Surah 3: The Family of Imran

Surah 3: The Family of Imran - Overview

Verses	Description
3:1-20	Confirmation of previous Revelations: Acceptance of Faith
3:21-30	Partial Truths, and the Completed Book of God: Friendship with one's own people
3:31-63	Messengers form one Brotherhood: Birth of Mary, Yahya and Jesus
3:64-120	Seek common principles, avoid dissembling and disputing: True Religion
3:121-148	God's help will come to those who strive, as at Badr: We must learn from our misfortunes, as at Uhud
3:149-180	Dangers of indiscipline, disputes, loss of courage, or pursuit of selfish ends: Glorious are the Martyrs without fear
3:181-200	Vain are the taunts of Unbelief: God's promise is sure: Trust in Him

Introduction

This Surah is cognate to Surah 2, but the matter is here treated from a different point of view. The references to Badr Ramadan (A.H. 2) and Uhud (Shawwal A.H. 3) give a clue to the dates of those passages.

Like Surah 2, it take a general view of the religious history of mankind, with special reference to the People of the Book, proceeds to explain the birth of the new people of Islam and their ordinances, insists on the need of struggle and fighting in the cause of Truth, and exhorts those who have been blessed with Islam to remain constant in Faith, pray for guidance, and maintain their spiritual hope for the future.

The new points of view adopted are:

the emphasis is here laid on the duty of the Christians to accept the new light; the Christians are here specially appealed to, as the Jews were specially appealed to in the last Surah;
the lessons of the battles of Badr and Uhud are set out for the Muslim community; and
the responsibilities of that community are insisted on both internally and in their relations to those outside.

Summary

1- God having revealed His Book, confirming previous revelations, we must accept it in all reverence, try to understand its meaning, and reject the base motives which make truth unacceptable to those who reject Faith. (3:1-20).

Step by Step [3:1-20] The Qur'an revelation has, step by step, confirmed the Law of Moses and the Gospel of Jesus. It is a guide from God, and appeals to reason and understanding. Let us understand it rightly, in reverence and truth, unswayed by those who reject Faith, and seeking ever the reward of the pleasure of God, through firmness, patience, discipline, and charity, and offering others the light which we have ourselves received.

2- The People of the Book had only a portion of the Book, and if they reject the complete Book, the People of Faith must part company with them, and their day is done. (3:21-30)

Personal Responsibility [3:21-30] If the people who received earlier revelations confine themselves to partial truths, and in their pride shut their eyes to the whole of the Book of God, their day is done. Let the Muslims seek the society and friendship of their own, an trust in God, who knows all, and holds every soul responsible for its own deeds.

3- The story of the family of 'Imran (the father of Moses) leads us from the Mosaic Dispensation to the miracles connected with the birth of Jesus and his ministry. (3:31-63)

Continuous Truth [3:31-63] God's Truth is continuous, and His Prophets from Adam, through Noah and Abraham, down to the last of the Prophets, Muhammad, form one brotherhood. Of the progeny of 'Imran, father of Moses and Aaron, sprang a woman, who devoted her unborn offspring to God. The child was Mary the mother of Jesus. Her cousin was the wife of the priest Zakariya, who took charge of Mary. To Zakariya, in his old age, was born a son Yahya, amid prodigies: Yahya was the herald of Jesus the son of Mary, and was known as John the Baptist. Jesus was of virgin birth, and performed many miracles. But those to whom he came as Prophet rejected him, and plotted for his death. Their plots failed, for God's Plan is above man's plots. So will it be with Islam, the Truth from all eternity.

4- God's revelation being continuous, all people are invited to accept its completion in Islam, and controversies are deprecated. The Muslims are asked to hold together in union and harmony, and are promised security from harm from their enemies, and enjoined to seek friendship among their own people. (3:64-120)

Patient Perseverance [3:64-120] Islam doth invite all people to the Truth; there is no cause for dissembling or disputing. False are the people who corrupt God's truth, or hinder men from coming to God. Let the Muslims hold together in unity and discipline, knowing that they have a mission of righteousness for humanity. No harm can come to them. Though there are good men and true in other Faiths, Muslims must be true to their own Brotherhood. They should seek help and friendship from their own, and stand firm in constancy and patient perseverance.

5- The Battle of Badr showed how God helps and upholds the virtuous, and how patience, perseverance, and discipline find their reward; on the other hand, the lessons of Uhud must be learnt, not in despair, but in the exercise of the higher virtues and in contempt of pain and death. (3:121-148)

Standing Firm [3:121-148] God's help comes to those who strive with firmness, as it did at Badr. Much can be learned from the misfortunes at Uhud. It is not for us to question God's Plan, which is full of wisdom and mercy for all. Our duty is to stand firm and unswerving, to obey, and in steadfast courage to persevere, to retrieve our mistakes, not in grief and despair, but in firm hope in God and in contempt of pain and death.

6- The misfortunes at Uhud are shown to be due to the indiscipline of some, the indecision and selfishness of others, and cowardice on the part of the hypocrites, but no enemy can hurt God's Cause. (3:149-180)

Trustworthy Leader [3:149-180] Uhud showed how dangerous it was to lend ear to enemy suggestions, to disobey orders, dispute, lose courage, or seek selfish ends; some even followed the evil course of turning back. But great is God's mercy; where He helps, no harm can come. Trust your Leader. The Hypocrites, in withdrawing from battle, were really helping the Unbelievers, but glorious were those who knew no fear: those killed in the Cause of God yet live and thrive and do rejoice: and never can those who fight against Faith hurt in the least the cause of God.

Reading the Signs [3:181-200] Regard, unmoved, the taunts of those who laugh at faith; nor let their falsehood no their seeming prosperity, raise questions in your minds. All who can read the Signs of God in Nature know His wisdom, goodness, power, and justice. They know His promise is sure, an in humble prayer, wholly put their trust in Him.