ESTABLISHING OR UPHOLDING DEEN?

from the context. Additionally, taking aqim ud deen as ‘to establish the deen in all its meanings’ would be unreasonable as with all the other meanings, ‘to establish the day of judgement’ would also be implied; whereas establishing the day of judgement is a matter solely in the domain of God, with man having absolutely nothing to do with it. Now, consider the context of this verse of the Quran and the implied meaning of the word deen as evident from the context. An obvious inference from this verse is that it is a commandment about the establishment of the very same deen that was revealed not only to the Prophet of Islam but also to the other prophets before him. The verse commands us to follow and practise this same singular and unique deen. Now, as far as the beliefs and fundamental principles taught by the different prophets are concerned, their deen was identical, but there were considerable differences in terms of the details of the laws (Shariah) and practical commandments that they taught. Hence, this Quranic verse can only indicate that portion of deen that was common to the teachings of all the prophets. It cannot include all the laws (Shariah) that were revealed to the Prophet of Islam. The Quran has clearly stated that the laws (Shariah) revealed to the various prophets were different from each other (5: 48). Thus, only those aspects of the deen revealed to the different prophets can be followed, which excludes their Shariah and methodology and in which there is no disparity. All the commentators and interpreters of the Quran have explained this verse as noted above without exception. There is no Quranic scholar who has interpreted this verse of aqim ud deen to mean ‘establish the Shariah together with all its religious laws’. Instead, all the commentators agree that it means to uphold—excluding their Shariah—all those fundamental and universal aspects of deen that is common to all the prophets. As an example, here is presented an extract from the Arabic commentary Al-Jami li Ahkam al-Quran by Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Qurtubi (died 1273 CE): It [aqim ud deen] means the oneness of God and obedience to Him, and faith in His prophets, His books and the Last Day, and all those things on the basis of which one becomes a Muslim. Here is not meant the Shariahs that are given in accordance Religion will not be corrupted if the right commandment is taken from the Quranic verses relevant to it.