A083
Surah: 037 - Ayah: 083
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37:83
Despite this explanation, one can ask how the law of Muhammad (s.a.s) and the law of Nuh (a.s) were the same when the Holy Qur’an says "We appointed to each one of you a law (shir'ah) and a way (minhaj)". The answer is that religion (din) is the name given to that sacred compendium of teachings which are related to all the stages of Islam: shari'at, tariqat, haqiqat and ma'rifat. Religion taken as a whole and in its essence is the same, but in certain matters related to shari'at and tariqat it is modified according to the requirements of space and time. Thus shari'at has two aspects. One aspect is the same and has remained unchanged from the very beginning, and the other aspect is that which, by God’s command, has been modified continuously through time. As God says: "Verily, of his (Nuh’s) persuasion was Ibrahim." (37:83). According to this verse, Hazrat Ibrahim was a follower of Hazrat Nuh and that he had a shari'at and tariqat of his own. Similarly, the Holy Prophet was a follower of the path (millat) of Hazrat Ibrahim, but also had a shari'at and a tariqat of his own. As it says in the Qur’an: "Say: As for me, my Lord has guided me to a right path, an established religion, the path of Ibrahim the upright." (6:162). From this it is clear that although God had given a specific shari'at and a tariqat to every great Prophet, they all had one common religion which began to be revealed from the time of Hazrat Nuh. Because it is the right path and the established religion it has to be there throughout time and cannot be absent.
Q218 Please explain some wisdoms of verse (37:83): “Verily, of his followers was Abraham.”
A218 This is proof of the fact that the chain of Prophets continued in the cycle of Prophethood, just as the chain of Imams continues in the cycle of Imamat, as God says in verse (2:285): “… we do not separate any of His Messengers (rather we consider them as one chain).”
This verse has been referred 2 times.