Surah Al- Imran - 200 verses

This Surah is cognate to Surah Al- Baqarah, but the matter is here treated from a different point of view. The new points of view developed are:

1. Emphasis is here laid on the duty of Christians to accept the new light: the Christians are here especially appealed to, as the Jews were appealed to in the previous Surah.

2. The lessons of the battles of Uhud and Badr are set out for Muslim community.

3. The responsibilities of that community are insisted on both internally and in their relations to those outside.

Summary:

(iii. 1-20) - Allah having revealed His book, confirming previous revelations, we must accept it in all reverence, try to understand its meaning, and reject the base motives which make Truth unacceptable to those who reject Faith.

(iii. 21-30) - The people of the book had only portion of the book, and if they reject the complete book, the People of Faith must part company with them, and their day is done.

(iii. 31-63) - The story of the family of Imran ( the father of Mary) leads us from the Mosaic Dispensation to the miracles connected to the birth of Jesus and his ministry.

(iii. 64-120) - Allah's revelation being continuous, all people are invited to accept its completion in Islam, and the controversies are deprecated. The muslims are asked to hold together in unity and harmony, and are promised security from harm from their enemies, and enjoined to seek friendship among their own people.

(iii. 121-148) - The Battle of Badr showed how Allah helps and upholds the virtuous, and how patience, perseverance, and discipline find their reward; on the other hand, the lessons of Uhud must be learned, not in despair, but in the exercise of the higher virtues and in the contempt of pain and death.

(iii. 149-180) - The misfortunes at Uhud are shown to be due to indiscipline of some, the indecision, and the selfishness of others, and cowardice on the part of the Hypocrites, but no enemy can hurt Allah's cause.

(iii. 181-200) - The taunts of the enemy should be disregarded, and sincere prayer offered to Allah, Who grant His servants success and prosperity.

Significance:

This Surah was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at different times after migration to Madinah.

The importance of this surah is reflected in the following Hadith: