“We do not abrogate an ayat or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?” (Qur’an 2:106)
“And when We substitute an ayat in place of an ayat – and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down – they say, “You, [O Muhammed], are but an inventor [of lies].” But most of them do not know.” (Qur’an 16:101)
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One of the major differences in aqidah (creed) between the Ibadi school and those from ‘Ahl Sunnah’ is on the issue of the preservation of the Qur’an.
The Ibadi position is this:
We have the entire Qur’an.
We have the Qur’an that Allah (swt) intended for us to have.
The Sunni position is this:
We have the Qur’an that Allah (swt) intended for us to have.
We do not have the entire Qur’an.*
*Note. As with any school of theology, jurisprudence or approach taken it is always possible to have minority voices and or those that dissent from the mashur (majority view).
This entry will discuss some observations by a Sunni apologist whom is replying to what is commonly referenced on internet culture as team: “Atheist-Christ*” . In this particular response to 1/2 of team Atheist-Christ an enterprising Sunni apologist gives what he feels is a robust response.
*Note: For those not familiar, an Atheist-Christ is a Christian unbothered by an unsaved Atheist among them. He (the Christian) teams up with the Atheist and they jointly attack Islam.
Thus, 1/2 of team Atheist-Christ is an apologist whom has taken issue with the idea of the Qur’an having lost and/or forgotten chapters/verses/words and so forth.
When it comes to the idea or concept of abrogation the only consensus that the Sunni Muslims seem to have is that such a concept exist. What actually abrogates what is anyone’s guess.
Some of them even believe in scenarios such as that the Qur’an used to have verses that explicitly mention stoning adulterers to death and that the verses were abrogated/lost/forgotten/eaten by a goat. However, the ruling remains! In our school this concept is one in which refuge in Allah (swt) is sought.
You get into issues such as the Qur’an abrogating the Qur’an. The Sunnah abrogating the Sunnah. Or even the Sunnah abrogating the Qur’an. The last one being the most dangerous of all, as the sunnah is primarily preserved and transmitted via lone narrator reports. It is an excellent opportunity for something that is dhan (uncertain) to overrule or overwrite something that is qati (decisive) such as the Qur’an.
The basis for this belief is the following text from the Qur’an.
“We do not abrogate an ayat or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?” (Qur’an 2:106)
The assumption here is that the word ayat is referencing a verse in the Qur’an. It is not assumed for example that is a reference to miracles, that are no longer witnessed or tangible. or that it a reference to even the previous revelations. Now there are so many things to be said about this in and of itself. Notice that it does not say the word surah (chapter). For example in the following verse:
“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Slave, then produce a Surah (chapter) the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah , if you should be truthful.” (Qur’an 2:23)
This part also deserves pensive reflection on the part of those who believe the Qur’an is eternal and uncreated.
“We bring forth better than it or similar to it“
Abrogation is omission, removal and it is impossible for that which is eternal. The idea that some part of Allah’s sifat of attribute of ‘speech‘ would be ‘better‘ or “improved upon” over other parts merits pensive reflection.
“We bring forth better than it or similar to it”
If a person believes that this statement is a reference to the Qur’an than it creates a circular reasoning. If you no longer have the original source to compare it with than you have no way of knowing in what way that which was brought was improved upon.
An example:
As mentioned there is the view among a great many Sunni scholars that there used to be verses of stoning the adulterers in the Qur’an and that was abrogated/lost/forgotten/eaten by a goat. Recall the verse they base their belief on states: “We bring forth better than it or similar to it.” So which verse in the Qur’an now is now similar to it or better than it?
Why are Christians scolded for forgetting the revelation where as for Muslims it becomes a proof and a miracle for Islam? So much so that for the Christians hate and enmity was stirred up between them?!
“And with those who say ‘We are Christians’ We took compact; and they have forgotten (fanasu)a portion of that they were reminded of. So We have stirred up among them enmity and hatred, till the Day of Resurrection; and Allah will assuredly tell them of the things they wrought.” (Qur’an 5: 14)
In fact because I can anticipate how these people think. I can almost guarantee you the immediate response will be something akin to the following: “The difference here is that Allah made the companions forget where as the Christians forgot from negligence.”
Which also baffles me. The Creator causes you to forget his revelation = something meritorious.
The Arabic word Insan is derived from the Arabic nasiya meaning to forget. In fact you can see that in the very text of Q 5:14 above.
So allow me to share with you the video from a Sunni apologist who goes by the name of Farid. I think he means well and over all he some good material.
So after listening to 1/2 of team Atheist-Christ put up his objections against the Qur’an Farid had the following to say:
“”Alright. So Firstly the common answer to this which is the answer I adopt is that this this chapter was abrogated. That’s what that’s the classical position. So the argument for that is really simple. Uh basically this specific verse. This specific verse that speaks of the son of Adam having valleys of gold or valleys of wealth, this specific uh verse was memorized and documented by um according to Sayuti 15 companions. That’s quite a high number. and yet it never got into the Qur’an.” -Farid
Prima Qur’an comments:
Actually, it is very surprising that Farid says this. Perhaps to give him the benefit of the doubt what he means is the Uthmanic codex; because to say that it was never part of the Qur’an is to totally misread what was plainly stated.
Look again:
“We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this…..”
It is clear that was considered part of the Qur’an. We do not call du’a and invocations surah. So the more correct perspective here (if it were true at all) is that it was part of the Qur’an. It just doesn’t become part of the Uthmanic codex.
Farid continues:
“Now there is nothing controversial about the verse. There’s no reason for someone to hide the verse away or anything like that. So yes the traditional Islamic answer is this verse EXCUSE ME THIS CHAPTER was abrogated. And that itself will be convincing to any Muslim.”-Farid
Prima Qur’an comments:
Well, I am a Muslim and I am not the only one that doesn’t buy this at all. The Mufti of Oman, learned scholar and Shaykh, has this to say:
“Abrogation is never permitted in the reports of the Law-Maker because His Knowledge is not refreshed and He is not ignorant of anything that happens, and He does not reveal but the truth.”-Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h)
Notice that Farid does a kind of bait and switch. In the above paragraph he uses the word ‘verse’ twice and the third time finally says, “Excuse me This CHAPTER.” Because that is what is being discussed. Recall “We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this…..”
So since the entirety of the chapter(surah) was lost or forgotten Farid is in no position to say that nothing controversial was in its contents. The reason he cannot say that is accordingly the chapter (surah) as a whole was lost/forgotten. However, the portion the chapter that was remembered was: “If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.”
Also, recall the verse in the Qur’an that is the basis for this belief.
“We bring forth better than it or similar to it”
So what verse did Allah (swt) bring that was better than or equivalent to the one of the two valleys full of riches?
Farid continues.
“Now before getting to my arguments I want you to be aware that the concept of abrogation is not something that is specific to Islam. It’s something that existed in Christianity previously you have the laws of Christianity abrogating the laws of Judaism. Right? Umm You even have specific examples of works that were abrogated because they were not important um in Judaism. So this is again this is not something that’s exclusive to Islam.”-Farid
Prima Qur’an comments:
It would have been great if Farid would have given an example of a law in Christianity abrogating a law of Judaism. If he done that perhaps we could see even how problematic such a concept was in their traditions as well. For example:
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:8-9)
“If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)
So initially Jesus (whom is God the Son) according to the Athanasian Trinity gave Moses this command that it was o.k to divorce a woman if he found something displeasing or indecent about her. After she marries another man and he too divorces her or dies she cannot go back to the first husband as that would be ‘detestable’ in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, this same Jesus (whom is God the Son) than tries to say it was Moses who gave such a law because “your hearts’ were hard”
Christian damage control
“Jesus now answers that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of the Israelites’ hearts. This means that God created a set of rules limiting the damage which divorce might cause. Jesus adds that it was not so from the beginning. In other words, God’s intention in creation was that all human marriage between man and woman should be lifelong. To separate what God had joined was a violation of God’s design. Under Moses, however, Israel was allowed to break the design because of the sin-hardened hearts of the people—providing limits and restraints on the practice.”
God (Jesus as God the Son) first allowed this type of divorce even though it was a violation of his (Jesus) design. Mostly because of the recognition that people’s hearts were hard. However, he suddenly changes that. Umm why? Aren’t the hearts still hard? You mean to say that human hearts are not hard anymore?
Do you know the irony of all this dear readers?
Religious Jews will see this a proof against Christianity and the capricious nature of how they perceive God.
Religious Christians will see this a proof for Jesus divinity because: Who else can give laws that they personally dislike, and violate the very intended pattern hey have planned for human beings (but not yet cause their hearts are hard) but some time 2000 years ago (possibly their hearts were not as hard) and yes you know what that was not adultery than but it is now: who can do that but God?
Religious Muslims who are involved in polemic with Christians (people like brother Farid) would possibly use arguments like this against the Christian faith and yet see things like this as a case for Islam.
This doesn’t become about being consistent and defending the haqq (truth). It’s about the football jersey that I wear and yours doesn’t’ match mine!
Farid continues.
“Now in regards to this specific matter what I find really interesting here this is referring to Abu Musa Al Ashari; who taught the Qur’an in Basra who taught the Qur’an in Yemen he was seen as one of the main reciters of the Qur’an. We rely upon Abu Musa for our Qir’aat today however, however, interestingly Abu Musa forgot a complete chapter of the Qur’an And what’s really interesting about that specific chapter is like we have no information about it.”-Farid
Prima-Qur’an comments:
These statements by Farid prove my previous points. Namely,
A) We can’t say that the chapter contained anything controversial because as he stated, “We have no information about it.”
B) Farid stated earlier that “and yet it never got into the Qur’an.” Than he says, “Abu Musa forgot a complete chapter of the Qur’an” This is why I give him the benefit of the doubt that what he means is the Uthmanic codex. Not that it was never part of the Qur’an ever.
Farid continues.
“Now in this specific hadith we find Abu Musa not saying not saying I forgot this chapter. He says, I was made to forget this chapter. Where do we find this concept? Well we find it in the Qur’an in verse 106 in Surat al Baqarah mā nansakh min āyatin aw nunsihā nati bikhayrin min’hā aw mith’lihā (We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it.”-Farid
Prima Qur’an comments:
Actually, Abu Musa does not say, “I was made to forget this chapter.” He says, “I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this.” Thus, he did not forget the whole chapter. He forgot all of it with the exception of a certain portion. A portion which Farid admits was recited as the Qur’an and it is still there (as it is in the hadith) but it not recited as part of the Qur’an today.
Is this really what Qur’an 2:106 is saying?
Does it say, “We do not abrogate an entire chapter, with the exception of some verses that will remain but will not be in the final version of this Qur’an, or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it, except for the two valleys verse which will remain and not be included in the final compilation.”
This is absolutely bizarre.
Farid continues.
“Now I want you to focus on the words cause it to be forgotten. That is what Abu Musa is saying I was made to forget this. That’s what Abu Musa is saying. Now, how can that even be proven right? I mean that’s the concept is very strange in itself, but is there any precedence for this? Now what really blew my mind was this specific narration That is narrated by Abu Umamah ibn Sahl in which he says, One night a man tried to read a chapter of the Qur’an that he had but he could not. Another man tried to read it but he also could not. Another man also tried to read it but failed. In the morning they went to the Messenger of Allah and gathered there. One of them said: “O Messenger of Allah! Yesterday night I tried to read chapter so-and-so but I could not.” The other said: “I have come for this very reason.” The third man said: “Me too.” The Messenger (saw) said: “It was abrogated yesterday.” Uh this specific hadith is narrated in nasikh wal mansukh by Abi Obaid; it was also narrated in other works like (I did not catch this part) Um it was also narrated by Tabarani in his Mu’jam al-Kabir in which he says that the Ansar that actually go to recite this verse only managed to recite the words bismillah ir rahman ir raheem, in the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful, and than they just freeze. Not knowing forgetting the rest of the chapter. Which is just it’s really interesting.Basically, what happened was you have this collective amnesia that occurred. Now, now I don’t have the answers in regards to why this occurred. I have no idea what was in that chapter. I have no idea what was in the chapter that abu musa narrated. Um it may even be the same chapter; but for some reason God in his infinite wisdom decided to abrogate that chapter in the same way he decided to abrogate the laws of the old testament and the..(pause) and other books in the old testament as well.”
Prima Qur’an comments:
Al hamdulillah. At least Farid realizes that this whole thing does seem “very strange'”
Farid proposes that there was some how this “collective amnesia” that occurred.
Now neither Farid or myself (to my knowledge) are medical doctors. However, what I can see is that there are considered to be three types of amnesia.
Types of Amnesia
Retrograde amnesia. Having retrograde amnesia means you’ve lost your ability to recall events that happened just before the event that caused your amnesia. …
Anterograde amnesia. …
Transient global amnesia (TGA).
I was not satisfied that what Farid describes really fits into any of these categories. At first I thought that maybe Transient global amnesia (TGA) would fit the description. Yet this seems temporary with the memories coming back. So than I thought I would search selective amnesia. This seems to fall under a type of dissociative psychiatric disorder. I do not believe that Farid attributes that to the companions at all.
Farid quotes an example of a few people not being able to remember a particular surah (chapter) and than the Blessed Messenger (saw) is attributed with saying that it was abrogated the night before.
Farid than quotes two other sources but does not bring the references.
“ it was also narrated in other works like (I did not catch this part) Um it was also narrated by Tabarani in his Mu’jam al-Kabir.”
So for example we do not know the type of “amnesia” they had. Was it temporary?
There seems to be temporary memory loss. Where did I place those car keys? There seem to be permanent memory loss, associated above with one of the types of amnesia.
There seems to be forgetfulness of something tangible and non tangible. There seems to be a situation where you were forgetful of what you are forgetful of. Another is something tangible.
So again this creates a type of circular reasoning where if you do not really recall a particular chapter or verse it is possible that you did not forget it at all but just think that you did. You could misplace or forget where you put your car keys. Yet, you know the item in question is tangible, they are car keys. But where did you place them? However, if you think about something obscure like a passage from a book and you think you forgot how to recollect it, it is very possible that actually didn’t commit it to memory to begin with. A type of paradox.
Farid continues.
“Now the Non-Muslim that’s watching this video naturally will be skeptical. Um will probably say, but you see this hadith of Abu Musa it’s speaking about a miracle why should I believe this narration that’s speaking about a miracle there’s no reason for me to believe this. Now I understand where you’re coming from. But that’s why the hadith of Abu Musa that David{1/2 of Atheist-Christ} is quoting is really interesting; and the reason is because again it’s narrated by around 15 people um at least of course at least that’s what we have received. Right? Now none of those 15 actually provide um any context to this. They simply say stuff like oh I heard Rasulullah (saw) recite this verse that speaks of the son of Adam having two valleys of wealth right? Um and you have them narrating this and it’s preserved arbitrarily. It’s narrated at different times at different places. So, yes you have Abu Musa narrating this in Basra. Uh Ibn Abbas, Ibn Zubair narrating this in Mecca. You have Zaid bin Arqam narrating this in Kufa; and of course you have the rest of the sahaba um narrating this in Medina. That’s really interesting. Their narrating this without a context. No one, none of them are arguing that there is a um collective amnesia going on. However, there is absolutely no trace of this chapter. We don’t know anything about this chapter; except for this one verse. Subhan’Allah. Now, there’s one last thing that comes to mind, which is why does this verse exist. Why do they all remember this verse? And why have they all forgotten the rest of the chapter? Now it seems to me like wallahu’alim that Allah (swt) has left this as a trace to point to there being something there once, and now it’s all gone. Subhan’Allah. And Subhan’Allah I mean I wouldn’t have even come across this if it weren’t for our good friend David Wood {1/2 of Atheist-Christ} Um so thank you David {1/2 of Atheist-Christ} I really appreciate this one. Um trust me I wouldn’t have come across this if not for your video. So please keep it up I’m enjoying, I’m learning I’m hoping that everyone else is enjoying the show as well.” -Farid
Prima-Qur’an comments:
Notice that Farid says, “it’s narrated by around 15 people” latter on he states: “Why do they all remember this verse? And why have they all forgotten the rest of the chapter?“
Now I know that English may not be brother Farid’s native language. May Allah (swt) bless him for doing his level best to combat the false narratives about Islam. However, for an English speaker following along the way Farid words things it gives the impression that these 15 narrators all made comments similar to Abu Musa Al Ashari above; namely, “We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this.” However, that is simply not the case at all. This is why it is important to double check sources and to have those sources available for everyone to scrutinize. Source “Trust me bro” is not helpful. For example:
Anas reported Allah’s Messenger (saw) as saying: قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
If the son of Adam were to possess two valleys of riches. he would long for the third one. And the stomach of the son of Adam is not filled but with dust. And Allah returns to him who repents.
