The Qur’an is not just a religious scripture; it is also a linguistic masterpiece. Every word has been carefully chosen to convey a specific message, and every phrase has a profound meaning.
In Surah Tawbah, verse 71, Allah describes the relationship of the believing men and women,
وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ
The believers, both men and women, are guardians of one another.
Just a few verses earlier, in verse 67, He addresses the connection between the hypocrites,
ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another.
In the description of believers, Allah uses the additional term أَوْلِيَآءُ (‘guardians’), while for hypocrites, He omits this word and uses مِّنۢ (‘from’) instead. Are these just two ways of expressing the same idea? Is it merely for the sake of variety?
When reading the Qur’an, we may not typically pay attention to such nuances. However, every word has been chosen or omitted for a reason.
The believers are guardians of one another because they support and aid each other in Islam. They have a strong bond of unity of hearts upon their religion, and thus Allah describes them as such.
In other parts of the Qur’an, Allah refers to the believers as brothers (al-Hujuraat, verse 10), highlighting the importance of their bond and the unity that they share.
This distinction is important because it highlights the fundamental difference between the believers and the hypocrites. The believers strive for righteousness and work towards pleasing Allah, while the hypocrites only pretend to do so. They are not sincere in their faith, and their ‘hearts are divided’, as Allah mentions in another verse (al-Hashr, verse 14).
The Qur’an is a treasure trove of wisdom, and every word in it has been carefully chosen to convey a message.
As we read and reflect upon its verses, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with Allah.
The message of Surah Tawbah, verse 71, is a reminder to us all that as believers, we are guardians of one another, and we should strive to support and aid each other in righteousness.