The Gulf Crisis and New World Order — Page 125
The Gulf Crisis & The New World Order verse, which presents a new picture of Islam to which the verse under discussion does not explicitly draw attention until this subject is fully expounded for everyone's benefit. God says: �� � 1. ,. 1 ,, �-· (. . . . . -�,��. J The context of this verse is that, if you claim to be among those who fulfil the obligations of Taqwa and if, as a consequence, you become content that you will give-up your life in a state of "complete submission to God" then examine yourself on the basis of this touchstone to be sure that you do not deviate from its true spirit. God says: true Islam is such that you collectively hold fast to the rope of Allah. This state of obedience must be demonstrated collectively and not individually. Thus a new topic is unfolded here which is a logical extension of the earlier subject. What is meant by the rope of Allah? (Hablellah) First I wish to say something about this and then I will shed some more light on the main topic. When translating the word "Hablellah n, according to the idiom of the Holy Quran, two other verses come to mind where the word "habl" has been used. In one such verse God says: (AI-Imran: Verse 113) that these are the people who have been smitten with abasement, wherever they be found, unless they are protected by a "covenant with Allah" and by a "covenant with men" i. e. unless the rope of Allah should grant them a measure of protection in this respect. Here by "hablellah " and "hable1111as" one and the same thing is meant because the same word "habl n has been used both for Allah and for men. All commentators agree that "habl", in this context, means the covenant. So that the word "hablellah " means a covenant of God which protects men. As a consequence of this covenant nations are sometimes granted respite from abasement and disgrace because they have a covenant with Allah, the Exalted, who in accordance with the nature of the covenant, whenever the need arises, shelters them from affliction and dishonour. So at such times, the covenant of God reaches out to them and protects them. Similarly, nations too make covenants with one another. One nation enters into 125