َHolding Fast (E'tesaam) in the Interpretation of the two Islamic Religious Sectors and its Role in the Creation of Unification and Avoidance from Schism
Subject Areas : Two quarterly scientific commentary of the revelation texts
1 - Author and Researcher
Keywords: schism, holding fast, Steadfast God&rsquo, s cord, united, clinging,
Abstract :
Unification, being together and solidarity have long been considered as necessities of any society. Since the Holy Quran is a perfect program for the human beings’ lives, the present study deals with the elaboration of the emphases on unification and prohibition of schism based on a descriptive-analytical method through employing those of the Holy Quran’s verses in which the term “holding fast” (E'tesaam) has been introduced; next, the interpretations of the term in various Shiite and Sunni resources will be put forth followed by pinpointing the resources in which the phrase “holding fast to the God’s cord” (E'tesaam bi hablolah) has been specially approached. It can be understood through contemplation over the Holy Quran’s texts and interpretations thereof that the entire Holy Quran’s verses in which the term “holding fast” has been used and also the schism, dispute and discrepancy have been prohibited are revealed in Medina and point to the issue that holding fast to the God’s cord and resorting to the God and His religion are amongst the primary reasons and important factors giving rise to the Muslims’ strength and the establishment of an independent Islamic government. Holding fast to the God’s cord is a way for strengthening and getting robust, obeying God, unification of the Islamic nation and the Muslims’ esteem and, on the contrary, schism, dispute and discrepancy are causes contributing to the separation of the Islamic nation, weakness and looseness of them and, eventually, the enemies’ takeover of them. Obedience to the divine orders and directives, being guided towards the straight and right path, entering the mercy of God and acquiring the God’s benevolence, accompanying the believers and choosing their friendship in this and the other world are inter alia the most important outcomes of holding fast to the God’s cord; in opposite, taking the semblance of the Kaafirs (the unbelievers in God) of the prior nations, the weakening and looseness of the Islamic nation, entering the circle of polytheism and the abhorrence of the God’s great apostle (may Allah bestow him and his sacred progeny with the best of His regards) of the ones who caused sequestrations in the religion are amongst the outcomes of discrepancy and schism.
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