Social interaction is an essential aspect of human nature, and life cannot be properly sustained without it, for humans are inherently social beings.

There are many factors that unite people, including race, kinship, thought, belief, homeland, neighborhood, work, and interests.

Undoubtedly, all these unifying factors are related to various dimensions of belonging, whether ethnic, geographical, temporal, religious, intellectual, or practical.

Islam acknowledges the human reality and does not reject the diversity of affiliations and their various forms, except when they lead to injustice, violation of Allah's limits, or transform into vile tribalism or arrogant racism.

Given the importance of community in the life of the individual and the Ummah, this religion establishes higher standards and a broader and more trustworthy umbrella for its members.

It brings them together in their connection to Allah and their adherence to His righteous path, making Islam the bond around which they should unite, away from racial bigotry, material relationships, and interest-driven entanglements.

All these earthly ties end when the immediate goals they seek to achieve are no longer relevant, and they ultimately reduce the individual to a mere number or object in circles that may sacrifice him if their interests conflict with his, or when tribal sentiments, whether ethnic, regional, or tribal, surface, becoming a destructive factor for society.

For all these reasons, Islam made religion the foundation of the Ummah's unity and the gathering of its members. It is the true spirit of belonging to the way of Allah and His messengers.

This deep and expansive affiliation simultaneously transcends time and extends across the spaces of the earth, making believers, in all corners of the world, brothers in Allah, surpassing geography and borders, politics and economy, language and race, environment and circumstances.

This affiliation also transcends the boundaries of time, deeply rooted in it, connected to the messages of all the prophets, the bearers of the single divine method. They all drank from the same source and quenched their thirst from the same light. Their call was based on monotheism and unity, on noble morals and just legislation. All of them, from Adam to Muhammad, the seal of the prophets, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them, are in the same convoy, following one another on the path of great Islam. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, spoke the truth when he said, "We, the Ummah of prophets, share one religion. The prophets are brothers from different mothers." Their followers, no matter how far apart in time, are united by Allah's religion and the way of His messengers.

The noble verse that provides profound illumination in a concise phrase and few words for this deep, continuous unity of the Ummah is Allah’s statement: "Indeed this, your Ummah [religion], is one Ummah [religion], and I am your Lord, so worship Me." (Al-Anbiya: 92) and His statement: "And indeed this, your Ummah [religion],  is one Ummah [religion],  and I am your Lord, so fear Me." (Al-Mu'minun: 52).

Let us take a brief pause with these two verses:

• Both verses begin with the word "Indeed," and the nominal sentence, which indicates permanence and stability. This has clear implications for those of understanding, pointing to the depth, continuity, and persistence of the meaning.
• The address in these verses is directed to the prophets and their followers, which is both an honor and a responsibility. An honor because of the direct address from Allah to them, and a responsibility to understand the implications of this divine, honorable address and to strive to fulfill Allah’s intent in holding fast to His religion and uniting ranks on His path.
• When examining the meanings of the word "Ummah" in the context of these two verses through the books of interpretation, we find that it revolves around meanings such as religion, method, and law. The "Ummah" here refers to the law and religion that Allah has revealed to His prophets and messengers. Allah addresses His messengers and their followers, stating that their law is one, not differing in its fundamentals related to beliefs, acts of worship, and interactions, even if it differs in subsidiary rulings. This indicates that the religion of the messengers is one, that they all drank from the same source, and followed Allah's method and straight path.
• At the end of the two verses, we can discern three significant meanings: First, the reason for adhering to this righteous religion is our Lord, and the Quran here uses the word "Lord," which carries meanings of nurturing, purification, and care. This makes us feel and take comfort in the abundant shades of mercy, ease, and closeness.

Second, this righteous method is based on monotheism, making the Muslim far from all forms of polytheism and servitude to anything other than Allah, freeing him from the shackles of delusion, incapacity, and humiliation.

Third, the followers of the messengers in every time and place are required to be worthy of understanding these great meanings, to realize true servitude, and to follow the paths of piety to attain the great success in this world and the Hereafter.

The two noble verses came in the Surahs "Al-Anbiya" and "Al-Mu'minun" after a discussion of the prophets and mentioning aspects of their journeys in the field of Da'wah and their struggles therein. This creates a beautiful harmony between the two verses within their respective Surahs, reflecting a magnificent cohesion between the prophets, who are the bearers of the righteous method, calling to monotheism and noble morals, urging unity and rejecting division.

In conclusion of this journey with these two verses, it is necessary to emphasize some practical applications to translate these meanings from theory into practice, from words into action. I will summarize them as follows:

• Show pride in this religion in all areas of our lives.
• Avoid all forms of pre-Islamic tribalism.
• Islam is the bond that unites this Ummah, accommodating its linguistic, ethnic, and national diversity.
• Strive to create intellectual and emotional closeness among the members of the Ummah, starting from fostering cooperation between its elites to its institutions and states.
• As individuals and communities, we should play a role in supporting and assisting our oppressed and marginalized Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. This reflects that we are members of one Ummah and embodies the meanings of faith-based brotherhood.
• Strengthen the sense of belonging to the one Ummah by applying Allah's law, following His path, embodying His morals, and spreading His values among humanity. All of this achieves the true meanings of belonging to this one Ummah and restores its place in the human scene with revival, presence, contribution, and illumination.

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