The Meaning of Holding Fast to the Rope of Allah the Exalted
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
May Allah reward you. This is another questioner from Jeddah, Abu Sa'id, who asks regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ali 'Imran 3:103] What is the holding fast that is commanded? And what is the division that is prohibited?
Answer:
Holding fast to the rope of Allah is clinging to the rope of Allah, which is the religion. The rope of Allah is Islam and faith. It is obligatory to cling to both and not to divide in the religion, such that one person has one religion and another has a different religion.
It is obligatory to unite and cling to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, holding fast to the rope of Allah all together. It must not be the case that each person has a religion that he interprets specifically for himself, differing from the others. It is obligatory to unite upon the word of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and to act upon Islam and faith, outwardly and inwardly. This is the intended meaning:[Al-An'am 6:153], [Ali 'Imran 3:103] Hold fast to the rope of Allah, meaning cling to the religion of Allah, the Book of Allah, and the Sunnah of His Messenger. Cling to them all together, all Muslims in the east and west of the earth, uniting upon this pure religion for Allah Mighty and Majestic, and following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and do not divide.
And just as the previous nations became divided, do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. Those will have a severe punishment. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
May Allah reward you. This is another questioner from Jeddah, Abu Sa'id, who asks regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواAnswer:
Holding fast to the rope of Allah is clinging to the rope of Allah, which is the religion. The rope of Allah is Islam and faith. It is obligatory to cling to both and not to divide in the religion, such that one person has one religion and another has a different religion.
It is obligatory to unite and cling to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, holding fast to the rope of Allah all together. It must not be the case that each person has a religion that he interprets specifically for himself, differing from the others. It is obligatory to unite upon the word of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and to act upon Islam and faith, outwardly and inwardly. This is the intended meaning:
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way
وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِAnd hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواAnd just as the previous nations became divided, do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. Those will have a severe punishment. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، [3973] معنى الاعتصام بحبل الله تعالى - صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.