Overview (Verse 136)

A Call to Believers to Believe
 
“Believers! Do believe in God and His Messenger, and in the Book which He has bestowed from on high upon His Messenger, and in the Book which He sent down in earlier times. Anyone who denies God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray.” (Verse 136) This is the second address made in this passage to the believers, outlining their roles and duties, and in their capacity which distinguishes them from all those around them. It also provides a link for them with the source from which they derive strength and receive help in fulfilling their tasks.
 
“Believers! Do believe in God and His Messenger, and in the Book which He has bestowed from on high upon His Messenger, and in the Book which He sent down in earlier times.” (Verse 136) This is an outline of the details in which the believers must believe. Thus, it formulates the basic Islamic concept of faith. It requires first a belief in God and His Messenger. It provides a bond between the believers and their Lord who created them and sent them someone to guide them to Him. This being the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him). It also includes belief in his message and accepting all that he conveys to us as part of the Divine message.
 
This concept of faith also requires belief in the Book God has bestowed on his Messenger. This clearly shows the Muslims the system of life God has chosen for them, all the details of which are contained in this book. It also requires its full implementation, since it comes from the same source and follows the same lines. It is not possible to classify some of it as more deserving of acceptance or implementation. It is all one.
 
Similarly, there is a requirement to believe in the Book that was revealed earlier, since all revelations come from the same source, who is God Himself. They also have the same basis, namely, submission to God only, attributing Godhead and all its attributes to Him alone, acknowledging His system as the only one to be obeyed and implemented in human life. This unanimity of all books is the natural result of the fact that all these books were, in their original, undistorted form, revealed by God. The Divine approach and method are the same. What He wants for mankind has always been the same. All other systems lead to error while the Divine system will always lead to God’s pleasure.
 
Belief in the whole “Book”, in the sense that all Divine revelations are in essence one Book, is a special characteristic applicable only to the Muslim nation. The concept Islam outlines of God as the only Lord, His one system, approach and method are the only ones that fit with the truth of Godhead. They are also consistent with the fact that all humanity is the same, the fact that truth is one and that whatever is at variance with truth is deviant and erroneous.
 
Having made clear the command to believe, the Qur’ānic verse warns those who do not believe in all the components of faith. It outlines these again to make them clear before mentioning any punishment for disbelief. “Anyone who denies God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray.” (Verse 136) The first order in this verse mentions the need to believe in God, His books and messengers, but does not mention belief in the angels. It is well known that God’s books mention the angels and the Day of Judgement. Hence, when a person believes in these books, he or she is bound to believe in the angels and in the Day of Judgement. But the second order mentions this explicitly because it is an order spelling out punishment for failure to comply. Hence, a clear statement of all components is perfectly in order.
 
The expression of going far astray very often indicates a situation where a person is so grossly in error that there is little or no hope that he will ever be guided again. To believe in God is something deeply inherent in human nature. It moves us naturally to achieve it. Hence, a person who disbelieves in God, and in consequence disbelieves in His angels, books, messengers and in the Day of Judgement, is one whose nature has been so corrupted that all hope of a return to Divine guidance is practically lost.

Overview (Verse 136)

A Call to Believers to Believe
 
“Believers! Do believe in God and His Messenger, and in the Book which He has bestowed from on high upon His Messenger, and in the Book which He sent down in earlier times. Anyone who denies God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray.” (Verse 136) This is the second address made in this passage to the believers, outlining their roles and duties, and in their capacity which distinguishes them from all those around them. It also provides a link for them with the source from which they derive strength and receive help in fulfilling their tasks.
 
“Believers! Do believe in God and His Messenger, and in the Book which He has bestowed from on high upon His Messenger, and in the Book which He sent down in earlier times.” (Verse 136) This is an outline of the details in which the believers must believe. Thus, it formulates the basic Islamic concept of faith. It requires first a belief in God and His Messenger. It provides a bond between the believers and their Lord who created them and sent them someone to guide them to Him. This being the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him). It also includes belief in his message and accepting all that he conveys to us as part of the Divine message.
 
This concept of faith also requires belief in the Book God has bestowed on his Messenger. This clearly shows the Muslims the system of life God has chosen for them, all the details of which are contained in this book. It also requires its full implementation, since it comes from the same source and follows the same lines. It is not possible to classify some of it as more deserving of acceptance or implementation. It is all one.
 
Similarly, there is a requirement to believe in the Book that was revealed earlier, since all revelations come from the same source, who is God Himself. They also have the same basis, namely, submission to God only, attributing Godhead and all its attributes to Him alone, acknowledging His system as the only one to be obeyed and implemented in human life. This unanimity of all books is the natural result of the fact that all these books were, in their original, undistorted form, revealed by God. The Divine approach and method are the same. What He wants for mankind has always been the same. All other systems lead to error while the Divine system will always lead to God’s pleasure.
 
Belief in the whole “Book”, in the sense that all Divine revelations are in essence one Book, is a special characteristic applicable only to the Muslim nation. The concept Islam outlines of God as the only Lord, His one system, approach and method are the only ones that fit with the truth of Godhead. They are also consistent with the fact that all humanity is the same, the fact that truth is one and that whatever is at variance with truth is deviant and erroneous.
 
Having made clear the command to believe, the Qur’ānic verse warns those who do not believe in all the components of faith. It outlines these again to make them clear before mentioning any punishment for disbelief. “Anyone who denies God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray.” (Verse 136) The first order in this verse mentions the need to believe in God, His books and messengers, but does not mention belief in the angels. It is well known that God’s books mention the angels and the Day of Judgement. Hence, when a person believes in these books, he or she is bound to believe in the angels and in the Day of Judgement. But the second order mentions this explicitly because it is an order spelling out punishment for failure to comply. Hence, a clear statement of all components is perfectly in order.
 
The expression of going far astray very often indicates a situation where a person is so grossly in error that there is little or no hope that he will ever be guided again. To believe in God is something deeply inherent in human nature. It moves us naturally to achieve it. Hence, a person who disbelieves in God, and in consequence disbelieves in His angels, books, messengers and in the Day of Judgement, is one whose nature has been so corrupted that all hope of a return to Divine guidance is practically lost.