Sura -42 [ Ash-Shura, Mecca 53 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ...

42:13. The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah-the which We have sent by inspiration to thee-

C4541. Allah's Religion is the same in essence, whether given, for example, to Noah, Abraham, Moses, or Jesus, or to our holy Prophet. The source of unity is the revelation from Allah.

In Islam it is "established" as an institution, and does not remain merely a vague suggestion.

...وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى ...

and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus:

... أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ...

Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein:

C4542. Faith, Duty or Religion, is not a matter to dispute about. The formation of sects is against the very principle of Religion and Unity. What we should strive for is steadfastness in duty and faith, and unity among mankind.

...كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ...

to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them.

C4543. Unity, unselfishness, love for Allah and man,-these things are inconsistent with selfish aggrandizement, unjust suppression of our fellow-creatures, false worship, and false conduct to our brethren. Hence the Gospel of Unity, though it is in complete accord with the pure pattern after which Allah made us, is yet hard to those who love self and falsehood. But Grace is free to all, and in His wise Plan, He will specially select Teachers to show the Way to humanity, and no one who turns to Him will lack guidance.

...اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ ﴿١٣﴾

Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

Asad’s Version:

(42: 13) In matters of faith, 12 He has ordained for you that which He had enjoined upon Noah - and into which We gave thee [O Muhammad] insight through revelation" - as well as that which We had enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: Steadfastly uphold the [true] faith, and do not break up your unity therein."

[And even though] that [unity of faith] to which you call them appears oppressive to those who are wont to ascribe to other beings or forces a share in His divinity, God draws unto Himself everyone who is willing, and guides unto Himself everyone who turns unto Him.

42:14

And [as for the followers of earlier revelation,] they broke up their unity, out of mutual jealousy, only after they had come to know [the truth].

15 And had it not been for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Sustainer, [postponing all decision] until a term set [by Him], all would indeed have been decided between them (from the outset]." As it is, behold, they who have inherited their divine writ from those who preceded them 17 are [now] in grave doubt, amounting to suspicion, about what it portends. 18

42:15

Because of this, then," summon [all mankind), and pursue the right course, as thou hast been bidden [by God]; and do not follow their likes and dislikes, but say:

"I believe in whatever revelation God has bestowed from on high; and I am bidden to bring about equity in your mutual views. 20 God is our Sustainer as well as your Sustainer. To us shall be accounted our deeds, and to you, your deeds. Let there be no contention between us and you: God will bring us all together - for with Him is all journeys' end."

[[Asad’s notes - 1 5 Lit., "they did not break up their unity until after knowledge had come to them" - i.e., the knowledge that God is one, and that the teachings of all of His prophets were essentially the same. Cf. 2:213 and, more explicitly, 23:53, which comes immediately after the statement that "this community of yours is one single community" (see also note 30 on 23:53).

16 For an explanation of this passage, see note 29 on 10:19.

17 Lit., "who have become heirs to the divine writ after them": obviously referring to the Bible and its followers in later times.

18 Lit., "about it" - i.e., in doubt as to whether the relevant scripture has really been revealed by God, and, ultimately, as to whether there is any truth in the concept of "divine revelation" as such. 19 I.e., because of this breach of the original unity of men's faith in the One God.

20 Lit., "between you" - i.e., "to induce you to be more tolerant of one another" : evidently an allusion to the bitterness which stands in the way of an understanding between the various sects and schools of thought in all revealed religions. ]]