Surah Ar Rum Tafseer

مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ

turning in repentance to Him,

Ibn Zayd and Ibn Jurayj said,

"This means, returning to Him."

وَاتَّقُوهُ

and have Taqwa of Him;

means, fear Him and remember that He is always watching.

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَأةَ

and perform the Salah,

which is the greatest act of worship.

وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

and be not of the idolators.

Be of those who single out Allah, devoting their worship sincerely for Him alone, not anyone or anything other than Him.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Yazid bin Abi Maryam said:

"Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by Mu`adh bin Jabal and asked, `What is the foundation of this Ummah?'

Mu`adh said, `Three things, and they are the things that will bring salvation:

Al-Ikhlas (doing a deed for Allah alone), which is the Fitrah with which Allah created mankind;

Salah, which is the thing that tells a believer apart from a disbeliever;

and obedience, which is protection.'

Umar said:`You have spoken the truth.

Splitting into Sects and the Saved Sect

His saying:

مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