بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Was the Deen completed at a point in time, some 1400/1500 years ago for Muslims? Was the Deen incomplete before that point of time? Was the Deen or religion of Mohammad (pbuh), different in any way, than the Deen of earlier messengers of Allah?

Please note that meaning of ‘Deen’ in Arabic is different from the word ‘Deen’ used in Urdu. In Arabic, Deen means ‘Judgment’, it does not mean religion. The word used for religion in Arabic is ‘Millat’.

Generally people assume ‘Deen’ in this Ayat 5:3 is in the sense of religion. However, this is unlikely as all religious scholars don’t even consider Ayat 5:3 to be last ayat of Quran, therefore a religion cannot be complete when more instructions are yet to come. If we study Quran we will find that there is no difference between what has been revealed to all messengers. All messengers have been given the same shariat. Allah says to the messenger (pbuh) that nothing at all is said to you, which has not been said to previous messengers and the Messenger (pbuh) confirms that he is not a bringer of any new doctrine to people. We can draw a conclusion that Allah’s religion is always complete in all times, it is every individual’s judgment which gets completed at a point in time as he progresses in his journey towards Allah’s path. Your day of completion of  the Deen/Judgment is the day when the rejecters lose hope of your return to your previous direction of belief.

5:3   ۗ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ ۚ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ۚ

This day those who cover (do Kufur) have given up hope from your Deen/judgment so fear them not but fear me. This day I have perfected your Deen/judgment for you and completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam/Peace as your Deen/Judgment.

Most people believe that by a stroke of great luck and by the grace of Almighty, they are  fortunate to be born in their particular sect or religion. If they were born in another sect or religion they would surely be doomed as others are not as rightly guided. However, this is actually a great test for every believer. When the ayahs of Allah are presented to him, he should leave his direction of belief that he was following before and follow the direction of belief of Allah’s ayahs.

2:143  وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Likewise, We made you a balanced nation, that you be a witness over people, and the Messenger be a witness over yourselves; and We did not made the Qiblah/direction (of faith) you were over it, except that We know those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn over their heels. Surely, it is a great thing, except, for those whom Allah guides and never would Allah make your belief of no effect. Surely, Allah is full of kindness and mercy to people.

Whatever your previous direction of belief was, now when the ayahs of Allah come to you, you have to follow the direction of belief as per ayahs. Ayahs are Allah’s Kalam (Words) and Qaul e Rasool (sayings of the Messenger) as per 69:40.

69:40  إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ

That this (Quran) is verily the saying of an honored Messenger;

Changing one’s direction of belief in the light of Allah’s ayahs is indeed a great test. Those who change their direction are muslims/submitters to Allah’s ayahs and with the start of this process they become muhajir/migrator (leave their previous faith and follow the direction of belief of Allah’s ayahs). Those who don’t leave their previous direction of belief are Ummi (in the same original or motherly state) in which they were born and raised. Nabi al Ummi is the Nabi or prophet who was born with the Allah’s Din and prophet-hood already instilled by Allah as Allah’s ayat/sign.

When you make the decision to change and migrate in the direction of belief of Allah, the people in your surroundings who still adhere to previous faith, will make efforts to bring you back to previous faith. The day that they will lose hope of your return to the previous faith, will be the day that your Deen/judgment will be completed.

Notes:

The term Umiyeen is from root work( ا م م), and it is in the sense of relating to mother, or to be in the original state. When you are at your original state of belief on which you were born, you are an Ummi at that time. When you change your direction of belief (Qibla) with the help of Allah’s ayahs then the process of becoming a submitter/muslim to Allah starts. When the change of direction of belief takes place the foolish ones in your surroundings, will say that what made you change your direction of belief. Your reply should be that Allah, with His ayahs, guides to the straight path.

2:142 سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلَّاهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُوا عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

The fools among the people will say: ” What has reverted them from their Qiblah/direction (of faith) on which they were?” Say: for Allah is East and West. He guides whom He wills to a straight path.

Related Ayats:

Some related ayahs which indicate that the Din/Judgment, Shariat/Way, Millat/Religion are all the same with all the Messengers for all times. See also the topic ‘Religion of Ibrahim’ in a previous post.

41:43  مَّا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Nothing is said to You (Mohammad) that was not said to the Messengers before you: verily you Lord has at his Command (all) forgiveness as well as the most Grievous vengeance.

46:9  قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Say (O’ Mohammad) “I am no bringer of new doctrine among the Messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I follow but that which is revealed to me by inspiration; I am but a warner open and clear.”

42:13  شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ ۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۚ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

The same Sharah (Shariat) He has established for you which He enjoined on Nooh- that We have sent by inspiration to you (Mohammad) – and that which We enjoined on Ibraheem, Moosa, and Essa; that you should remain steadfast in Din/Judgement, and make no differentiations therein: to those who join others with Allah, hard is the (way) to which you call them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).