Transliteration:( Afaghaira deenil laahi yabghoona wa lahooo aslama man fis samaawaati wal ardi taw'anw wa karhanw wa ilaihi yurja'oon )
"Then do they like a religion [182] other than the religion of Allah? While whatever is in the heavens and the earth [183] willingly and unwillingly [184] submits to Him, and unto Him shall they return?"
From this verse, it is clear that no religion other than Islam will be accepted by Allah — whether polytheism, Christianity, Judaism, or any other.
Even those who claim to be Muslims but reject the Holy Prophet ﷺ are not upon the true Deen of Allah.
The term "Faasiq" in the earlier verse includes those with deviant or sinful beliefs.
The structure of this verse is like an impossible hypothetical, e.g., "If the Most Affectionate had a son, I would worship him" (Surah 43:81) — to emphasize that turning away from the Prophet leads to disbelief.
True sainthood lies in accepting the servitude of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
The phrase refers to all creation — including jinns, angels, humans, animals, and even non-living objects.
This shows that even non-living things have a form of perception and submission to Allah.
“Unwillingly” means that even disbelievers, at the moment of death, accept the truth when they witness Allah’s punishment.
However, this forced faith at death is not accepted by Allah.
83. Do they seek other than the religion of Allah, while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned. 84. Say: “We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Isma`il, Ishaq, Ya`qub and Al-Asbat, and what was given to Musa, `Isa and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted.” 85. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.
Allah rebukes those who prefer a religion other than the religion that He sent His Books and Messengers with, which is the worship of Allah Alone without partners, to Whom,
(submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth,) Willingly, or not. Allah said in other Ayat,
(And unto Allah (Alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly.) ﴿13:15﴾, and,
(Have they not observed things that Allah has created: (how) their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly And to Allah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the moving creatures and the angels, and they are not proud. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded) ﴿16: 48-50﴾.
Therefore, the faithful believer submits to Allah in heart and body, while the disbeliever unwillingly submits to Him in body only, since he is under Allah’s power, irresistible control and mighty kingship that cannot be repelled or resisted. Waki` reported that Mujahid said that the Ayah,
(While to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly), is similar to the Ayah,
(And verily, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth” Surely, they will say: “Allah”) ﴿39:38﴾.
He also reported that Ibn `Abbas said about,
(while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly.)
“When He took the covenant from them.”
(And to Him shall they all be returned) on the Day of Return, when He will reward or punish each person according to his or her deeds.
Allah then said,
(Say: “We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us) the Qur’an,
(and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Ismai`0l, Ishaq, Ya`qub) the scriptures and revelation,
(and the Asbat,) the Asbat are the twelve tribes who originated from the twelve children of Israel (Ya`qub).
(and what was given to Musa, `Isa) the Tawrah and the Injil,
(and the Prophets from their Lord.) and this encompasses all of Allah’s Prophets.
(We make no distinction between one another among them) we believe in all of them,
(And to Him (Allah) we have submitted (in Islam))
Therefore, faithful Muslims believe in every Prophet whom Allah has sent and in every Book He revealed, and never disbelieve in any of them. Rather, they believe in what was revealed by Allah, and in every Prophet sent by Allah. Allah said next,
(And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him,) whoever seeks other than what Allah has legislated, it will not be accepted from him,
(and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.)
As the Prophet said in an authentic Hadith,
(Whoever commits an action that does not conform to our matter (religion) then it is rejected).
(3:83) Do they now seek a religion other than prescribed by Allah even though all that is in the heavens and the earth is in submission to Him[71] – willing or unwillingly – and to Him all shall return?
71. The basic principle characterizing the universe, in other words the religion of the universe and of every part of it, is Islam; insofar as the universe is in a state of total obedience and service to the Will of God. Here people are asked if they would follow a way of life different from Islam though they are part of the universe which is characterized by submission to God (islam).
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