Ibn Abbas reported Allah’s Messenger (saw) as saying:
If there were for the son of Adam a valley full of riches, he would long to possess another one like it. and Ibn Adam does not feel satiated but with dust. And Allah returns to him who returns (to Him). Ibn Abbas said: I do not know whether it is from the Qur’an or not; and in the narration transmitted by Zuhair it was said: I do not know whether it is from the Qur’an, and he made no mention of Ibn Abbas.
Now it is not possible for the companions to not know the difference between a saying or statement of the Blessed Messenger (saw) and the Qur’an.
Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:
I heard Ibn Az-Zubair who was on the pulpit at Mecca, delivering a sermon, saying, “O men! The Prophet (saw) used to say, “If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third, for nothing fills the belly of Adam’s son except dust. And Allah forgives he who repents to Him.” Ubai said, “We considered this as a saying from the Qur’an till the Sura (beginning with) ‘The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you..’ (102.1) was revealed.”
If anything is correct about this it is most likely of a similar nature to the Qudsi hadith. That is the content being attributed to Allah (swt) but actually the words of the Blessed Messenger (saw).
Now there is something that Farid said above that sounds sensible when it comes to his point about a trace of something. However, trying to make a connection between 15 narrators and the exact statements of Abu Musa Al Ashari is not something he established. Nonetheless when he says, “Now it seems to me like wallahu’alim that Allah (swt) has left this as a trace to point to there being something there once, and now it’s all gone.“
That is how you avoid the paradox I mentioned earlier. You have to be able to recall that you forgot something and having a trace of that can help to establish something was forgotten(temporarily, forever) that is not established. The point that I made above:
“So again this creates a type of circular reasoning where if you do not really recall a particular chapter or verse it is possible that you did not forget it at all but just think that you did.”
Prima-Qur’an Conclusion:
I do not think that anything presented by Farid presents any type of proof or miracle for Islam and/or the preservation of the Qur’an. Not being able to know if a particular thing forgotten was temporary or permanent is important.
The very hadith cited that kicked off the conversation could very well fall into the genre of Qudsi hadith. There is evidence that the companions felt this was a saying of the Blessed Messenger (saw).
The statement from At Tabarani was not given the source or actual quote. You would think something this phenomena would be more wide spread as well. The concept of abrogation as mentioned in my other entry here: https://primaquran.com/2022/10/04/why-abrogation-in-the-quran-is-a-false-doctrine/ is an absolute train wreck of a doctrine!
Sunni Muslims (with dissenting voices) believe things like there used to be verses about stoning in the Qur’an and it was removed (abrogated) and yet the ruling remains! Why?
Than as Farid states apparently one companion is made to forget an entire chapter of the Qur’an (with the exception of one verse) and even that verse does not end up in the Qur’an we have today.
The idea that Allah’s verses (his eternal speech) and sifat is superseded by (other eternal speech) better than before merits pensive reflection.
When it comes to our school, Ahl Haqq Wal Istiqama we believe the following:
A) We have the whole of the Qur’an with us.
B) We have the Qur’an that Allah (swt) intended for us to have.
Sunni Muslims (with dissenting voices) for the most part hold to position B. They do not hold position A, as they believe whole chapters, verses etc. were lost/forgotten/ etc.
I am motivated to write articles like this because I imagine there is someone persuaded by the depth, comfort, beauty and cohesiveness of Islam. That person than becomes deterred by others telling them, have you seen this video by Atheist-Christ? Than that well intentioned person watches that video and in fairness watches Farid’s video. That person maybe driven further into doubt because Farid’s video could come across as massive copium. In fact that video response could be what drives that person away from embracing the faith!
I want individuals to find responses like this so that they may know that yes Islam is cogent, beautiful, comforting and has depth. If you find certain presentations of Islam disheartening that is not an aspersion on Islam, it is an aspersion on that particular presentation of Islam.
May Allah (swt) guide us to what is beloved to Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) grant victory to our brothers in Palestine amin!
For those interested I also have some entries on abrogation here:
This was in response to statement by Muft Muhammed Taqi Usmani on abrogation. He is a leading scholar in Pakistan. He is a Sunni Hanafi Maturidi Islamic scholar.
This was in response to statements by Dr. Abdullah Bin Hamid Ali of Lamppost productions and affiliate of Zaytuna Institute in the United States. He is a Sunni Maliki Ashari’i Islamic scholar.
“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Qur’an 20:114)
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“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, “We believe in some and disbelieve in others,” and wish to adopt a way in between.” (Qur’an 4:150)
“The disbelievers vow, “We will never believe in this Quran, nor in those ˹Scriptures˺ before it.” If only you could see when the wrongdoers will be detained before their Lord, throwing blame at each other! The lowly ˹followers˺ will say to the arrogant ˹leaders˺, “Had it not been for you, we would certainly have been believers.” (Qur’an 34:31)
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First understand that we will approach this topic by: Tafsir al-Quran bi-l-Quran. (Interpreting the Qur’an by the Qur’an) That is sufficient to destroy the platform of those who claim that Judaism and Christianity are equally salvific paths. That is to say one can practice Judaism or Christianity without the need to embrace Islam. Or the belief that one need not to enter into the fold of Islam to begin their path to salvation.
We will not rely upon a single hadith or statement of any scholar or anything extraneous to the Qur’an. The tafsir will be: al-Quran bi-l-Quran.
“Whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss. No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another. And We would never punish ˹a people˺ until We have sent a messenger ˹to warn them˺.” (Qur’an 17:5)
“O Mankind, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; it is better for you. But if you disbelieve – then indeed, to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. And ever is Allah Knowing and Wise.” (Qur’an 4:170)
“O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.” (Qur’an 4:174)
“O People of the Book! Now has come to you, making (things) clear to you, Our Messenger, after the break in (the series of) our messengers, So do not say: “There came to us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner (from evil)”: But now has come to you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (from evil). And Allah has power over all things.” (Qur’an 5:19)
“O children of Adam, if there come to you messengers from among you relating to you My verses, then whoever fears Allah and reforms – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Qur’an 7:35)
“We said, “All of you go down from it [the Garden]. When my guidance comes to you, whoever follows my guidance will not have fear or grieve” (Qur’an 2:38)
“Allah said, “Descend, both of you, from here together ˹with Satan˺ as enemies to each other. Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray ˹in this life˺ nor suffer ˹in the next˺.“ (Qur’an 20: 123)
The Qur’an is adamant that those who die while in a state of ingratitude (kuffar) that they are cursed by Allah (swt) and that they will be in hell forever.
This means those Non Muslims who express their ingratitude by rejection of Muhammed (saw) as Allah’s Messenger.
It also means Muslims who express their ingratitude by partaking in major sins and not making repentance.
So there is no favoritism shown in these verses. You die as in a state of ingratitude than hell is your destiny no matter who you are.
“Verily, those who are ungrateful(kafaru), and die while they are (kuffarun) ungrateful disbelievers, it is they on whom is the Curse of Allah and of the angels and of mankind, combined. They will abide therein [under the curse in Hell], their punishment will neither be lightened nor will they be reprieved.” (Qur’an 2:161-162)
Let us look at the ‘go to’ verses that are often used to deceive people to make them believe that Allah (swt) endorses creeds other than what is based upon the Qur’an.
Or the idea that Allah (swt) endorses a way of life (Din) other than Islam.
“Indeed, those who believe (amanu) and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans – those [among them] who believed (amana) in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Qur’an 2:62)
“Those who believe (amanu), as well as the Jews, the Sabeans and the Christians: all who (amana) believe in Allah and the Last Day and did righteous deeds, will have nothing to fear and they will not grieve.” (Qur’an 5:69)
These two verses are what is quoted. They bring the Christians and the Jews and the Sabeans to the table. However, these so-called champions of inclusivism often leave out the Magians. Today they get invited to the discussion. Let us bring in the Magians.
So let us ask which verses would be more inclusive? Those that only mention the Christians, the Jews and the Sabeans? Or the one that mentions the Christians, the Jews, the Sabeans and the Magians? Obviously, the one that mentions four groups rather than three groups.
Subhan’Allah. You see how Allah (swt) has clearly shown us how he would anticipate such manipulation of our religion?
“Indeed, those who have believed (amanu) and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and all those who associated (ashraku) with Allah – Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is, over all things, Witness.” (Qur’an 22:17)
So why do you suppose they do not quote the above verse?
Why leave out the Magians?
Because the above verse does not give that blanket salvation statement that they love to quote from Qur’an 2:62 & 5:69.
The above verse mentions those who believed (amanu) as well as all those who associated (ashraku) with Allah’ and the fact that Allah will ‘judge between them’.
What do we understand about those who have associated (ashraku) with Allah?
“They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh – Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.” (Qur’an 5:72)
The difference between those who believe in Allah and the last day and those who say so with their mouths.
“And there are some people who say: We believe in Allah and the last day; and they are not at all believers. They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive only themselves and they do not perceive.” (Qur’an 2:8-9)
It makes consistent and logical sense that this would be applicable to anyone who has this condition. The condition of claiming with their mouths what is not really in their hearts.
Does Qur’an 2:62 & 5:69&22:17 mean blanket salvation of Jews, Christians, Sabians or Magians?
The answer is no.
#1) Major Point.
Allah (swt) has already informed us for example that the majority of the (ahl l-kitabi) -Jews, Christians, Sabians, & Magians are fasiquna (defiantly disobedient)
This trait of being fasiquana is the trait of those destined for hellfire.
“You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe (watu’minuna) in Allah. If only the (ahlu l-kitabi) People of the Book had (amana) believed, it would have been better for them. Among them (min’humu) are (l-mu’minuna) believers, but most of them are (l-fasiquna) defiantly disobedient.” (Qur’an 3:110)
Many things to note about this verse.
A) The current gen of Muslims (that the verse is addressing) are the best nation produced for mankind and not (The people of the Book).
B) People of the Book = does not necessarily equate to believers.
C) There is a caveat. among them (min’humu) are believers.
D) However, most of them(People of the Book) are l-fasiquna (defiantly disobedient)
Allah (swt) says among them are believers.
“Yet they are not all alike: there are some among the People of the Book who are upright, who recite Allah’s revelations throughout the night, prostrating ˹in prayer˺. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, encourage good and forbid evil, and race with one another in doing good. They are ˹truly˺ among the righteous. They will never be denied the reward for any good they have done. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of those mindful ˹of Him˺. (Qur’an 3:113-115)
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it.” (Qur’an 99:7)
No one (Atheist, Agnostic, Muslim, Jew, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Taoist, Sabean, Magian etc.), is denied the good that they do. They will either get rewarded for it in this life or if the end up in the hellfire (it has levels) and they made not be in the lowest level.
Seems like most of them (Christian, Jew, Sabean, Magian) would be believers if all they had to do was believe in Allah and the Last Day and do good. Yet Allah (swt) mentions that most are fasiqun.
“Most of them(People of the Book) are l-fasiquna (defiantly disobedient)
What is the destiny of the fasiqun?
“And as for those who are Fasiqa (disbelievers and disobedient to Allah), their abode will be the Fire, every time they wish to get away therefrom, they will be put back thereto, and it will be said to them: “Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.” (Qur’an 32:20)
So who are those that have believed (amanu) in verses 2:62 & 5:69&22:17 ?
“And when they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth (l-haqi) they recognize. They say, ‘Our Lord, we believe; so write us down among the witnesses.” (Qur’an 5:83)
They recognize that the Qur’an is l-haqi (The Truth). Not one of many truths. Not a truth. They recognize it as (The Truth).
Also,
“But those firm in knowledge among them and the believers (wal-mu’minuna) believe (yu’minuna)in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammed], and what was revealed before you. And the establishers of prayer [especially] and the givers of zakah and the believers (wal-mu’minuna) in Allah and the Last Day – those We will give a great reward.” (Qur’an 4:162)
Believe in Allah and the Last Dayand did righteous deedsis that all that is required?
(believe in Allah and the Last Day and did righteous deeds, will have nothing to fear and they will not grieve)
The verse is what is known as ‘Amm (general) verse.
Note that believing in Allah and the Last Day seem straight forward (will come back to this). However, the text also states to do: righteous deeds. So what are those righteous deeds?
That verse is similar to:
“Surely those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then they continue on the right way, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.” (Qur’an 46:13)
Notice the above verse has no mention about believing in the Last Day. So are we to assume that if one does not believe in the Last Day than they shall have nothing to fear nor shall they grieve?
“Say, “My Lord has forbidden immoral acts– openly or in secret– sinning and unjustified aggression, and ascribing divinity to others besides Him, and saying things about Him that you do not know.” (Qur’an 7:33)
Notice that the verse above does not simply make believing in Allah one of the requirements for having no cause for fear or grieving. The verse clearly tells us not to: “say thing about Him that we do not know.”
As the honourable Dr. Shadee Elmasry had the following to say in his debate with an envoy from Harvard on the above verses: 2:62 & 5:69
“Believe in God and the last day. That’s it? No, that is a summary! Does the summary explain better or the details?” -Dr. Shadee Elmasry
Very excellent point!
For a more detailed analysis of 2:62 & 5:69 you have verses that add more depth for example:
“O believers! Have faith in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He has revealed to His Messenger, and the Scriptures He revealed before. Indeed, whoever denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day has clearly gone far astray.” (Qur’an 4:136)
“The Messenger believes (amana) in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do (wal-muminuna) the believers. They (amana) believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His Messengers. ˹They proclaim,˺ “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. ˹We seek˺ Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to you ˹alone˺ is the final return.” (Qur’an 2:285)
#2) Major Point. Allah (swt) has never endorsed any religion that goes by the name of Christianity, Judaism, Sabianism or Magianism. In fact, Allah (swt) has never given as a divine appellation the title of Christian, Jew, Sabean, Magian to anyone. Not in the Qur’an and not ever.
Allah (swt) is acknowledging that these are appellations that they have given to themselves. A clear example of that is what follows:
“You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the (amanu) believers the Jews (l-yahuda) and those (ashraku) who associate others with Allah; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the (amanu) believers those who say, (qalu inna Nasara) “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” (Qur’an 5:82)
“Those who say we are Christians” -Allah is not giving as a divine appellation the title of Christianity nor is Allah (swt) endorsing the beliefs of those who call themselves “Christians” Allah (swt) acknowledging that there are those who call themselves “Christians”. Just as there are those who call themselves: Jews, Sabeans, Magians…etc.
The Jews and associators are being contrasted against the (amanu) believers. In the sense of being in the most intense in hatred towards the (amanu) believers.
The Christians are also contrasted with the (amanu) believers, but not in the sense of intense hatred but that at the very least these Christians are prone to show affection as they have among them learned people who are not arrogant.
Go and look once more at the Qur’an 5:69. Notice how all this text that is before that verse is completely ignored. Look at the context that is ignored before they use this “Big Verse”.
“And had they observed the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have been overwhelmed with provisions from above and below. Few among them are upright, yet most do nothing but evil. O Messenger! Convey everything revealed to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not delivered His message. Allah will ˹certainly˺ protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the (l-kafrina)the ungrateful disbelievers. Say, “O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” And your Lord’s revelation to you will only cause many of them to increase in wickedness and becoming (wakuf’ran) ungrateful disbelievers. So do not grieve for the people who are (l-kafrina) ungrateful disbelievers.” (Qur’an 5:66-68)
So what ever you read in that next verse (Qur’an 5:69) it completely rules out any Jew or Christian that does not observe the Torah, the Gospel and what was revealed to Muhammed(saw). They are automatically ruled out!
THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE WAY OF LIFE NAMED BY ALLAH IS ISLAM
“Certainly, The way of life (l-dina) with Allah is (l-is’lamu)Islam. Those who were given the Scripture did not dispute ˹among themselves˺ out of mutual envy until knowledge came to them. Whoever denies Allah’s signs, then surely Allah is swift in reckoning,” (Qur’an 3:19)
Din (way of life) with Allah is Islam.
