The Spirit of Seeking Truth in Islam: Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:113-115)

Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:113-115)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

The Spirit of Seeking Truth in Islam

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ ‎﴿١١٣﴾‏ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ‎﴿١١٤﴾‏ وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَن يُكْفَرُوهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ ‎﴿١١٥﴾‏‏ ‏ ‏

3:113 They are not (all) the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing (for what is right), reciting the verses of Allah during the hours of the night and prostrating (in worship).

3.114 They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous.

3:115 And whatever good they do will never be denied to them. And Allah is All-Knowing of the righteous.

Commentary:  When the message of Islam reached the People of the Book in Arabia, some denied that the Prophet of Islam was the one foretold in their scriptures. Yet a steadfast minority—such as ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām and his companions, who demonstrated unwavering devotion to truth and justice—embraced Islam. The Qur’an honors these individuals with the title “ummatun qāʾimatun” (أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ), meaning “a community committed to what is right.” Verse 3:113 reads:

3:113 “They (the People of the Scripture) are not all alike (لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً ۗ). Among them is a community devoted to what is right (أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ), reciting Allah’s verses (يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ) during the hours of the night (آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ) and prostrating in worship (وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ).”

Verse 3:114 further affirms that they are among the righteous (أُولَٰئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ) because:

1. They believe in Allah (يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ)
2. and the Last Day (وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ)
3. and they enjoin what is right (وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ)
4. and forbid what is wrong (وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ)
5. and hasten to good deeds (وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ)

Verse 3:115 builds on the previous verses and affirms that Allah (swt) will never overlook the good deeds of individuals such as ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām and his companions. Rather, He promises to grant them the highest reward. The verse states:

3:115 “And whatever good they do (وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ), it will never be denied to them (فَلَن يُكْفَرُوهُ). And Allah is All-Knowing of the righteous. (وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ)”

Here, the word “kufr” is contrasted with “gratitude.” While gratitude means acknowledging blessings, kufr—and by extension, disbelief—means denying them. This implies that God will never disregard or deny their good deeds.