ibn Masood said, “It is that HE should be obeyed and not disobeyed, that He should be obeyed and not disobeyed, that he should be thanked we should not be ungrateful.” Following this advice fear Allah, we are guided by none but him and we should turn to none but him in times of both need and happiness.
Lets strive to hold on to the rope of Allah in unison. Ibn Abbas stated “Holding on to the rope of Allah is holding on to the deen of Allah"
photo credit: Breno Peck [cc] (featured image) Ubermensch Doppelganger via photopin [ cc]
“And hold fast, all of you together to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’an) 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 Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided” (Quran 3:103).
It is also found in the Sunnah in the following context:
In a narration Ibn Masood (RA) reported that the prophet of Allah (SAW) stated “The Qur’an is the strong rope of Allah and it is the wise remembrance and it is what the tongue cannot deviate from and no matter how much it is repeated cannot be worn out and scholars do not get enough”
As stated in the Sunnah, the Qur’an is the rope of Allah by which we Muslims must abide to and make part of us. In addition, without the Sunnah we would not be able to understand and the Quranic text would be perceived on self interest basis. Sunnah is significant to the extent of procedures and interpretations. The ayah goes further to state that we should hold onto the rope together. This points out to the fact that we must strive together hand in hand as Muslims who have been bestowed upon brotherhood by Allah (SWT).
Our brotherhood and sisterhood is fundamental in implementing this ayah we must stick to the teachings in unison, remind one another, and most importantly we must remember that this very brotherhood is a favour of Allah, thus we must embrace this blessing whole heartedly.
As stated in the history of Islam, when the prophet (P.B.U.H) was initially in Makkah during the first 13 years of Prophet-hood, he did not teach on how to pay zakat. He (SAW), taught the message of Aqeedah (la ilaha illAllah: no deity is worthy of worship save Allah) and consequently made firm the bond of brotherhood among the initial sahabas. Later on when he moved to Madina, there were a lot of disputes among the ansar. Conflict existed between the Aws and Hazraj and in a bid to solve the quarrels the sharia slowly took root. Muhammad (SAW) for every emigrant (Mujahireen ), made a bond of brotherhood with a member of the Ansar. This bond meant that if any of the brothers died he would be inherited by the other. SubhanAllah these people learnt the Quran together, lived together and implemented it together without discrimination despite their differences. Even when they argued they would remain brothers and never fought based on their disparity.
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| An exhibit from an art expo students in Kisumu took part in. Made of rice grains and sand. |
Yunus as-Sadafi (R.A) said, “I debated with Imam Shafee’ once and we differed and the following morning he came and he greeted me, he took my hand and he said ‘Yunus isn’t it possible that we differed and debate but we are still brothers in Islam?” Despite everything the wisdom of Imam Shafee led him to humility and he put the brotherhood first. May Allah make us among those who value our brotherhood.
Abdullah ibn Masood said: Unity is beneficial whilst disputing is evil
It is essential to note that it is with great importance to sow the seeds of the deen at an individual level. As much as we hold on to the rope together we must strive at a personal level to learn and practice the teaching of the Quran and the way to do this is stated in the Quran where Allah says:
“O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.” (Quran 3:102).
The two must go hand in hand in unity. Brotherhood and personal effort should be instilled in strive to perfect ourselves on the values of Islam.
Ibn Masood said, “It is that HE should be obeyed and not disobeyed, that He should be obeyed and not disobeyed, that he should be thanked we should not be ungrateful.” Following this advice fear Allah, we are guided by none but him and we should turn to none but him in times of both need and happiness.
Lets strive to hold on to the rope of Allah in unison. Ibn Abbas stated “Holding on to the rope of Allah is holding on to the deen of Allah"
photo credit: Breno Peck [cc] (featured image) Ubermensch Doppelganger via photopin [ cc]
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