“If anyone desires other than(l-is’lami) Islam as a way of life (dinan), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).” (Qur’an 3:85)
Those who want to choose a Din (way of life) other than Islam it will not be accepted from them.
“This day have I perfected your way of life (dinakum) for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam (l-is’lama) as your (dinan) way of life. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 5:3)
This Din (way of life) that has been perfected and chosen by Allah is called: Islam)
We do not find the word Judaism in the TNCH (What Christians call Old Testament), nor do we find the word Christian as a reference to what Isa (as) was in the New Testament. This absence of the two words tell us that these titles were never authorized by Allah. In addition, these titles were never used by Musa (as) nor Isa (as).
The Qur’an acknowledges the common thread in all the divine messages when it says:
“He has ordained for you of the way of life (l-dini)what He enjoined upon Nuh and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammed], and what We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and Isa – to establish this way of life (l-dina) and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate (l-mush’rikina) others with Allāh is that to which you invite them. Allāh chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back to Him. (Qur’an 42:13)
So what ever Din (way of life) that Muhammed (saw) is upon is what Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (upon them all be peace) were upon.
As Allah (swt) in verses: 5:3 & 3:85 & 3:19 has identified that Din (way of) life as Islam we know that all the prophets were upon Islam.
This is why the Blessed Prophet (saw) is commanded to say:
“Say, “I am not something original among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner.” (Qur’an 46:9)
“And so those who were given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord and [therefore] believe in it (faya’minu), and their hearts humbly submit to it. And indeed is Allah the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.” (Qur’an 22:54)
The Qur’an also acknowledges that a universal divine message has been sent to all in all languages and the Qur’an affirms the continuity of the divine message. That universal way of life (Din) that has been affirmed is Islam.
“For every community We appointed a code of life to follow. So do not let them dispute with you ˹O Prophet˺ in this matter. And invite ˹all˺ to your Lord, for you are truly on the Right Guidance.” (Qur’an 22:67)
If the code of life of other communities were acceptable, the Blessed Prophet (saw) would not be inviting to them to the Right Guidance.
“O you People of the Book, believe (aminu)in what We have (NOW) revealed,confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces of some of you and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished. Indeed, Allah does not forgive (yush’raka) association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who(yush’rik)associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allah purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, as much as a thread . Look how they invent about Allah untruth, and sufficient is that as a manifest sin. Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture,who believe in superstition and false objects of worship and say about the (kafaru) ungrateful “These are better guided than the believers as to the way”? Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed; and he whom Allah curses – never will you find for him a helper (Qur’an 4:47-4:52)
And he would never ask you to take angels and prophets as lords. Would he ask you to disbelieve after you have submitted?˹Remember˺ when Allah made a covenant with the prophets, ˹saying,˺ “Now that I have given you the Book and wisdom, if there comes to you a messenger confirming what you have, you must believe in him and support him.” He added, “Do you affirm this covenant and accept this commitment?” They said, “Yes, we do.” Allah said, “Then bear witness, and I too am a Witness.” Whoever turns back after this, they will be the rebellious.Do they desire a way other than Allah’s—knowing that all those in the heavens and the earth submit to His Will, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will ˹all˺ be returned? Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord—we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we ˹fully˺ submit.” “If anyone desires other than(l-is’lami) Islam as a way of life (dinan), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).” (Qur’an 3:80-85)
You see here that those who believe in the Din (way of life) called Islam has been juxtaposed in contradistinction to those who do not believe in all the revelation from Allah.
MUSLIMS ARE THOSE WHO ARE UPON the MILLAT of IBRAHIM.
The Qur’an never identifies the Jews or the Christians or anyone else as being upon the Millat of Ibrahim (as).
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in this way of life (l-dini) any difficulty. [It is] the creed (millata) of your father, Ibrahim.Allah named you (l-mus’limina) before and in this that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. (Qur’an 22:78)
The way of life (Din) approved by Allah (swt) has already been identified as Islam.
The creed (millata) of Ibrahim (as) is the creed (millata) of Muhammed (saw).
Muhammed (saw) is a Muslim just as Ibrahim (as) is a Muslim.
“Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim (Mus’liman). And he was not of the (l-mush’rikina)” (Qur’an 3:67)
If Muslim =monotheist than Jews and Christians cannot be by that definition a monotheist. Because Ibrahim (as) as a Muslim is being held in contradistinction with the Jews and Christians.
“Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammed], to follow the creed (millata) Ibrahim, inclining toward truth; and he was not of (l-mush’rikina) those who associate with Allah.” (Qur’an 16:123)
“And who is better in their way of life (dinan) than those who (aslama) submit themselves fully to Allah, do good, and follow the millata (creed) Ibrahim, the upright? Allah chose Ibrahim as a close friend.” (Qur’an 4:125)
Say, “My Lord has guided me to a straight path (siratin mus’taqimin), the way of life (dinan), the millat (creed) of Ibrahim. He was a monotheist and was not of the (l-mush’rikina)” (Qur’an 6:161)
The Jews and Christians are trying to pull us away from the millat (creed) of Ibrahim (as).
“And the Jews will not be pleased with you, nor the Christians until you follow their (millatahum)creed. Say: Surely Allah’s guidance, that is the (true) guidance. And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper.” (Qur’an 2:120)
They say, “Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided.” Say, “Rather, the (millata)religion of Ibrahim, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the (l-mush’rikina) polytheists.” (Qur’an 2:135)
“O believers(alladina amanu)! If you were to yield to a group (fariqan) of those who were given the Book, they would turn you back from belief (imanikum) to (kafirina) ingratitude.” (Qur’an 3:100)
“Or do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yacoub and the Descendants were Jews or Christians? Say, “Are you more knowing or is Allah ?” And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allah ? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.” (Qur’an 2:140)
“I have abandoned the millat (creed) of a people who (la yu’minuna) do not believe in Allah, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are (kafiruna) ungrateful disbelievers.” (Qur’an 12:37)
“Those who were ingrates (kafaru) said to their messengers, “We will drive you out of our land unless you return to our (creed) millat.” (Qur’an 14:13)
WHO ACTUALLY ARE THE BELIEVERS?
“The believers (l-mu’minuna) ARE ONLY those who believe (amanu) in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muhammed] – those are the ones who believe (yu’minuna) in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission for something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 24:62)
“The believers (l-mu’minuna) ARE ONLY the ones who have (amanu) believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful.” (Qur’an 49:15)
The believers (l-mu’minuna) ARE ONLY those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely (Qur’an 8:2)
When the Qur’an is recited does it increase Jews and Christians in faith?
The Qur’an has either one of two effects upon the Jews & Christians.
It softens their heart, they recognize it as truth and enter into Islam (Qur’an 5:83)
It hardens their heart, they seethe in rage concerning the Muslims. (Qur’an 2:88-90)
“So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us. And We eliminated those who denied Our signs, and they were not (mu’minina) believers.” (Qur’an 7:72)
On what consistent basis can one be called a believer that reject some of the signs of Allah (swt) and accept others?
If the Qur’an is a sign of Allah (swt) on one consistent basis can those who reject it and be called a believer?
“But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a (mu’minun)believer – it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah].” (Qur’an 17:19)
The above describes an individual that must exert effort and be on guard. No one someone who believes they are saved by grace apart from effort and vigilance.
The Messenger has believed(amana) in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers (wal-mu’minuna). All of them have (amana)believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination. (Qur’an 2:285)
“So if they believe (amanu) in what you believe (amantum), then they will indeed be ˹rightly˺ guided. But if they turn away, they are simply opposed ˹to the truth˺. But Allah will spare you their evil. For He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Qur’an 2:137)
“As for those who believe(amanu) in Allah and His messengers—accepting all; rejecting none—He will surely give them their rewards. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 4:152)
“Surely those who deny (yakfuruna) Allah and His messengers and wish to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers, saying, “We believe (nu-minu) in some and disbelieve (wanakfuru) in others,” desiring to forge a compromise, they are indeed the true disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers (l-kafiruna) a humiliating punishment. (Qur’an 4:150-151)
The believers are those who accept all of Allah’s Messengers. Where as the ungrateful disbelievers such as the Jews & Christians they believe in some and disbelieve in others. As such, they will be prepared a humiliating punishment.
“But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not believers (bil-mu’minina).” (Qur’an 5:43)
“But no, by your Lord, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE (la yu’minuna) UNTIL (hatta) they make you, [O Prophet], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.” (Qur’an 4:65)
“And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers (l-mu’minina) – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.” (Qur’an 4:115)
DO NOT TAKE UNBELIEVERS IN YOUR WILAYAT
“O you who believe (amanu)! Take not the Jews and the Christians as (awliyaa)(friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but (awliyau) to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as (yatawallahum), then surely he is one of them.” (Qur’an 5:51)
“Your only guardians (waliyyukumu) are Allah, His Messenger, and fellow (amanu)believers—who establish prayer and pay alms-tax with humility.” (Qur’an 5:55)
“Let not believers (l-mu’minuna) take disbelievers (l-kafirina)as allies (awliya) rather than (l-mu’minina)believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah , except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination.” (Qur’an 3:28)
These verses combine together to perform a powerful combo that totally knocks out any concept of the Jews and Christians as believers.
So what ever you want to understand (awliya) as being: friend, protector, helper, ally -that is not something that the believers keep with the Jews and Christians. (except when taking precaution against them in prudence.) However normally that is not the case.
What would be so bad about “being one of them” if being one of them was acceptable to Allah (swt)?
WHOEVER SURRENDERS COMPLETELY TO ALLAH?
“Yea, indeed: everyone who surrenders his whole being unto Allah, and is a doer of good withal, shall have his reward with his Sustainer; and all such need have no fear, and neither shall they grieve.” (Qur’an 2:112)
Can it be said that one who rejects what Allah has ordained to be among those who “submit their whole being unto Allah?”
Can it be said that those who do not accept the Prophets and Revelation that Allah (swt) has ordered upon us to believe in be among those who “submit their whole being unto Allah?“
Allah (swt) requires total submission and not partial, 1/3rd submission.
Does submit to Allah mean ignore his last Messenger?
Do I have a choice to follow the Blessed Messenger (saw) or not? If the Blessed Messenger (saw) says go right than what? I go left?
“Say, “O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” And your Lord’s revelation to you ˹O Prophet˺ will only cause many of them to increase in wickedness and disbelief. So do not grieve for the people who disbelieve.” (Qur’an 5:68)
“So if they believe (amanu) in what you(amantum) believe, then they will indeed be guided. But if they turn away, they are simply opposed. But Allah will spare you their evil. For He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Qur’an 2:137)
They are˺ the ones who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel. He commands them to do good and forbids them from evil, permits for them what is lawful and forbids to them what is impure, and relieves them from their burdens and the shackles that bound them. Those who (amanu)believe in him, honour and support him, and follow the light sent down to him will be successful.” (Qur’an 7:157)
“As for those who believe, do good, and have faith(amanu)in what has been revealed to Muḥammed which is the truth from their Lord—He will absolve them of their sins and improve their condition.” (Qur’an 47:2)
To be a believing Jew and Christian-what is the condition? That they follow the Prophet (saw).
Those who believe it is the truth from their Lord he will forgive their sins.
“Nor were the People of the Book divided until after the clear proof came unto them. And they were not commanded except to worship Allah , [being] sincere to Him in the way of life (Din), inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct way of life (Din). Indeed, they who are ungrateful (kafaru)among the People of the Book and the polytheists(wal-mush’rikina) will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds – those are the best of creatures.” (Qur’an 98:4-7)
The people of the book were commanded: Worship Allah. Be sincere to Him in their Islam, establish the Prayer and pay the Zakah. The ungrateful among them they will be in hell where they will abide eternally within.
MUSLIMS MUSLIMS & MUSLIMS NOT CHRISTIANS OR JEWS
“My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a (mus’liman) Muslim and join me with the righteous.” (Qur’an 12:101)
“And do not argue (tujadil) with the People of the Book except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, “We believe(amanna) in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you.” And our God and your God is one; and we are(mus’limuna) Muslims to Him.(Qur’an 29:46)
Who are Muslims according to this verse?
Muslims are those who believe that Our God and your God is one. Who believe in that which was sent to us and you.
If Muslim was interchangeable with Jew or Christian than it could not be said that they are those who believe in what was sent to us and you.
Note that the People of the Book are contrasted with Muslims.
Also note that Allah (swt) advises us to not argue (tujadil) with The People of the Book except in a way that is best. Why would we need to argue at all if the Jews and Christians could be identified with the millat of Ibrahim?
“And Ibrahim instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], “O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this way of life (l-dina), so do not die except while you are (mus’limuna) Muslims.” (Qur’an 2:132)
“But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, “Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah ?” The disciples said,” We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are (mus’limuna) Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:52)
Testify that we are Muslims not Christians. As already mentioned above no where will you find Allah (swt) giving divine sanction to the name Nasara (translated as Christian). Neither Jesus (as) nor John (as) identify with the term.
No religion called Christianity. Muslim is the name in association with Jesus (as). Notice he did not say: “Nasara”
Does the Qur’an call the followers of Jesus Al-Nasara?
Let us look at the word ‘Al Nasara’ which is often translated as “Christians” in English translations of the Qur’an. One of the things that is most interesting is that the Qur’an never once connects the term (l-nasara) to those who are followers of Jesus(as).
“And Moses said, “O my people, if you have believed in Allah , then rely upon Him, if you should be (mus’limina) Muslims.” (Qur’an 10:84)
No religion called Judaism. Muslim is the name in association with Moses(as). Notice he did not say: “Hudan”
“Say, “O People of the Book, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate (nush’rika) anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are (mus’limuna)Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:64)
Ahl Kitab are associated with associators with Allah. They are contrasted with the Muslims.
Nothing else will drive this point home than the following text:
Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. The Jews say, “Ezra is the son of Allah “; and the Christians say, “The Messiah is the son of Allah .” That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who were kafara (ungrateful disbelievers [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah , and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate (yush’rikuna) with Him. They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the (ungrateful disbelievers) dislike it. It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others (l-mush’rikuna) with Allah dislike it. (Qur’an 9:29-33)
“Those who say, “Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,” have certainly become (kafara) ungrateful disbelievers. The Messiah ˹himself˺ said, “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah—my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever associates (yush’rik) others with Allah ˹in worship˺ will surely be forbidden Paradise by Allah. Their home will be the Fire. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Those who say, “Allah is one in a Trinity,” have certainly become (kafara)ungrateful disbelievers. There is only One God. If they do not stop saying this, those who (kafaru) disbelieve among them will be afflicted with a painful punishment.” (Qur’an 5:72-73)
“O you who have believed (amanu), fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as (mus’limuna)Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:102)
You will never find a verse in the Qur’an anywhere advising people not to die except as ‘hudan’ or a ‘nasara’. If that was the case than perhaps those who wish to pull the wool over the eyes of the masses namely the bizarre claim that: muslimin are monotheists (including Jews, Christians). There is not a shred of evidence of this from the Qur’an!
Muslim is one who follows the way of life (Din) called Islam. It is not title for a federation of monotheist many of whom who have beliefs that are outright shirk.
In fact, let those who argue that Jews and Christians are just different names for Muslims let them prove those claims from the Bible. Since these same people are very tongue n cheek about the Qur’an apparently stating that one of the many biblical canons was current in the time of the Blessed Prophet (saw). Now, if they want to say well these names: ‘Jews’ and ‘Christians’ just became nomenclature and nothing more. Well, that is exactly the point I’ve established #2) Major Point above.
“Perhaps those who disbelieve (kafaru) will wish that they had been(mus’limina) Muslims.” (Qur’an 15:2)
“And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe (yu’minu) in Our verses so they are (mus’limuna)Muslims .” (Qur’an 30:53)
Muslims are those who believe in our verses -the Qur’an.
“Who believed (amanu)in Our verses and were (Mus’limina) Muslims.” (Qur’an 43:69)
Not everyone who claims they are Muslim is a Muslim.
“And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, “I (amantu) believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel (amanat) believe, and I am of the (l-mus’limina) Muslims.” (Qur’an 10:90)
You can have faith (iman) in the wrong things.
