Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “If they argue with you, say: I have submitted my face to Allah”

Machine translationRead the Arabic original

The questioner:
Also, as a continuation of the verse, he says regarding His saying:

So if they argue with you, say, "I have submitted myself to Allah [in Islam], and [so have] those who follow me."

فَإِنْ حَاجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ

[Ali 'Imran 3:20]

.

The Shaykh:
“If they argue with you,” meaning the disbelievers, O Prophet, addressing Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). “If they argue with you” means if they debate you,

So if they argue with you, say,

فَإِنْ حَاجُّوكَ فَقُلْ

[Ali 'Imran 3:20]

.

The presenter:
Yes,

So if they argue with you, say, "I have submitted myself to Allah

فَإِنْ حَاجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّهِ

[Ali 'Imran 3:20]

The Shaykh:
it is for Allah.

The presenter:
and whoever follows.

The Shaykh:
That is,

I have submitted myself to Allah

أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّهِ

[Ali 'Imran 3:20]

that is, I submitted to Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He). The “face” here means the intention; that is, I have made my intention and purpose sincere for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). And whoever follows me likewise makes his creed and religion sincere for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the religion of the prophets is one: it is tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and sincerity to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Although their laws differed according to the needs of humanity, their creed is one. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

We, the prophets, are brothers with different mothers, but our religion is one.

نحن معاشر الأنبياء إخوة لعلات، ديننا واحد وأمهاتنا مختلفة،

Yes.

The presenter:
Yes, may Allah bless you.

Source قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، برنامج (فتاوى) (181) لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان بتاريخ [1440-05-18] - كبار العلماء — youtube.com (2:45)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

Flag this fatwa