Understanding ‘Deen’

Ibn Jarir al-Tabari also adopted this interpretation. He writes: “( ”) وال يَدِينُونَ دِين احلق means “they do not obey Allah with true obedience.” This refers to the Jews and Christians, and anyone who obeys a king or someone in authority is considered to be following his rule. In Arabic, the expression “ ” دان فالن لفالن فهو يدين له دينا is used in this sense (Tafsir Ibn Jarir, Vol. 11, pp. 406). According to this explanation, the verse suggests that after refusing to believe in the final Prophet and abandoning the teachings of the divine religion, their means of salvation would be to accept the political authority of the true religion. However, they were unwilling even for this. As for the first matter (faith), they cannot be forced into it, but for the latter (political obedience), they must be compelled. Fighting will continue until they agree to accept the political authority of the Islamic state. After this, in the book, five verses are quoted in a particular sequence, and from them a structured conclusion is drawn. I reproduce the whole portion here: 1. Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. (3:19)