“And when We took your covenant and raised over you the mount, “Take what We have given you with determination and listen.” They said, “We hear and disobey.” And their hearts absorbed the calf because of their (bikuf’rihim) ungrateful disbelief. Say, “How wretched is that which your faith (imanukum) enjoins upon you, if you should be believers. (mu’minina)” (Qur’an 2:93)
MUSLIMS ARE TO JUDGE BY THE QUR’AN THE TORAH OR THE INJIL?
Some people, even pseudo-Muslim scholars, Christians will themselves try to be very slippery when it comes to this matter. Be vigilant.
When Allah made a covenant with the prophets, “Now that I have given you the Book and wisdom, if there comes to you a messenger confirming what you have, you must believe in him and support him.” He added, “Do you affirm this covenant and accept this commitment?” They said, “Yes, we do.” Allah said, “Then bear witness, and I too am a Witness.” (Qur’an 3:81)
Question: What is the covenant with the Prophets? That if there comes a Messenger confirming what they have with them that they must believe in him and support him.
Now look at the next few verses:
“We have revealed to you this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and an assessor over them. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires over the truth that has come to you. To each of you We have ordained a code of law and a way of life. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test you with what He has given you. So compete with one another in doing good. To Allah you will all return, then He will inform you regarding your differences.” (Qur’an 5:48)
“Although they used to pray for victory over the polytheists, when there came to them a Book from Allah which they recognized, confirming the Scripture they had ˹in their hands˺, they rejected it. So may Allah’s condemnation be upon the disbelievers. Miserable is the price they have sold their souls for—denying Allah’s revelation and resenting Allah for granting His grace to whoever He wills of His servants! They have earned wrath upon wrath. And such disbelievers will suffer a humiliating punishment. When it is said to them: “Believe in what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “We only believe in what was sent down to us,” and they deny what came afterwards, though it is the truth confirming their own Scriptures! Ask ˹them, “Why then did you kill Allah’s prophets before, if you are (mu’minina)believers? “Indeed, Moses came to you with clear proofs, then you worshipped the calf in his absence, acting wrongfully.” (Qur’an 2:89-92)
The point being is that no matter what you think the Torah, or the Injil was at the time of the Blessed Prophet (saw) or what it may/may not have consisted of because the deal is this:
Does the Qur’an confirms the previous scriptures? The answer is Yes!
So what is required of you people (Jews & Christians)? “you must believe in him and support him!”
So all that can be said is that Allah (swt) often calls them out on account of what they claim to have.
Examples:
“All food was lawful for the children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, “Bring the Torah and read it, if your claims are true.”(Qur’an 3:93)
That statement is a call out and not a confirmation of what is in it.
“Then in the footsteps of the prophets, We sent Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah . And We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light and confirming what was revealed in the Torah—a guide and a lesson to those who fear Allah.” “So let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed in it. And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are (l-fasiquna) the rebellious.” (Qur’an 5:46-47)
Notice that the above text is referencing the Torah and the Gospel. Knowing full well that the Christians and the Jews dispute about their scriptures.
“The Jews say, “The Christians have nothing to stand on” and the Christians say, “The Jews have nothing to stand on.” Although both recite the same scriptures. And those who have no knowledge say the same. Surely Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment regarding their dispute.” (Qur’an 2:113)
So this is a lesson to Muslims. Those who are the People of the Book still have not settled the matter between them on who is and who is not upon right guidance. Therefore do not be troubled if there are those among them that reject the Prophet (saw).
What we do know is that what ever was in that Injil was certainly not sufficient to guide the Christians to the truth. If Allah (swt) was accepting of the Christian doctrine than why inspire the Prophet (saw) the following:
“Now, whoever disputes with you ˹O Prophet˺ concerning Jesus after full knowledge has come to you, say, “Come! Let us gather our children and your children, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves—then let us sincerely invoke Allah’s curse upon the liars.”-(Qur’an 3:61)
Islam has the truth concerning Jesus (as) otherwise these people would not be summoned. A summon in which both parties invoke curses upon one another’s children is a matter of serious doctrinal difference!
The People of the Book, the Jews in particular would try and play a game with the Blessed Prophet. For example:
O Messenger! Do not grieve for those who race to (l kuf’ri) be ingrates—those who say, “We believe (amanna)” with their tongues, but their hearts are(wala tu’min) in disbelief. Nor those among the Jews who eagerly listen to lies, attentive to those who are too arrogant to come to you. They distort the Scripture, taking rulings out of context, then say, “If this is the ruling you get ˹from Muḥammed˺, accept it. If not, beware!” Whoever Allah allows to be deluded, you can never be of any help to them against Allah. It is not Allah’s Will to purify their hearts. For them is disgrace in this world, and they will suffer a tremendous punishment in the Hereafter. (Qur’an 5:41)
“If this is the ruling you get ˹from Muḥammed˺, accept it. If not, beware!”
This is why the advise: “and do not follow their desires over the truth that has come to you.”
This is why Allah (swt) poses a rhetorical question to the Prophet (saw)
“But why do they come to you for judgment when they ˹already˺ have the Torah containing Allah’s judgment, then they turn away after all? They are not ˹true˺ believers.” (Qur’an 5:43)
The above verse is not endorsing the Torah as it is throwing a question back to those who think they mock the Prophet (saw). Which is why go to Him (the Prophet) for a ruling unless you think He (the Prophet) is capable to guide?! If He (saw) is capable to guide why not follow him?
“We revealed the Torah with guidance and enlightenment. The prophets, who had submitted themselves to Allah(aslamu), as well as the rabbis and the scholars, all judged according to that part of Allah’s Book they were entrusted to preserve and to which they were witnesses. So do not fear people. Only fear Me. Do not barter my verses for a small profit. Those who do not judge according to what Allah has revealed are (l-kafiruna) unbelievers.” (Qur’an 5:44)
Lastly, anyone who tries to equate the Torah, or the Injil to any number of disputed Christian canons of the New Testament or to the TNCH would need to prove this. This false notion that the belief in the Qur’an means that we have to believe in the whole of this undefined Torah or the whole of an undefined Injil of the Christians and Jews concurrent in the time of the Blessed Prophet (saw) would need to substantiated.
Give us an idea of what that Torah and Gospel looked like. What do the believers of the historical critical method say about it?
However, if one wants to make the claim that the Qur’an confirms the previous scriptures than what is required of the (Jews & Christians)
“you must believe in him and support him!” So there is no escape from that!
“It is He who expelled the ones who disbelieved (kafaru) among the (ahli l-kitabi) People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think they would leave, and they thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allah ; but [the decree of] Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts [so] they destroyed their houses by their [own] hands and the hands of the (l-mu’minina) believers. So take warning, O people of vision.” (Qur’an 59:2)
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O People of the Book! Let us come to common terms: that we will worship none but Allah, (nush’rika)associate none with Him, nor take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” O People of the Book! Why do you argue about Abraham, while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until long after him? Do you not understand? Here you are! You disputed about what you have ˹little˺ knowledge of, but why do you now argue about what you have no knowledge of? Allah knows and you do not know. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim (Mus’liman). And he was not of the (l-mush’rikina). Indeed, those who have the best claim to Abraham are his followers, this Prophet, and the (amanu) believers. And Allah is the Guardian of those who (l-mu’minina)believe. Some of the People of the Book wish to mislead you. They mislead none but themselves, yet they fail to perceive it. O People of the Book! Why do you reject the signs of Allah by showing ungrateful disbelief(takfuruna) while you bear witness? O People of the Book! Why do you mix the truth with falsehood and hide the truth knowingly?A group among the People of the Book said ˹to one another˺, “Believe(aminu) in what has been revealed to the (amanu)believers in the morning and reject it in the evening, so they may abandon their faith. And only believe (tu’minu) those who follow your (dinakum) religion.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Surely, ˹the only˺ true guidance is Allah’s guidance.” ˹They also said,˺ “Do not believe that someone will receive ˹revealed˺ knowledge similar to yours or argue against you before your Lord.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Indeed, all bounty is in the Hands of Allah—He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Qur’an 3:64-3:72)
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in this way of life (l-dini) any difficulty. [It is] the creed (millata) of your father, Ibrahim. Allah named you (l-mus’limina) before and in this that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. (Qur’an 22:78)
The way of life (Din) approved by Allah (swt) has already been identified as Islam.
The creed (millata) of Ibrahim (as) is the creed (millata) of Muhammed (saw).
Muhammed (saw) is a Muslim just as Ibrahim (as) is a Muslim.
Perennialism is a colonial project and a form of gaslighting on various faith traditions. These faith traditions are not allowed to define the parameters of their own world views and beliefs.
If it is true that 2x=10 that all we see are different symbols that are ultimately equal to one another than why not have everyone simply be a 10? In other words, if Jews, Christians, & Muslims are equal in their beliefs and are equally valid paths than it should be no problem for everyone to become Muslim than.
There are too many questions that such advocates have failed to answer. Which Christian denomination in the world has a belief system that would be acceptable to the theology of the Qur’an? Where can we attend this place of worship?
Again using the questions that Dr. Shadee Elmasry so excellent deployed let us bring them here and may Allah (swt) reward him!
“How could the correct interpretation of a religion be that which brings its own destruction?” In other words there is no need to be upon this din (way of life) because you can be upon other dins? Other ways of life are equally acceptable to Islam?
“Why bring a new religion than?” “Why would Allah bring a new religion?” If the previous emanations of this ‘one truth’ are in tact why bring a new religion? This is redundancy.
“The Quran in constant attack upon the The people of the Book. Torah and Injeel are not reliable. Jews and Christians why do you reject the truth. They twist words out of context. They disregard much of what they were reminded of.”-Dr. Shadee Elmasry
If I am a believer in one constant consistent truth (which is shared by Muslims, Jews & Christians) than why are there conflicting views in the sacred sources of these traditions?
Examples abound:
Jesus is the Messiah and he is also a rebel, and He is also not the Messiah, and he is the Son of God and a Prophet and he is also not a Prophet. He conceived of a virginal conception and others say that his mother (May Allah honour in this world and the next) had illicit relations with Pantera (A Roman Soldier). May Allah protect us from the perverts!
Is the blessed Prophet Muhammed (saw) a liar? Was he crazy. He is both a Prophet and not a Prophet.
What has passed is simply just the tip of the iceberg.
There are too many key irreconcilable differences to suggest these are all divinely endorsed paths going in the same direction.
“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger will certainly be in the Fire of Hell, to stay there for ever and ever.” (Qur’an 72:23)
“The ungrateful disbelievers (kafaru) from the People of the Book and the (wal-mush’rikina) polytheists were not going to desist until the clear proof came to them a messenger from Allah, reciting scrolls of purity, containing upright commandments. It was not until this clear proof came to the People of the Book that they became divided even though they were only commanded to worship Allah with sincere devotion to Him (l-dina) the way of life that is upright, establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. That is the upright Way (dinu). Indeed, those who are ungrateful disbelievers(kafaru) from the People of the Book and the (wal-mush’rikina) polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, to stay there forever. They are the worst of ˹all˺ beings.” (Qur’an 98:1-6)
May Allah (swt) guide us all to the truth! Dear reader may Allah expand your chest and open your heart to the light of Islam!
“Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.” (Qur’an 35:6)
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“Do not follow Satan’s steps; he is clearly your enemy.” (Qur’an 2:168)
Narration from Iblis -that He loves Imam Ali also.
From Al-Hussayn B. Ahmad Al-Alawi From Ali B. Ahmad B. Ibn Ali From Hassan B. Ibrahim Al-Abbasy From Umayr B. Mirdas Al-Dawaqli From Ja’afar B. Nasheed Al-Malakeyyi From Waki’a From Al-Masoudi: That He Heard that Salman Al Farisi(May Allah have mercy on him)) Say: Iblees(May Allah’s curse be upon him) Once came upon a people that were backbiting The Amir ul Mumineen So, he stood in front of them and the people then said: : ‘Who is this that stands in front of us?’ He said: ‘I Am Abu Murrah’ Then they replied: “Do you not hear what we say?” So he said: “Do you insult your master Ali B. Abi Talib?” They then said: “And where did you get this that he is our master?” So He said: “From the sayings of your Prophet that “Whoever I am his master Ali is also his master. Oh Allah avow whoever avows him and disavow whoever disavows him and aid whoever aids him and abandon whoever abandons him.” So they then asked: “Are you of those who Avow him and of his party?’” He replied: “I am not of those who avow him nor am I of his party but I am one who loves him.“
Even though this hadith has the status of marfu there are questions that remain.
Is it the belief of those who propagate such hadith that Iblis can take human form and narrate from the Blessed Messenger (saw)?
How can Iblis love his enemies when the whole of humanity is his enemy.
Iblis says that he is in Wilayat with Imam Ali
From our perspective this hadith in which Iblis claims to love Imam Ali is problematic.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“Whoever sees me in a dream has (really) sees me, for Satan cannot imitate me.”
The issue with the above narration should be self evidence. This hadith is not problematic at all if it is a reference to the immediate audience and those who have first hand seen the Blessed Prophet (saw). However, it becomes problematic thereafter in that no one has seen the Blessed Prophet (saw) firsthand, all we have are descriptions of his noble being.
Thus, the proof against taking dreams as evidence has been established. Why? The admission here is that Satan cannot imitate the Prophet (saw). But, if one has not seen him first hand ……well I’ll let you use your brain and reflect on it.
So to be clear I am not rejecting the hadith of the Blessed Prophet (saw) about those seeing his blessed being in a dream (from those who actually saw him and met him). I believe that the narration is authentic and the Blessed Prophet (saw) said this.
May Allah guide the Ummah! May Allah forgive the Ummah! May Allah protect the Ummah.
For more on hadith in relation to Ghadir Khum please see:
“Woe! Unto those who write the Book with their hands then say, This is from Allah; so that they may take for it a small price. So woe! to them for what their hands write and woe! to them for what they earn.” (Qur’an 2:79)
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Question: What does unadulterated mean?
Answer: unadulterated -complete or pure:
Source: (Longman Active Study Dictionary by Addison Wesley Longman pg. 723)
The reason the word ‘unadulterated’ is used is due to possible misunderstanding among both Christians and Muslims.
What is this possible misunderstanding among Muslims and Christians?
For Muslims, the misunderstanding comes from believing that the Bible as a whole should either be accepted or rejected.
For Christians the confusion comes from believing that the Injil is equivalent to the ‘New Testament’ and the ‘first five books of Moses‘ are equivalent to the Torah
According to the Qur’an is the ‘Bible’ as a whole completely untrustworthy?
Answer: No!
To say that ‘the Bible as a whole‘ is not the word of God is not true.
Question: How do we know?
“Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write whom they find mentioned with them in the Torah and the Injeel.” (Qur’an 7:157)
Prima Qur’an Comment: It doesn’t say they used to find it. It says whom they find mentioned with them.
This very well could be a reference to:
“If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:15-16)
“Say, He is Allah the absolute One.” (Qur’an 112:1)
This is mirrored in the following: confirmed in
“Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Prima Qur’an Conclusion: The above passages are enough evidence to show the Qur’an does confirm some of the ‘what is in what could commonly be called in the English vernacular as ‘Bible’ that came before it.
Thus ,Muslims should not say we completely reject all contents of the ‘Bible’-as a whole.
Does the Qur’an say that the ‘Bible’ as ‘a whole‘ is the word of God?
Answer: No!
How do we know?
“He begets not nor was he begotten” (Qur’an 112:3)
This conflicts with:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have life everlasting.” (John 3:16)
“Allah there is no God but He. The Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtake him.” (Qur’an 2:255)
This conflicts with:
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” (Genesis 2:2)
“Say not Three (Trinity) desist for it is better for you Allah is one.” (Qur’an 4:171)
This conflicts with:
“For there are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)
Note: In Latin the word three is Trinitas. This is what the above text would say when rendered in Latin.
Prima Qur’an Conclusion: From the above passages it can clearly be seen that the Qur’an does not accept the ‘Bible’ as ‘a whole‘.
The Qur’an: quality control over the previous revelation
Allah says, in the (Qur’an 5:48)
“And we have sent down to you The Book in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it and MOHAYMINAN over it. So judge by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you. To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allah willed, He would have made YOU ONE NATION, but that may test you in what He has given you; so strive as in a race in good deeds. The return of you is to Allah; then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ.”
