Correspondence with Maulana Abul Lais Islahi Nadwi

to all of them and another in which they differed— then, based on the context, the command to establish here only refers to the first part, while the second part (as far as this verse is concerned) will be considered excluded from it. This is why, based on this reasoning, commentators have unanimously stated this. For a detailed discussion of the commentators, see the chapter in Interpretation of the Islamic Mission. The truth is that merely taking the two words ‘Aqimu adDeen’(establish the religion) and claiming they contain no restriction is like saying that any such qualification must reside within the words themselves. If we accept this reasoning, then almost anything could be ‘proven’ using the Quran. For example: La taqrabu al-salah (4:43)—“Do not go near prayer.” Laysat al-tawbah (4:18)—“There is no repentance.” Ma min ilahin (3:62)—“There is no deity.” One could find hundreds of such phrases that express a truth without any explicit qualification or exception. It is unfortunate that, in defending a mistaken idea, Maulana Sadruddin Islahi sahib has found himself in a position he would never consciously choose to take. Another similar argument the author presents is