63 Page Notes

03 Surah Ali-Imran (continued)

Page 63 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

3:101

3:102

3:103

3:104

3:105

3:106

3:107

3:108

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 63 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 63 of the Quran (Surah Ali 'Imran, Verses 101–108) holds some of the most foundational social and spiritual injunctions in Islam. It commands absolute consciousness of Allah (Taqwa), instructs Muslims to hold fast to the rope of Allah collectively, introduces the core societal duty of commanding good and forbidding evil, and warns of the terrifying fate of those whose faces will darken on the Day of Judgment due to splitting into factions.

The Prophetic Sunnah and Hadith literature highly emphasize the meanings, obligations, and context of these specific verses.

1. Context of Verses 101–102: True Consciousness of Allah (Taqwa)

"O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]." (Quran 3:102)

Related Hadith: Explaining "As He Should Be Feared"

The companions were deeply shaken by this verse, wondering how any human could fear Allah to the absolute degree He deserves. The Prophet ﷺ and his direct students clarified the operational meaning of this verse.

• Mustadrak al-Hakim (2/294) & Sunan Sa'id bin Mansur: Narrated by Abdullah bin Mas'ud regarding the phrase "fear Allah as He should be feared": The Prophet ﷺ explained it as, "That He is obeyed and not disobeyed; that He is remembered and not forgotten; and that He is thanked and not shown ingratitude." (Graded Sahih by Al-Hakim and agreed upon by Al-Dhahabi).

Related Hadith: The Sunnah of Reciting this Verse (Khutbat al-Hajah)

The Prophet ﷺ incorporated Verse 102 into the standard introduction of his most important speeches, setting a permanent Sunnah for Islamic discourse.

• Sunan an-Nasa'i (1404) & Sunan Abu Dawud (2118): Narrated by Abdullah bin Mas'ud: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us Khutbat al-Hajah (the speech of need) to be said at weddings and other occasions, which features three specific Quranic verses, prominently including: "O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims."

2. Context of Verse 103: Holding Fast to the Rope of Allah

"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together..." (Quran 3:103)

Related Hadith: What is the "Rope of Allah"?

The Sunnah explicitly defines the metaphorical "rope" (Habl) mentioned in this verse, identifying it as a literal lifeline left for humanity.

• Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2946): Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Book of Allah is the rope of Allah extended from the heaven to the earth." (Graded Hasan).

Related Hadith: Displeasure with Division

Just as verse 103 commands "do not become divided," the Prophet ﷺ outlined the structural things that cause Allah's pleasure or anger.

• Sahih Muslim (1715): Narrated by Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, Allah is pleased with three things for you and displeased with three things for you. He is pleased that you worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, that you hold fast to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided... and He is displeased with idle talk, excessive questioning, and the wasting of wealth."

3. Context of Verse 104: Commanding Good and Forbidding Evil

"And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful." (Quran 3:104)

Related Hadith: The Core Mechanism of Accountability

Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil (Al-Amr bil-Ma'ruf wan-Nahyu 'anil-Munkar) is established by Verse 104 as a communal safeguard. The Sunnah outlines how a Muslim must practically execute this duty based on their capability.

• Sahih Muslim (49): Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith."

4. Context of Verses 105–107: Whiteness and Darkness of Faces

"On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [it will be said], 'Did you disbelieve after your belief?'... But as for those whose faces turn white, they will be within the mercy of Allah..." (Quran 3:106–107)

Related Hadith: The Fountain (Al-Hawd) and the Rebellious Factions

The historical students of the companions (the Tabi'un), such as Said bin Jubayr, noted that the classical commentary on "faces turning black after believing" refers to innovators and those who shattered Muslim unity. The Prophet ﷺ vividly described seeing these people pushed away from his heavenly fountain on the Day of Judgment.

• Sahih al-Bukhari (6576) & Sahih Muslim (2297): Narrated by Sahl bin Sa'd: The Prophet ﷺ said, "I am your predecessor at the Fountain (Al-Hawd)... Mandated groups of people whom I know and who know me will look to come to me, but then a barrier will be placed between them and me." The Prophet ﷺ will say, "They are from me!" It will be said to him, "You do not know what changes and innovations they made in the religion after you left." The Prophet ﷺ will then say, "Far away, far away (destruction) to those who changed things after me."