Two major points should be highlighted.
1)Mohayminan what does it mean? It means to be a quality control over that which went before it. To assess a thing. If the previous scriptures were intact in Toto Allah would not need to be a Mohayminan over it.
If Allah willed He would have made us ONE NATION, with one set of scripture, one tongue, one color, etc., but Allah says he did not and states clearly it is to test us.
What scripture is discussed in the Qur’an?
Answer: The Qur’an discusses the scripture (revelation) of Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus.
The Scripture of Abraham.
“Verily! This is in the former scriptures, The SCRIPTURES of ABRAHAM and Moses.” (Qur’an 87:18-19)
Prima Qur’an comment: Do we know where that scripture of Abraham is?
Answer: No.
Question: Do we believe in the principle that he did contain such a scripture?
Answer: Yes! because Allah said so.
Question: Is there evidence of other lost scripture or books within the Bible itself?
Answer: Yes!
Examples of Lost Scripture and Lost Books in the Bible.
“And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the nation took vengeance upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jashar?” (Joshua 10:13)
Another example:
“Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?”(1 Kings 11:41)
And yet another example:
“Now the acts of King David, from the first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel The Seer, and In The Chronicles Of Nathan The Prophet, and in the Chronicles Of Gad The Seer.” (1 Chronicles 29:29)
Question: Does anyone know where these books are?
Answer: No!
Conclusion:
No one knows where these books are. No one knows where the “Writings of the prophet Nathan” are. However, Allah says in the Qur’an there existed the scripture of Abraham so we believe in it. So to the Christians and Jews believe in lost books. I am sure they believe that Allah has some divine wisdom why they cannot go and check the above-mentioned quotes for themselves. Likewise, we do not know where the scrolls of Abraham are.
The Scripture of Moses
“Therefore remind in case the reminder profits. The reminder will be received by him who fears. But it will be avoided by the wretched, Who will enter the Great Fire and make to taste its burning. Wherein he will neither die nor live. Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success, And remembers the Name of his Lord, and prays. Nay, you prefer the life of this world; Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. Verily! This is in the former scriptures, The Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.” (Qur’an 87:9-19)
However, a grave misconception exists over what the scripture of Moses is.
It Is not the first five books of the Christian ‘Bible’. Also, it is not the first five books of the Jewish ‘Tanach’. Moses was given the Torah.
It was not something revealed after Him. Traditionally both Christians and Jews regarded Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy as the words of Moses or author Moses.
This has to be rejected in light of the following evidence.
1)(Deuteronomy 34:7)
“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died.”
2) As already mentioned above in (Genesis 2:2)
God rest and needs to be refreshed.
3) A careful reading of the Qur’an quotation above coupled with a careful reading of the first five books of the ‘Bible‘ fails to show that such things are written in there. There is no mention of eternal hellfire, nor mention of the life to come.
4) Internal evidence showing the Torah was lost and has been tampered with.
point A)
“And Hiil-Kiah, the high priest, said unto Shaphan, the Scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hil-kiah gave the book to sha phan, and he read it.” (2 Kings 22:8)
“The accession of Josiah and his eagerness to restore the worship of Jehovah led to the renovation of the Temple, and in the course of this, B.C 621, the book of Deuteronomy was discovered. The priest took it to the king, who joyfully welcomed it and set about putting its program of religious reformation into effect. The dramatic story is told in 2 Kings 22 and 23. Josiah put a stop to the idolatrous practice of the people.”
Source: (Edgar J. Godspeed ‘How came the Bible?’ pgs 22-23)
point B)
“How can you say we are wise and we have the law of the lord with us when behold the lying pen of the scribes have made it into a lie” (Jeremiah 8:8)
Conclusion: The Torah was given to Moses. Not an autobiography of the life of Moses. Moses did not write, “I was 120 years old when I died”.Moses also did not write things that are blasphemous in nature as to the divine might and power of God. The writings of Moses if it were intact in ‘Toto’ would have had mention of hellfire and a life to come as the Qur’an says it did.
Source: (Qur’an 87:9-19)
Lastly, the eternal evidence is that the Torah was lost and that it was also made into a lie by the lying pen of scribes.
The Scripture of David.
As already given above in (Qur’an 21:105), Allah gave David the Zabur…
Zabur is usually thought of as the Psalms of David. The Psalms are those writings contained in the Tanach of the Jews and the Bible of the Christians. There is not much in this collection of writings entitled Psalms that can be understood to be blasphemous or offensive to Islam.
However, we take issue with statements such as…
“I say, “You are gods, Sons of the Most High (GOD), all of you.” (Psalms 82:6)
Also
I will tell the decree of the Lord: He said to me,” You are my son, today I have begotten you.” (Psalms 2:7)
As already mentioned above…
“He begets not nor was he begotten” (Qur’an 112:3)
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Prophet David never made such statements about Allah The Psalms in ‘Toto’ is not the Zabur. Allah has no sons. To ascribe to him sons is a monstrous assault on the absolute oneness of God. To call people ‘gods‘ even figuratively has evolved into a lot of problematic theology within Christianity. See: Benny Hinn “Little god Theology.”
The Scripture of Jesus.
“And in their footsteps, We sent Jesus son of Mary confirming the Torah that had come before him, and We gave him The Gospel.” (Qur’an 5:46)
There is also quite a lot of misunderstanding among Muslims and Christians as to what the Injeel (Gospel) is in Islam.
Question: What does the word Gospel mean?
Answer: The Gospel means- the good news.
The Christian missionaries (some honest some not so) try to equate the Injeel (Gospel) with 22 or 27 books known as the ‘New Testament’. Some Muslims may even believe that the Injeel is the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, there is good reason to show this again not to be the case.
1) For example:
“And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” (Matthew 4:23)
Prima Qur’an comment: Jesus obviously was not walking around with the ‘New Testament’ in his hands.
2) The following as well:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” (John 3:16)
Prima Qur’an comment: The Qur’an clearly states that Allah does not beget a son in (Qur’an 112:3) So we know that is not the Gospel Allah gave Jesus.
3)Accounts of Jesus in the Qur’an not found in the Christian ‘New Testament’.
“At length she brought the baby to her people, carrying him in her arms. They said: “Oh Mary! Truly an amazing thing have you brought!” “O sister of Aaron! your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!” But she pointed to the baby. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
He said: “ I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; “And He has made me blessed wherever Ibe, and has enjoined don me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; “He has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; “ So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life again” (Qur’an 19:27-33)
“And to appoint him an apostle to the Children of Israel, with this message: “ I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah’s leave: and I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah’s leave; and I declare to you what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if you did believe;” (Qur’an 3:49)
Prima Qur’an comment: The above-mentioned statements of Jesus are not to be found in any quote “canonical New Testament writings”.
These narratives of Jesus have close proximity to ‘The Gospel of Thomas’ and “The Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ” both of which are 2nd-century apocryphal books. One of these is actually a part of the ‘P52‘ fragment. One of the earliest pieces of evidence that Christians like to boast about.
Why apocryphal? Because the ‘Catholic‘ church does not accept them as cannon. However, let’s look at some interesting statements in the ‘New Testament’.
Apocryphal literature quoted in the New Testament itself.
Jannes and Jambres for example:
“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” (2 Timothy 3:8)
“There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
“Jesus began to preach being about 30 years of age.” (Luke 3:23)
Prima Qur’an comment:It is obvious from these texts that the ‘New Testament’ the Christians have today does not contain everything done or said by Jesus.
For 30 Jesus did not say or do anything? The Qur’an refutes this by saying that Jesus indeed spoke as an infant in defense of his mother’s chastity, long before the age of 30. I personally would want all the evidence possible of his sayings and deeds so I could come to a conclusion about what his Gospel truly was.
4) The Christians for a very long time never contained what is now known to be the entire ‘New Testament‘. Many churches only contained some documents. As there was no printing press at the time. The masses of Christianity did not have access to their scriptures for some time.
There were Christians in the time of Muhammed (saw) for example who did not believe that the books of James, Jude, Revelation, 1st, and 2nd Peter were to be included as Canon. These include the Syriac Christians among others.
5) Which Gospel: The Gospel of the Circumcision or the Gospel of the Uncircumcision?
Christians also tell us there is but one gospel. Unfortunately, that is not the case as internal evidence within the text of the Bible itself indicates otherwise.
“But Contra wise, When they saw that the Gospel of the Uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the Circumcision was unto Peter.” (Galatians 2:7-9)
“For if someone comes to you and preaches a different Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a different gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8)
These texts all show there was deeply early division among Christians. It is also proof to support the Muslim claim that there were indeed various gospels in circulation. Can you imagine if the Blessed Prophet Muhammed (saw) started to talk about a ‘different Qur’ an‘? Christians would have a field day.
Also, note the haughty tone of Paul. Can you imagine if God wanted to send an angel from heaven to preach a gospel different than the one Paul is preaching?
Conclusion: Within the text that Christians call the ‘Gospel‘ or ‘New Testament‘ is self-evident information about Jesus “preaching the gospel (Injeel)“. Jesus obviously did not preach from a book or a gospel that came after him, or from an autobiography about him.
That the message of Jesus, when committed to writing, was not preserved in ‘Toto’ can be seen from references stating that Jesus is the ‘son of God‘ or the ‘begotten son of God‘. However the Qur’an is emphatic in that Allah does not have a son, rather it is through adoption, ‘monogenes‘ or of any kind.
Another further proof is that the Christians themselves are confused as to what really comprises their ‘New Testament‘ Canon. Insha’Allah this will be discussed shortly.
Lastly, what Muslims dispute is not that Jesus was given the gospel but what were the contents of that gospel. As can be seen from Biblical internal evidence there were at least two gospels. Muslims believe the Gospel of Jesus was the one of Circumcision.
WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE BIBLE?
Before we delve into the topic of ‘what actually is the Bible‘ let us quote some interesting passages from the Qur’an.
“Say If mankind and jinns were together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another.” (Qur’an 17:88)
“And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to Our slave, then produce a Surah (Chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses besides Allah, if you are truthful. But if you cannot do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones prepared for the ungrateful.” (Qur’an 2:23-24)
Now, what actually Is the Bible…
Question: What does the word Bible mean?
Answer: The word Bible itself comes from a Greek word Biblious meaning – A library of books.
Just exactly what is to be constituted in this library is a matter of debate among sincere Christians themselves.
The Bible of the Catholic Church
For example, the Catholic church which has 1.1 billion followers worldwide have 73 books in their Bible that their ‘non-traditionalist’ rivals do not have. Among them are Tobias, Judith, Ecclesiastes, Baruch, Wisdom, 1 Machabees, and 2nd Machabees.
In fact in direct refutation of Martin Luther (a father of Protestant Christianity) and Protestant affirmations about what is and is not to be in the Bible the Catholic church had this to say:
“If any man does not accept sacred and canonical these books entire, with all their parts, as have customarily been read in the Catholic Church and are contained in the ancient common Latin edition… LET HIM BE ANATHEMA!”
Source: (Forth session of the council of Trent, April 8, 1546)
The Bible of the Syrian Church.
You also have the ‘Eastern Christians’ (Nestorian, Syrian) church who believes that there should only be 22 books in the New Testament. Excluded books where Revelation, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and at times James.
Comments by Martin Luther a father of Protestant Christianity.
Then you have a father of the Protestant Christians – Martin Luther.
Luther believed that the book of James should not have been included in the New Testament. He concluded it to be ‘an epistle of straw‘. The full quote is here:
Martin Luther writes: “In a word, St. John’s Gospel and his First Epistle, St. Paul’s Epistles, especially Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, and St. Peter’s First Epistle are the books that show you Christ and teach you all that is necessary and good for you to know, even though you were never to see or hear any other book or doctrine. Therefore St. James’ Epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to them; for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it.“
Source: (In “Luther’s Preface to the New Testament,” published in 1522, revised in 1545, in the Works of Martin Luther, Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1932, copyrighted by the United Lutheran Church in America, vol. 6. pp. 443-444., translated by C.M. Jacobs)
The Letter of James is probably the oldest book in the New Testament, but it has a very poor reputation. Eusebius writes, around 325, that the authenticity of this letter is…
“doubted, since few early writers refer to it, any more than to Jude’s…but the fact remains that these two [James and Jude]…have been regularly used in very many churches.”
Source: (The History of the Church, Book 2.23.17)
Martin Luther writes in the sixteenth century of the letter that “I, therefore, refuse him a place among the writers of the TRUE CANON OF MY BIBLE…
Source: (Preface to the Epistles of St. James and St. Jude).
Why was Luther so adamant? Why shouldn’t this oldest of the Christian books be venerated?
Luther’s first reason is that the message of the letter is “in direct opposition to St. Paul and all the rest of the Bible” in ascribing Abraham’s salvation to his work of offering up Isaac.
The second reason is that “In the whole length of its teaching, not once does it give Christians any instruction or reminder of the passion, resurrection, or spirit of Christ. It mentions Christ once and again, but teaches nothing about Him; it speaks only of a commonplace faith in God.”
This is very interesting seeing that Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Lithuania along with 35 million Americans belong to the ‘Lutheran denomination‘ of Christianity.
The Bibles of Evangelical Christianity.
Surprisingly the greatest critique of the Bible comes from Evangelical Protestant Christianity!
Baptist, Church of Christ, Pentecostals, Jehovah’s Witness, Methodist, and Lutherans: -you name them. In fact, the following passages and versions are very popular among the mentioned Christian sects. Not to mention the new versions of the Bible cast serious doubt on passages accepted canonical by all the aforementioned groups.
Examples from Evangelical Christian Bibles.
Mark (16:9-20) is contained in the {King James Bible} as well as many older Bibles.
However, since the discovery of manuscripts more ancient upon which the King James Bible has been based serious doubt has been cast upon such passages as being spurious or at least very doubtful. John (8:1-11) is yet another example of such a passage.
The above-mentioned passages are contained in the {King James Bible}
Yet in the {Revised Version of the Bible 1952} The preface states,
“Yet the {King James Version} has GRAVE DEFECTS. Pg v(5) of the preface states, “The {King James Version} of the New Testament was based upon a Greek text that was marred by mistakes, containing the accumulated errors of fourteen centuries of manuscript copying.” Pg vi(6) of the preface states, “We now possess many more ancient manuscripts of the New Testament, and are far betterequipped to seek to recover the original wording of the Greek text.”
Question: What are some of these GRAVE DEFECTS?
Answer:
Example 1
In the {King James Version} You have (1 John 5:7)
“For there are three that bare record in heaven, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one”
This was a big-time ‘proof-text’ for the Trinity. However, the following Bibles have it removed forever!
{New American Bible}
{Revised Standard Bible 1952}
{Revised Standard Bible 1971}
{New International Version}
Prima Qur’an Comment: They have footnotes that say, “There is no manuscript before the 16th Century that contains such a passage.”
One wonders how many other times commentary ‘slipped’’ into the text during copying.
Example 2
The {King James Version} has Mark (16:9-20) as part of its word of God.
However, about Mark (16:9-20) Edgar J Goodspeed Bible translator noted:
“The short conclusion connects much better with Mark (16:8) than does the long, but neither can be considered as the ORIGINAL part of the GOSPEL of Mark.”
Source: (The Goodspeed Parallel New Testament, 1944, p 127)
The following Bible Versions have them removed. If they are not removed there is usually a (footnote) or a line before and after Mark (16:9-20) showing why it is doubted as the word of God.
{New American Bible}
{Revised Standard Bible 1952}
{Revised Standard Bible 1971}
{New International Version}
Prima Qur’an Comment: The text of Mark 16:9-20 has words attributed to Jesus which Christians for over 1600 years believed to be the words of Jesus. One wonders how many other words attributed to Jesus may be taken out next!
Example 3
The {King James Version} has John (8:1-11) as part of its word of God.
However Christian scholars have this to say, “The spurious passage at John (7:53-8:11) have obviously been ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL TEXT of John’s Gospel, They are not found in the Sinaitic Manuscript or, the Vatican Manuscript No. 1209, though they do appear in the sixth-century Codex Bezae and later Greek manuscripts, They are omitted, however, by most of the early versions. It is evident that they are not part of John’s Gospel. One group of Greek manuscripts places this passage AT THE END OF JOHN”S GOSPEL; another group PUTS IT AFTER LUKE (21:38), supporting the conclusion that IT IS A SPURIOUS AND UNINSPIRED TEXT.”
