Translation
Do they seek out guidance other than God’s guidance, whereas everyone and everything in the universe and on Earth surrenders to God, voluntarily or involuntarily, and to Him all must return? Declare [with conviction to these people], “We believe in God and what has been revealed to us and all that was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and generations following them and all that was given by their Sustainer to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets; we make no differentiation among the prophets, and to God we do surrender ourselves [as muslims].” To anyone who seeks out ways other than submission in peace to God [the way of Islamic faith, defined by all prophets]—such ways are not acceptable to God, and such people will be among those who have lost their ways.
How can God guide people who refuse to acknowledge the truth after having believed in previous revelations bearing truth regarding prophets and having renewed guidance that corroborates what they already have? God does not guide such people [against their own free will]. Their fate will be rejection from God, from angels, and from people altogether—being in that state without respite or reduction in its evil impact. But to those who repent and mend their ways afterward, God is Ever Forgiving and Merciful. But if they bind themselves to denial after believing and then continue to intensify their disbelief, their repentance will bear no fruit, and they are destined to lose their ways. Such people who lack faith and die without faith—even an earth full of treasure will not be sufficient to ransom them from their evil fate, and they will have no helper [against their condition or fate].192
Interpretation
192. The tenets of Islam as God’s singular guidance to all prophets whom we know and acknowledge and whom we should follow have been affirmed here for all people who believe in God and in prophets. The common and universal guidance coined as Islam by Prophet Mohammad but the essence of which has been propagated by all prophets—Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets who came over the span of time—are consistent in all books of revelations, if one takes a deep dive and seeks out the fundamental aspects of belief and our individual and collective call to duty. These verses once again demonstrate the unity of religion and guidance for humanity, though we call ourselves by different names and claim to follow different books of guidance.
REFLECTION
The Qur’an continuously draws our attention to the common truth contained in all revelations and taught by all prophets and expects us to be united in our common allegiance to God and to goodness of conduct toward each other. This is a simple and elegant message that should resonate with each one of us and should inspire our deeper reflection on life and its pursuit for reaching the highest spiritual and physical attainment possible. Lacking such desire, drive, and fellowship with other human beings has led many of us to narrowmindedness, jealousy, and denial of the self-evident truth about unity of the Godhead and unity of purpose for all human beings.
ACTION
When we read such verses from the Qur’an, we are firmly convinced the truth contained in this revelation and the truth propagated by other prophets like Jesus, Moses, and Abraham, to name a few, are essentially the same truth. The sooner we reconcile our superficial differences and unite as a human race, the better we will be as individuals and as a society.