Source: (Revised Standard Bible 1971)
The following Bible Versions have them removed. If they are not removed there is usually a (footnote) or a line before and after John (8:1-11) showing why it is doubted as the word of God.
{New American Bible}
{Revised Standard Bible 1952}
{Revised Standard Bible 1971} This version even has the material about where various manuscripts have placed it.
{New International Version}
Conclusion: We can see that there is no such thing as ‘The Bible‘ among Christians. There are Bible(s) according to whose camp you belong to; or what church tradition one follows. We can all see that the Bible does not meet the standards of the Qur’an in the passages given at the beginning of this discussion.
The Christians themselves have been led into believing that certain books or passages are the words of God or inspired of him when they are not. Thus people have made something like the Bible.
I will leave you with this following quotation from the book of Revelation for Christians to think about…
Revelation (22:18-19)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book;if anyone adds to them, God will add to him plaguesdescribed in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of this Book of Prophecy God will take away his share in the tree of lifeand in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BIBLE
One of the reasons we didn’t name this topic “The Authenticity of the Bible” is because To be Authentic you have to have a genuine original.
Christians never call their documents ORIGINAL. They call them ANCIENT AND MOST ANCIENT. The reason they do this is that they are simply being transparent. However, some of them make the masses feel that the Bible they have is an exact replica of the original manuscripts. However, when they are confronted with point-blank contradictions in the text they usually resort to saying, “well I believe those are not in the original autographs.”
“This is necessary to do with the books of the Bible as with all literary documents of the ancient world because the originals are no longer extant. Not only this but of the more than five thousands manuscript copies of the Greek New Testament no two of them agree completely. It is essential, therefore, that anyone who expounds the Word of God be acquainted to some degree with the science of textual criticism if he or she is to expound that Word faithfully.”- Daniel B Wallace.
If you look up the word Authentic in any dictionary it has the following meanings, original, real, true, genuine, pure, accurate, reliable, legitimate, factual, actual, concrete, verifiable, authoritative, trustworthy.
So if by their own admission they don’t have an authentic original indeed what are they telling us?
This is unlike the Qur’an in which states that it will be preserved.
“Verily, It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption) .” (Qur’an 15:9)
Note: Allah tells us that he will guard the Qur’an. This is unlike the previous scriptures. It was up to human beings to guard them.
“…and the rabbis and the priest (judged according to their Scriptures), FOR TO THEM WAS ENTRUSTED THE PROTECTION OF THE BOOK OF ALLAH, and they were witnesses to it.” (Qur’an 5:44)
So it can be seen that from the viewpoint of the Qur’an two things.
1) The protection of the Qur’an is under Allah
2) The protection of the previous scriptures is under the religious establishment.
Does the Bible even claim to be from God?
The Qur’an claims to come from God.
“The Most Beneficent. Has taught the Qur’an. He created man. He taught him speech.” (Qur’an 55:1-4)
Again we have…
“Ha Mim. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Qur’an 46:1-2)
Examining the Doctrine of Inspiration: The claim that it comes from God.
The reason for this investigation is simple. Why should a person consider scripture to have come from Allah if it doesn’t claim to come from him?
When we ask the Christians a very pointed question. Does your book (scriptures) even claim to come from Allah, they say yes.
The two texts cited by them to prove that the Bible claims to come from Allah are
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction into righteousness” {King James Version} (2 Timothy 3:16)
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
If we look at the first text given of 2 Timothy (3:16) in context he will see that it only certifies the Hebrew Scriptures.
2 Timothy (3:15), ” And from a child thou has known the holy scriptures which are able to make the wise unto salvation which is in Jesus Christ.”
We can see clearly that in the context that IF this text is making a claim for anything it’s the ‘Old Testament scriptures‘.
Why? Because when Timothy was a child there were no ‘New Testament’ writings at that time.
We also know that this scripture DOES NOT verify everything in the Bible as being from Allah! How do we know?
When we get a correct translation. As already mentioned the Christians have Bible Versions that are more accurate than those they previously possessed.
In the first {Revision Standard Version} of the Bible, the translation of (2 Timothy 3:16) is very revealing.
2 Timothy (3:16)(Revised Standard Version 1881, 1952)
“Every scripture inspired of God is profitable for teaching, forreproof,for correction, for training into righteousness.”
Also, the {Douay Rheims Version} and the {Revised Standard Version 1971} have an alternative reading of this passage.
I hope that it is understood the difference above between ‘all scripture IS-inspired‘ and ‘all scripture inspired’.
For example, if I say ALL the apples are good it means ALL the apples are good. However, if I say all the apples that are good it means some of them are not good.
Read the above passage once again…
“Every scripture inspired by God (not that all scripture IS inspired by God) is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training into righteousness.”
The Internal Evidence that not “all scripture is inspired”.
We have internal evidence within the Biblical text that shows the above reading ‘All scripture inspired by God’ is correct.
“And unto the married, I command Yet not I, But the Lord Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him or put her away.” (1 Corinthians 7:10-12)
“Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord: yet I give my judgment as one that obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say that it is good for a man so to be.” (1 Corinthians 7:25-26)
“But she is happier if she so abides, After my judgment; and I THINK (I’m not sure) also I have the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians7:40)
In the first text, it can be seen that in the first text Paul was going to say something and then caught himself. The second text is crystal clear in that Paul says that he doesn’t feel the Holy Spirit inspiring him to say anything. However since he does keep in contact with Paul, Paul feels he can give his own judgment. In the third text, Paul is not even sure if the Spirit of God is with him.
More examples of Uninspired scripture.
“One of themselves, even a prophet of their own said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” (Titus 1:12)
This is not inspired scripture. Paul is quoting Epimenides who was a 6th Century soothsayer. He was no prophet of God.
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” (Acts 17:28)
This is not inspired scripture. Paul is quoting the poet Aratus from Cilicia Lycia and this guy is talking about the pagan deity ZEUS! He is then making a poem about a pagan deity that applies to God!
“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
We know this is uninspired scripture because the teachings of prophets are perfect. Jesus would have never uttered this statement.
Greater teaching is that ‘a man lay down his life for his enemies’
A very candid presentation by the ‘author’ Luke.
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us. just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been instructed.” (Luke 1:1-4)
There are a lot of things to be said about this.
1) Where are the many accounts Luke is talking about?
2)Note: Luke said he is getting second information from ‘those who were eyewitnesses’ who ‘delivered them to us‘ He isn’t getting his information from God but from oral tradition.
3) Luke says ‘it seemed good to me also‘ to write ‘an orderly account’ If Luke thought the accounts already given were sufficient he would not have felt the need to write his own account
4) Finally If Luke writes an ‘orderly account’’ are the other accounts disorderly? Would the Holy Spirit inspire disorder?
This is clearly different from the apostles of Jesus who said:
“For it seemed good to us AND the Holy Spirit to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:” (Acts 15:28)
The Apostles said it seemed good to ‘us and the holy spirit‘. However Luke said it seemed good to him (only)
Prima Qur’an Comments: Because of these and other problems the Evangelical Christians have adopted their position on inspiration.
We will now examine the four points Evangelicals have now adopted.
1) Everything inspired is not scripture.
2) Everything that is scripture is not inspired.
3) Everything that is scripturally inspired is not preserved.
4) Everything that is preserved is not scripturally inspired.
An example of point number 1
“I have much to write to you, but I do not wish to write with pen and ink. Instead, I hope to see you soon, when we can talk face to face.” (3 John 1:13)
Prima Qur’an Comment: This writer is clearly stating that everything inspired need not be written. He feels what he needs to say can be said in person “face to face”.
At the least, it shows that everything that is inspired is not necessarily scripture.
An example of point number 2
“Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord: yet I give my judgment as one that obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say that it is good for a man so to be.” (1 Corinthians 7:25-26)
Two examples of point 3
“I wrote to unto you in an EPISTLE not to company with fornicators:” (1 Corinthians 5:9)
Prima Qur’an Comment: Well if everything Paul wrote was inspired by God then where is this epistle at?
By the way This is 1st Corinthians, not 2nd Corinthians.
“Or do you suppose it is in vain that the SCRIPTURE says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us”? (James 4:5)
Prima Qur’an comment: Where is this Scripture at? So does the Bible contain all of God’s scripture or not?
Examples of point 4
The ‘Catholics‘ would say that the book of Tobit has been preserved but the Protestants would not agree to it being inspired. Many books of antiquity have come down to us today and Christians would readily agree that this is not necessarily a case for inspiration.
Further thoughts on inspiration. The following is taken from Daniel B Wallace. He is a very conservative Christian and has written an excellent essay on various viewpoints among Evangelicals. It is quite an eye-opening essay.
“Sturz gives some further helpful analogies (Byzantine Text-Type, 38): Preservation of the Word of God is promised in Scripture, and inspiration and preservation are related doctrines, but they are distinct from each other, and there is a danger in making one the necessary corollary of the other. The Scriptures do not do this. God has given the perfect revelation by verbal inspiration, was under no special or logical obligation to see that man did not corrupt it.”
“W.N Pickering “Identity of the New Testament Text,” 150. In Pickering’s theological construct, then, the doctrine of inspiration has no significance, for elsewhere he argued If we do not have the inspired Words or do not know precisely which they be, then the doctrine of Inspiration is inapplicable ( Burgeon, 88)”
“Matthew 24:35 “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” is used in support of preservation. But once again, even though this text has the advantage of referring to Jesus words (as opposed to the OT), the context is clearly eschatological; thus the words of Jesus have certainty of fulfillment That the text does not here mean that his words will all be preserved in written form is absolutely certain because (1) this is not only foreign to the context but implies that the written gospels were conceived at this stage in Heilsgeschichte decades before a need for them was apparently felt; (2) we certainly do not have all of Jesus words recorded either in scripture or elsewhere (cf John 20:30 and 21:25)”
“Wilbur Pickering, former president of the Majority Text Society, has continued this type of argument into the present debate. In his 1968 master’s thesis done at Dallas Seminary ( An Evaluation of the Contribution of John William Burgon to the New Testament Textual Criticism )”
We have seen that Christians are claiming for the Bible what it does not even claim for itself, namely that it is the inspired word of God. We have given clear proof text that shows many passages in the Bible are not inspired by God. Above all Luke himself, a major Gospel writer does not claim inspiration from God.
The Claims of Allah in the Qur’an about the previous scripture.
“Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, This is from Allah,” to purchase with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn thereby.” (Qur’an 2:79)
In the sublime oral tradition we have:
Narrated Ubaidullah: Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Why do you ask the people of the scripture about anything while your Book (Quran) which has been revealed to Allah’s Apostle is newer and the latest? You read it pure, undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and said, ‘It is from Allah,’ to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!”
“And verily, among them is a party who distort the Book with their tongues (as they read), so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book, and they say: “This is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it.” (Qur’an 3:78)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah’s Apostle said (to the Muslims). “Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, ‘We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.’
2) Different schools of thought reporting in another language and twisting the meanings of the original wordings.
Internal evidence that shows the Bible agrees with Allah on this.
“How can you say we are wise, and the ‘law of the lord'(Torah) is with us’? But BEHOLD, THE FALSE PEN OF THE SCRIBES HAS MADE IT (The Torah) INTO A LIE.” (Jeremiah 8:8)
“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli Eli lama sabach-thani?” which is being interpreted, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”(Matthew 27:46)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
1) In the first point, the Bible itself claims the Torah was corrupted by the pen of the scribes. Every time you see ‘law of the lord’ that word there is TORAH!
2) In the second point, this has puzzled scholars of the ‘New Testament‘. Why would someone leave the Aramaic statement of Jesus and then put the translation in Greek?
Why not just translate it?
Also, this is evidence that Jesus spoke Aramaic, not evidence Jesus spoke Greek. So the ‘New Testament‘ documents are not in the language of revelation that Jesus spoke.
DOES THE BIBLE CONTAIN CONTRADICTIONS?
“Do they not consider the Qur’an carefully? Had it been from any other Allah, they would have surely found therein many contradictions.” (Qur’an 4:82)
Now when talking with Christians you may see the following positions taken.
1) The Bible is inerrant (error-free), this means free from contradiction or problems of any kind. This position is usually taken among the Evangelical Christians.
2) When you show them a contradiction (or error) they might say, “Well it has nothing to do with my doctrine.”
They may say, “Well it’s ONLY ONE!” This position is usually taken by many mainstream churches such as the Catholic Church.
3) They might even say well I BELIEVE in the ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS it was error-free. This position is taken by Evangelical Christians when finally confronted with the daunting reality of a flat contradiction or error.
Let’s respond to the above going from 3 to 1.
3) It should be noted that there are NO ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. They have ‘ancient‘ and ‘most ancient‘ as already discussed. They are just relying on BLIND FAITH.
The Christians do not have a dual preservation method in which people were committing the revelation to memory as well as text.
2) If they say, “It’s only one,” it should be pointed out that their doctrine is that the BIBLE IS INNERANT. Therefore it’s a MAJOR PROBLEM.
Alas! How many holes does it take to pop a balloon?
What if you were on an airplane and a window was smashed out. Well, it’s only one!
One hole pops the balloon!
1) The fact is that there are flat contradictions and errors in the Bible. The following will give more than enough proof on that.
Question: Should a contradiction from a translation be sufficient to show the Bible has an error?
Answer: No!
When giving contradictions in the Bible it should be noted that we should show such contradictions from the Greek and Hebrew Text.
Why? Because we as Muslims would not accept any ‘contradictions‘ from a translation.
The Qur’an is in the Arabic text. So we should not set about a double standard.
So surface (seemingly) contradictions will not do.
Question: What is surface contradiction?
Answer:
Example of a Surface contradiction in the Bible.
“And Michael the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.” (2 Samuel 6:23)
“The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoi and Mephiboseth; and the FIVE SONS OF MICHAL.” (2 Samuel 21:8)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
This would be a contradiction except that there is an alternative reading of MICHAL with the Hebrew word MERAB. Thus, as the Hebrew text can read ‘ FIVE SONS OF MERAB‘ we don’t have a contradiction.
Thus ,the importance of establishing the evidence from the text in the original language is demonstrated.
EXAMPLES OF CLEAR CONTRADICTIONS IN THE TEXT
“When the evening came, they brought unto him MANY that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed ALL that were sick.” (Matthew 8:16)
“And at evening, when the sun did set, they brought unto him ALL that were diseased and them that were possessed with devils. And ALL the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed MANY that were sick of diverse diseases, and cast out MANY devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.” (Mark 1:32-34)
Prima Qur’an Comment: The Greek word formany is (pantas) and the Greek word for all is (pollous). Matthew saw some deficiency in a Jesus that only healed many so he switched the Greek words around.
Another example:
“And there came a voice from heaven, saying YOU ARE my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)
“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, THIS IS my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
Prima Qur’an Comment: The Greek word for you is su and the Greek word for this is would be (outos). Mark held that Jesus was the adopted son of God called adoptionist theology. Matthew felt Jesus already knew who he was because he was the son of God based on the Virgin birth and therefore did not need to be told who he was. He changes the wording of the voice so the people are addressed.
Another example:
“And when he knew it of the Centurion, he gave the body to JOSEPH. And HE brought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher.” (Mark 15:45-46)
“And though THEY found no cause of death in him, yet desired THEY Pilate that he should be slain. And when THEY had fulfilled all that was written of him, THEY took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher.” (Acts 13:28-29)
Prima Qur’an comment: This goes back to the conflict on whether Jesus died was impailed on a Tree or rather he was nailed to a Patibulum (T tau or + cross shaped fixture). Here it says the same Jews who desired his death put him in the tomb and not Joseph.
Another example:
“Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightaway you shall find an ASS tied, AND A COLT with her: lose THEM, and bring THEM unto me. And if any man says ought unto you, you shall say, The Lord hath need of THEM and straightway he will send THEM. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King comes to you, meek, and sitting upon an ASS, AND A colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ASS, AND the COLT, and put on THEM their clothes, and they set him thereon.” (Matthew 21:2-7)
“And said unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, whereon never sat; lose HIM, and bring him. And if any man says unto you, Why do you do this? Say you that the Lord has need of HIM, and straightaway he will send HIM hither. And they went their way and found the colt tied by the door without It a place where two ways met, and they lose HIM. And certain of them stood there and said, What are you doing losing the COLT? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the COLT to Jesus, and cast their garments on HIM, and he sat upon HIM.” (Mark 11:2-7)
“Rejoice greatly, O’ daughter of Zion; shout, O’ daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass,” (Zechariah 9:9)
Prima Qur’an Comment: The Greek word for a colt (singular) is polos and for it (ayton). The Greek word for them is (vavtos). This contradiction is not really on Mark’s part as it is Matthew’s lack of understanding Hebrew or else using the Greek Septuagint. In Zechariah 9:9 the original Hebrew shows only one ass, the term even stressing that. However, Matthew didn’t look into the Hebrew text of the matter.
The New American Bible has the following commentary,
“The ass and the colt are the same animal in the prophecy, mentioned twice in different ways, the common Hebrew literary device of poetic parallelism. Matthew takes them as two is one ofthe reasons why some scholars think that he was a Gentile rather than Jewish Christian who would presumably not make the mistake. Upon them: upon the two animals; a peculiar picture resulting in Matthew’s misunderstanding of Zechariah 9:9”
Source: (New American Bible pg 1043 commentary on Matthew 21)
Another example:
“And they arrived at the country of GERGESENES, which is over against Galilee. Then the whole multitude of the country of the GERGESENES round about sought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.” (Luke 8:26,37)
“And when he came to the other side into the country of the GADARENES, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.” (Matthew 8:28)
Prima Qur’an Comment: This error in the Greek text is more due to a scribal gloss in the Greek text.
Another example:
“And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him A CENTURION, beseeching him,” (Matthew 8:5)
“And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, HE SENT UNTO THEM ELDERS OF THE JEWS, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.” (Luke 7:2-3)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
The Greek phrase for older men is (presbuteros). The Greek word for centurion is (hekatontarchos) The reason this exists has more to do with oral tradition than ideas either of the writers had.
Another example:
“While he spoke these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is EVEN NOW DEAD: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.” (Matthew 9:18)
“And sought him greatly, saying, My little daughter LIES AT THE POINT OF DEATH: I pray thee, come and lay hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” (Mark 5:23)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
The Greek term for the deceased is (teleute). Again Matthew thought that a Jesus who could save a dead person was going to be more illustrious than a Jesus who merely saved a dying person. So This contradiction is the result of the developing theology surrounding the person of Jesus.
Another example:
“The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and see THE STONE TAKEN AWAY from the sepulcher. Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciples, whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.” (John 20:1-2)
“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and ROLLED BACK THE STONE from the door, and sat upon it.” (Matthew 28:2)
Prima Qur’an Comment: The reason such an anomaly exists is that the writer John believed in a spiritual resurrection of Jesus in which stone would be no barrier. However, Matthew believed in a physical resurrection and a stone would be a barrier to that.
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” (Deuteronomy 24:16)
“Samuel said to Saul: “It was I the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel. Now, therefore, listen to the message of the Lord.
This is what the Lord of hosts has to say: “ I will punish the Amelek tribe did to Israel when he barred his way as he was coming up from Egypt. Go, now, attack Amalek, and deal with him and all that he has under the ban Do not spare him, but kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses.” (1 Samuel 15:1-3)
Prima Qur’an Comment: One can make all the excuses they want about how infants took part in harming Israel on the way to Egypt, but it would be a real stretch. God did not command the killing of babies. This text here is a forgery. Blood lust in the name of God is not scripture and it contradicts God’s clear command in Deuteronomy that children will not be put to death for their father’s misdeeds.
Conclusion: It should be seen that the Bible has contradictions within the text. These contradictions also show that the Bible is not the word of God according to the criteria the Qur’an gave above.
THOSE AMAZING BIBLE ‘PROPHECIES’
If I had to pick THE reason why I think most Christians believe that the Bible is THE word of God, I would say because of the idea of prophecies.
Most Christians think the Bible is filled with amazing Bible prophecies about the future. ‘
However, what does the Bible say about such ‘prophecies’?
“If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods ‘which you have not known,’ and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord, your God is TESTING YOU, TO KNOW WHETHER YOU LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART and all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
So the Bible admits even FALSE PROPHETS can make accurate prophecy fulfillment. However, I think there are better reasons than that to question the ‘amazing prophecies‘ belief held by Christians. Many Christians are not even aware of the following.
1) In the original CONTEXT, they were not even ‘prophecies‘ awaiting fulfillment!
2) Text quoted as ‘prophecy‘ is not even taken as a HOMOGENEOUS UNIT and the context is ignored.
3) Sometimes even the text supposedly quoted IS NOT EVEN TO BE FOUND.
4) Sometimes text from TWO DIFFERENT PROPHETS is attributed to ONE PROPHET.
5) Most important these ‘proof-text’ where only ‘prophecies‘ in the WILD IMAGINATIONS of those that said so.
AN EXAMPLE OF NUMBER 1
An interpolated statement put in the mouth of Jesus
“He who believes in me, as SCRIPTURE SAID,” out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
However, there is NO SUCH SCRIPTURE anywhere in the Tanach (Old Testament)! Yet {foot notes} will have the following passages.
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground I will pour my spirit upon your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3)
“Lo, everyone one who thirsts come to the waters; and he who has no money come and buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)
” And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things (Hebrew meaning uncertain) and make your bones strong and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isaiah 58:11)
All of the above passages are not the STATEMENT OF Jesus in (John 7:38). They are no ‘prophecies‘ awaiting fulfillment.
AN EXAMPLE OF NUMBER 2
Another interpolated statement put in the mouth of Jesus.
“The son of man does go as it is WRITTEN OF HIM: but one unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Mark 14:21)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
Again there is NO SUCH STATEMENT in the Tanach (Old Testament)
However {foot notes} will have the following passage.
“Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” (Psalms 41:9)
There are two major points I would like to reflect on regarding this.
1) In CONTEXT this passage CANNOT refer to the life of Jesus. Why? Because of the following text.
“As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me, heal me, FOR I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THEE!” (Psalms 41:4)
So was Jesus sinless or not?
2) If there was a ‘prophecy‘ about a man betraying Jesus this would mean Judas’ destiny was marked before the poor fellow was even born! So much for salvation!
“He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “ Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew2:15)
This is taken from:
“When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.” (Hosea 11:1-2)
Prima Qur’an Comment: This is only a prophecy fulfillment in the wild imagination of Matthew. Anyone can clearly see that Hosea 11:1-2 is no amazing prophecy awaiting fulfillment. Not only that but the context refers to Israel and not Jesus.
Only if you ignore the context could it refer to Jesus. Why?
Because a Muslim would never ever accept that Jesus “sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to idols” that’s why!
AN EXAMPLE OF NUMBER 3
“And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “HE SHALL BE CALLED A NAZARENE.” (Matthew 2:23)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
There is no such ‘prophecy‘ anywhere in the Tanach (Old Testament). The scholars of Christianity respond with the following two arguments. |
1) Matthew said SPOKEN not WRITTEN.
Response: Well how can there be proof of divine inspiration in a ‘prophecy statement’ that may never have been made?
2) Those scholars that know better than to use the above ‘reasoning’
say it is fulfilled in (Isaiah 11:1).
Note: In your Bible it is quite likely that you will find a {foot note} will also have you look at (Isaiah 11:1) which says,
“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
Response: It does not say, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Anyhow in a last-ditch effort they will say the word BRANCH (NESTER) is derived from the same Hebrew root as Nazareth the town.
Wrong!
Branch (NSTR) and Nazareth (NZRTH) and worse yet Nazarene (NZRN) are not the same root words.
Strong’s Concordance says the name Nazareth is of “uncertain derivation.”
“Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightaway you shall find an ASS tied, AND A COLT with her: lose THEM, and bring THEM unto me. And if any man says ought unto you, you shall say, The Lord hath need of THEM and straightway he will send THEM. All this was done, that it might be FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET, saying, Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King comes to you, meek, and sitting upon an ASS, AND A colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ASS, AND the COLT, and put on THEM their clothes, and they set him thereon.” (Matthew 21:2-7)
“And said unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a COLT tied, whereon never sat; lose HIM, and bring him. And if any man says unto you, Why do you do this? Say you that the Lord has need of HIM, and straightaway he will send HIM hither. And they went their way and found the colt tied by the door without It a place where two ways met, and they lose HIM. And certain of them stood there and said, What are you doing losing the COLT? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the COLT to Jesus and cast their garments on HIM, and he sat upon HIM.” (Mark 11:2-7)
In light of:
“Rejoice greatly, O’ daughter of Zion; shout, O’ daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass,” (Zechariah 9:9)
Prima Qur’an Comment:
This was only a ‘prophecy‘ in Matthew’s wild imagination. Here “Matthew” or whoever wrote it did not understand the use of Hebrew poetic parallelism and thus misunderstood the text. Or he was using the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew. In any case, it’s no amazing prophecy awaiting fulfillment.
Matthew’s mistake is unique in that it shows many things.
a) It contradicts Mark who says Jesus rode only one colt.
b) Shows Matthew even in the most ancient manuscripts they have put words in Jesus’ mouth such as “untie THEM”, and “bring THEM.” Jesus had to ride two ass because Matthew thought this is what ‘prophecy’ fulfillment required from him.
“Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet, “ And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter’s field just as the Lord had commanded me.” (Matthew 27:9-10)
Prima Qur’an Comment: This another example of those prophecies the Christians keep telling us about. Try as one might this statement is nowhere in Jeremiah.
The New American Bible had the following comment to say,
“Matthew’s attributing this text to Jeremiah is puzzling, for there is no such text in that book, and the thirty pieces of silver thrown by Judas ‘into the temple” recall rather Zechariah 11:12-13”
Source: (New American Bible pg 1058 commentary on Matthew 27)
AN EXAMPLE OF NUMBER 5
In the (King James Version) of the Bible we have.
“As it is WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS, “Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mark 1:2-3)
However, Christians can’t hide this error forever. So now the (Revised Standard Version) which is the (corrected King James Version) has the following.
“As it is WRITTEN IN ISAIAH the prophet, “Behold I send my messenger before thy, face, who shall prepare they way” (Mark 1:1)
When you read your {foot notes} to (Mark1:2) it has (Malachi 3:1) meaning THIS IS ACTUALLY IN (MALACHI3:1)!
So there we have someone attributing to Isaiah that which was spoken in Malachi. This is no amazing ‘prophecy‘, just a biblical error!
Conclusion: Making any text of the Tanach (Old Testament) into a ‘prophecy‘ the way the New Testament writers did is not really hard to do.
To show some examples we will take some text IGNORE THE CONTEXT and make some ‘prophecies‘ of our own.
Ready?
MAKING BIBLICAL “PROPHECIES” IS FUN, CREATIVE AND EASY TO DO!
To show the reader that it is not very difficult to take passages out of context in the “Old Testament” and make them apply to Jesus I decided to see if I was any good at it. You the reader be the judge.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man, thus fulfilling what was WRITTEN of him.” (Luke 2:52)
Well, I would then have a {foot note} that would say (Proverbs 3:4). You the Christian wanting to see the amazing ‘prophecy’ fulfillment’ would turn to find.
“And you will find favor and understanding in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:4)
So That is fulfilled in Jesus. If not why not?
“And they all forsook him and fled thus fulfilling what was WRITTEN of him.” (Mark 14:50)
I would then have a {foot note} that would say (Isaiah 53:3). You the Christian wanting to see the amazing ‘prophecy’ fulfilled would turn to find:
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)
So that was fulfilled when the disciples all left Jesus. If not why not?
“Jesus wept thus fulfilling what the scripture said concerning him.” (John 11:35)
I would then have a {foot note} giving (Psalms 69:3). You the Christian wanting to see this amazing ‘prophecy’ fulfilled would than find:
” I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” (Psalms 69:3)
So this was fulfilled when Jesus wept. If not why not?
OVERALL CONCLUSION: THE BIBLE HAS BEEN ADULTERATED
The statements by Allah in the Qur’an about the Bible (as a whole) show it does not pass the test! The Bible did not meet the 5 points.
1) Anyone can make something like the Bible. The Christians are not even sure what is or what is not revealed. They have been duped into believing certain passages or books are God’s word(s) when they were not.
2) The Bible has not been preserved. The adding and taking away of books and passages show this. If it had been preserved none of these arguments would have come up among Christians. The fact they don’t have the ‘authentic‘ Bible but just ‘ancient‘ and ‘most ancient’ proves the point as well.
3) The ‘scriptures‘ do not eve claim to be of divine origin. They are very candid about the fact they are not.
4) Any book claiming to be from God should be free from contradictions; even one!
5) On the so-called ‘prophecies’ in the Bible once again their own ‘scripture‘ indicts them on forging scriptures (Jeremiah 8:8) and making up prophecies (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) and attributing them to God.
Is it not time to look at the glorious Qur’an?
To put the Qur’an through the above criteria?
To consider it’s sublime divine guidance for all of humanity?
To consider last of all that it is a divine message for all mankind?
“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.”(Qur’an 5:83)
“And if You (Muhammed) are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto you, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before you. Verily the Truth from your Lord has come to you. So be not of those who doubt.” (Qur’an 10:94)
﷽
Before I get started I would like to address you the curious, the truth seeker the student of comparative religion. The state of apologetics and polemics between Muslims and Christians today has reached a point that neither side wants to give an inch. It is up to you the truth-seeker to open your heart to the truth. I am not able to win any over I am simply able to try and convey the message to the best of my abilities.
Addressing the thought process of why Christians try to take this approach with Muslims.
In other words even if Christians did manage to convince Muslims to accept one of their competing canons of the Bible, that does not automatically mean that the Bible itself is a revelation from Allah. Thus, the Muslim considers Christianity. Equally possible is that the Muslim would question why the Qur’an would endorse any competing Christian canon of the Bible that is riddled with errors. The Qur’an asking us to follow error for guidance would mean that the Qur’an itself is in error. Thus, rather than becoming a Christian the Muslim might very well become an Agnostic.
“That is Allah—your True Lord. So what is beyond the truth except falsehood? How can you then be turned away?” (Qur’an 10:32)
So let us come to the matter.
Does the Qur’an teach that ‘The Bible’ was corrupted?
One of the amazing things that Muslims believe today especially Muslim apologists is that the Qur’an teaches that the Bible is corrupted. There could be nothing further from the truth.
Nowhere in the entire Qur’an will you find any of the following statements:
“The Bible has been corrupted.”
“The Vedas have been corrupted.”
“The Gospel was corrupted.”
“The Torah was corrupted.”
“The Book of Mormon was corrupted.”
These statements are just not there!
Does the Qur’an endorse the various Christian canons known as the Bible?
However, the following statements are also not there:
“The New Testament is from Allah”.
“The Bible is from Allah.”
“The Book of Tobit is from Allah”.
“The Book of Mormon is from Allah”.
“The Injeel equals the 22 books of the New Testament”
“The Torah equals the first 5 books known as the Pentateuch.”
“Mark 16:9-20 is canon.”
But do Muslims have the right to question the Bag Ga-vita, Book of Mormon, the Book of Tobit, The book of Jude, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Mark 16:9-20, or the Zen Avesta?
Our answer to that is simply yes!
Based upon the Qur’an the Muslims have the right to view with skepticism any claim that a revelation is from Allah.
We believe that Allah has sent a prophet to every people and thus has communicated to that prophet, however not all of those communications sent by Allah to his prophets were preserved in their original or pristine forms.
“For We assuredly sent among every People an apostle,(with the Command), “Serve Allah, and eschew Evil”: of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who were ungrateful” (Qur’an 16: 36)
“Of some apostles, We have already told you their story; of others, We have not;- and to Moses, Allah spoke direct;” (Qur’an 4:164)
“We did send messengers before you: of them, there are some whose story We have related to you, and some whose story We have not related to you. (Qur’an 40:78)
So one can readily see from the above that Muslims believe in the universality of the message of Islam. Every people had a prophet sent to them. One of the proofs that Muslims would use to establish this is that every language on this earth has a word for Allah/The God.
Specific types of revelations mentioned in the Qur’an.
The Qur’an mentions four specific types of revelation in the Qur’an: The ‘Suhuf’ of Abraham. The ‘Taurat’ of Moses. The ‘Zabur’ of David and the ‘Injeel’ of Jesus.
Scrolls that Abraham had. (Which the Christians and Jews do not accept nor acknowledge)
I would now like to examine the use of the word ‘Suhuf’ in the Qur’an.
“The admonition will be received by those who fear(Allah):
But it will be avoided by those most unfortunate ones,Who will enter the Great Fire,.In which they will then neither die nor live. But those will prosper who purify themselves,And glorify the name of their Guardian-Lord, and (lift their hearts) in prayer.Day (behold), you prefer the life of this world;But the Hereafter is better and more enduring. And this is in the earliest (Revelation),-The Suhuf of Abraham and Moses.” (Qur’an 87:10-19)
“Nay is he not acquainted with what is in the Suhuf of Moses-
And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements?-Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another; He has promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead)..” (Qur’an 53:36-38 and verse 47)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
Now to my knowledge, there is no Christian or follower of Judaism who believes that Abraham was given a collection of scrolls that was a revelation from Allah.
They do not believe this and we do not contain such a collection of scrolls today. This becomes a matter of belief. Now there are three pieces of information above that I have found to be very interesting.
Namely the following:
Who will enter the Great Fire?
Mention of the Hereafter.
The promise of a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead).
Now, the Qur’an says that these three items are mentioned in the scrolls of Ibrahim and Moses.
However, a person can search the five books attributed to Moses and find nothing mentioned about the afterlife, the rising of the dead, or the hellfire. This is proof enough that the Torah today that Christians and Jews reference is not what Allah had in mind.
There are three possibilities:
A) Either the Qur’an is in error in making such an assertion.
B) This particular revelation is lost (either forever or somewhere at the bottom of the sea or in some temple waiting to be discovered).
C) The ‘Suhuf’ of Ibrahim and Moses today is mostly intact with some editing of the text.
As a Muslim, I find it highly suspicious that the teachings about the raising of the dead and the hereafter would not be in the Torah. Especially since the Hebrew slaves came out of Egypt; a culture immersed in afterlife theology.
In fact, the jewishvirtuallibrary which is to represent all things Jewish accurately had the following to say:
“Jewish teachings on the subject of the afterlife are sparse: The Torah the most important Jewish text, has no clear reference to the afterlife at all.”
I would now like to look at the use of the word ‘Taurat’ in the Qur’an.
Torah/Tawrat: meaning teaching, instruction or law.
“But why do they come to you for a decision, when they have the Taurat before them?- therein is the (plain) command of Allah. yet even after that, they would turn away. For they are not (really) People of Faith.It was We who revealed the Taurat (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price.If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) the ungrateful. We ordained therein for them: “Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, an ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.”But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers.
To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and assessing it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you have We prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute. (Qur’an 5:43-45 and verse 48)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
In regards to verse 43 above there is a sublime oral tradition or ‘hadith’ about the Prophet Muhammed (saw) that relates to us the following:
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar:
A group of Jews came and invited the Messenger of Allah (saw) to Quff. So he visited them in their school. They said: AbulQasim, one of our men has committed fornication with a woman; so pronounce judgment upon them. They placed a cushion for the Messenger of Allah (saw) who sat on it and said: Bring the Torah. It was then brought. He then withdrew the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it saying: I believed in you and in Him Who revealed you. He then said: Bring me one who is learned among you. Then a young man was brought. The transmitter then mentioned the rest of the tradition of stoning similar to the one transmitted by Malik from Nafi'(No. 4431).
This whole account relates that there was no revelation in Islam as of yet in regards to what to do with married people who committed adultery.
Among the Jewish community in Madinah this very issue came up. The charge was that the aristocracy committed adultery so much that the Jews dare not stone for every account of adultery. Muhammed (saw) had a man who could read, read the verse of the stoning and it was applied.
The Qur’an says the followoing about the Taurat that Moses was given.
“By its standard have been judged the Jews.”
The Qur’an than goes on to say in verse 44 that If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) ungrateful disbelievers. We see that in this statement based upon verse 43 the Jews were chided for coming to Muhammed (saw) when they had the law before them.
Verse 45 states that it was revealed to them “Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.”
This statement of the Qur’an appears to also agree in principle with the statement found in Exodus 21:24-25. “Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
However, the very curious thing is why do Christians/Perennialist/Pseudo-Islamic scholars only quote part of the verse of the Qur’an?
The verse in total says, But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are wrong-doers.
You do not find this statement: “But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself.” in the sacred text of the Jews and Christians!!
Anyone who does not asserts that the Qur’an is affirming revelation sent before it is also missing the fact that the Qur’an itself is setting it’s own criteria for truth is just being dishonest. As Allah clearly says, “And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrong doers.”
Notice that verse 48 states: “To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and assessing it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah has revealed.
The scripture that is being assessed is that which came before is the Qur’an. If it was perfectly preserved it would not be in need of assessment.
It is very tongue in cheek for a person be they a Jew or a Christian to say:
“Oh the Qur’an is confirming the revelation before it, but the Qur’an itself is not revelation”.
The only authority given to any revelation that precedes the Qur’an comes from the Qur’an itself. Anyone who misses this point is either being deceitful or simply haven’t thought about It deeply enough.
Note: The Qur’an never says that the Torah is the five books known today as (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
If we examine the above statement of an eye for an eye. One may wonder. What happens if a person is blind and that person now blinds someone else?
If we take a text at face value and literal interpretation it can become very problematic. This is why in Rabbinical Judaism there is an understanding that Allah gave Moses the Torah as a written revelation as well as an oral Torah.
An example in the Qur’an of the Oral Torah being quoted.
“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person- unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land-it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”
This could easily be a quote of/or something that predates Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5
This alone is enough to refute the ‘Kara-rite’ Jews and ‘Protestant’ Christian claims that Islam only validates and accepts a written Torah.
“Muhammed is the apostle of Allah. and those who are with him are strong against the Ungrateful, (but) compassionate among each other. You will see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, (being) the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Taurat; and their similitude in the Injeel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, (filling) the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Ungrateful with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward.” (Qur’an 48:29)
There is no such similitude that I know of in the sacred text of what the Jews and Christians would consider the Taurat or the Injeel.
So there are three possibilities for this:
A) The Qur’an is wrong that such a similitude exists.
B) The entirety of the Taurat and Injeel message is not with us today.
C) The Taurat and the Injeel are not with us at all.
As a Muslim, I would hold that option B would be my position. As I use the Qur’an as the final criterion.
“Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet, the Unlettered, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the Taurat and the Injeel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper.” (Qur’an 7:157)
The verse above says that the Muhammed (saw) is mentioned in the ‘Law’ and the ‘Gospel’. Now there are a few ways Jews and Christians and Muslims can approach this.
A) When it says the ‘The unlettered” it could mean that this prophet is not spelled out by name. Or there could be a reference to a person who is illiterate. It could be a form of what we know as metonymy. Jesus (as) is not mentioned by name in the TNCH for example. We
It could also be that there are allegories about this Prophet in the Torah and the Gospel that are preserved therein.
B) His name is mentioned in black and white and since we do not see that in today’s Torah or Gospels than obviously, today’s Torah and Gospels are not what the Qur’an has in mind.
C) The Qur’an is in error as today’s Torah and Gospel of Jesus are intact and mention nothing about Muhammed (saw).
I am inclined to go with option A and I give my reasons and justificatioins for doing so with the following entry:
In the end, I do not believe that the Qur’an states for Muslims in black and white terms what the Taurat is. I do know for certain that the Qur’an nor the sacred oral tradition, state that the Taurat is the five books commonly attributed to Moses. No has of yet proved this to us.
Even in the above hadith where the prophet Muhammed (saw) says to bring the Torah the burden of proof could go either way. As calling part of the ‘Taurat’ the Torah is as appopriate as calling Qur’an 2:256 the Qur’an, even though it is not the entire Qur’an.
However, one argument that is brought forward and that is easily debunked is the idea that: “Well Allah didn’t reveal anything to Muhammed (saw) yet.”
This cannot be a solid argument because of the previous verse we mentioned.
“But why do they come to you for a decision, when they have the Taurat before them?- therein is the (plain) command of Allah. yet even after that, they would turn away. For they are not (really) People of Faith”. (Qur’an 5:43)
One would be hard-pressed to believe that the Torah brought to Muhammed (saw) consisted of the five books commonly attributed to Moses. Let us argue that it could have simply been a scroll and that scroll is what we find in the book of Leviticus today. This would not argue that the entire book of Leviticus is endorsed; nor would it argue that the five books commonly attributed to Moses were endorsed either.
It would be a huge fallacy to assume based upon today’s printing press that every Jew and Christian had copies of their respective scriptures in one whole volume or corpus and took it with them everywhere they went.
This is wishful thinking indeed.
So on what basis could Muslims question the claims made about today’s so-called Taurat?
Muslims have a basis to question the claims made about today’s ‘taurat’ do to the internal evidence itself.
“How can you say, We are wise, and the Law of the Lord is with us’? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie,” (Jeremiah 8:8)
Note (Whenever you see that term ‘law of the Lord’ the Hebrew word is Torah)
“And Hiil-kiah, the high priest, said unto Shaphan, the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hil-kiah gave the book to Sha phan, and he read it.” (2 Kings 22:8)
“The accession of Josiah and his eagerness to restore the worship of Jehovah led to the renovation of the Temple, and in the course of this, B.C. 621, the book of Deuteronomy was discovered. The priest took it to the king, who joyfully welcomed it and set about putting its program of religious reformation into effect. The dramatic story is told in 2 Kings 22 and 23. Josiah put a stop to the idolatrous practices of the people,…”
Source: (Edgar J. Goodspeed ‘How came the Bible?’ pgs 22-23)
The Book of Deuteronomy is thought to be written by Moses.
“So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day. And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.” (Deuteronomy 34:5-7)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
Does this mean that Allah, in His wisdom and power could not choose to reveal to Moses the time of his death? It’s true Allah could have done so. Yet this response seems more like a theological response to what is plain to anyone who reads this.
It is most likely that Moses did not write “I am 120 years old when I die”. The fact that the whole context refers to Moses in the third person supports this view.
Something really interesting and a step ahead may have been something like this. “The Lord revealed to me that I will be 120 years old when I die”.
Which 10 commandments?
You may hear many times people bring up the so called:
‘The 10 commandments’.
This might be an interesting challenge when engaging with our Jewish or Christian friends. It is not an exhaustive list to memorize. Ask your Jewish or Christian friend the next time you meet them to recite ‘The 10 commandments’.
Remember the Jews and Christians tell us that Allah gave Moses ‘The 10 commandments’. In fact, it is the only revelation known to be written directly by Allah.We are then told that Moses broke these the stones which the commandments were written on. So Allah said that he would re-write them.
And the LORD said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.” (Exodus 34:1)
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for according to the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”(Exodus 34:1)
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Deuteronomy 5:6-21)
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery.“ You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:2-17)
“Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same. “Do not make any idols. “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.“ Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year. Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord your God. “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast, and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Festival remain until morning.“ Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” (Exodus 34:11-26)
And the LORD said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.” (Exodus 34:1)
What was written on the first two tablets which Allah gave and Moses broke? The book of Exodus doesn’t record it.
The two different sets of 10 commandments are also problematic for many people to accept.
Lost records and books according to the Bible?
“Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, And at the stream of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, and rest upon the border of Moab.” (Numbers 21:14-15)
What is this ‘Book of the Wars of the Lord’?
Who wrote it and where is it?
If Numbers is the Torah that was written by Moses than is the Torah quoting a historical document no longer with us?
Is this document inspired?
If it is inspired than the idea that inspired writing can be lost to posterity should no longer be unheard of among Jews and Christians.
If this document is uninspired than it should be understood that one may be inspired to quote from uninspired documents.
A Look At The Zabur In the Qur’an
Here is a look at the mention of the ‘Zabur‘ in the Qur’an. The mention of the ‘Zabur‘ to my knowledge comes in three places.
The word Zabur is: understood to be a song or music.
“And it is your Lord that knows best all beings that are in the heavens and on earth: We did bestow on some prophets more gifts than others: and We gave to David the Zabur” (Qur’an 17:55)
“We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Apostle after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon and to David We gave the Zabur.”(Qur’an 4:163)
“Before this, We wrote in the Zabur, after the Message: My servants the righteous shall inherit the earth.” (Qur’an 21:105)
Many people today, both Muslim and non-Muslim wish to associate the Zabur with the Psalms that are mentioned in the Bible.
The reason many do this is probably due to the statement above in Chapter 21, “My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth.”
Some see a parallel of this statement in Psalms 37:29 that says,
“The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.”
There is a huge difference in that the Qur’an does not state that the righteous will inherit the land ‘forever‘. The statement mentioned in the Qur’an in its exact form is nowhere to be found and is lost. The closest proximity would be the passage citation of Psalms 37:29
Other than the quote above I have no idea why Muslims or Non-Muslims would assume that Zabur is the Psalms of David in today’s Bible?
I do not believe that there is a statement anywhere in the Qur’an or the sacred Hadith literature that states that the Psalms of David contained in today’s Bible is or has been corrupted.
Likewise, I also do not believe that there is a statement in the Qur’an or the sacred Hadith literature that equates the Zabur mentioned in the Qur’an with today’s Psalms of David in the Bible.
We believe this is fanciful thinking.
Any Muslim or Christian who disagrees with our position is welcome to state their reasons for doing so and provide the evidence.
A Look At The Injeel In the Qur’an
Injeel means: The good news
First, let us look at some of the instances and mention of the Injeel in the Qur’an.
“Then, in their wake, We followed them up with (others of) Our apostles: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary and bestowed on him the Injeel, and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them: onlytheseeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah. but that they did not foster as they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are rebellious transgressors.”(Qur’an 57:27)
We believe that Allah had given Jesus the Injeel (Goodnews singular). We would repudiate the following attribution to Jesus:
“His disciples said unto Him, “If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” But He said unto them, “All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs who were so born from their mother’s womb, and there are some eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”(Matthew 19:10-12)
Of course we would repudiate this based upon what Allah has revealed: based upon what the Qur’an says above that: ‘the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them‘.
Now it can be argued that this only has Jesus recommending the practice, but Muslims would argue that this is an interpolation put in the mouth of Jesus based upon our presupposition, and our belief in what the Qur’an states. This was not ordered upon people. So the Qur’an would not confirm the above statement but it would repudiate it.
“Then will Allah say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit so that you did speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Injeel and behold! You make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breath into it and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! you bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) you when you didstshow them the clear Signs, and the ungrateful among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.” (Qur’an 5:110)
The Christians reject the above verse of the Qur’an because they say that this story of Jesus comes from apocryphal sources. This is a very dubious claim. They first want to assert that the Qur’an was an invention of Muhammed (saw) so they imagine that he retrieved this story from some Christians he had contacts with in Syria.
This would then beg the question. Wouldn’t those particular Christians find the story acceptable, and thus not apocryphal?
For example, let us imagine that Muhammed (saw) takes some source from the book of Revelation, Jude, or the book of James. There are many Christians of that time and era that would believe it to be spurious because those particular Christians only recognized a New Testament canon of 22 books.
For me, the Qur’an filling in some accounts of Jesus when he was a baby and his teenage years is very fulfilling and refreshing. I find it hard to believe that the ‘Son of God‘ walked around for 30 years of his life on this earth and didn’t do or say anything noteworthy?
For example, the New Testament says:
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”(John 21:25)
I have dealt with this line of attack (used by skeptics, atheist, and agnostics) here:
So it seems rather odd that some Christians that are still disputing canon and scripture with other Christians would find it scandalous that a story of Jesus not found in one particular canon, oral tradition, or the other would be very similar to one found in the Qur’an.
The Bible itself says there are many things that Jesus did that are not written down and the whole world would be filled with books if everything was to be written. To begrudge the Muslim revelation about Jesus’ early life when the New Testament is silent about 30 years of his life seems a bit self-refuting.
“Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in Hiscause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Injeel, and the Qur’an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah. then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.” (Qur’an 9:111)
I have never found this statement anywhere in the Bible. As a Muslim this gives me pause that everything in the New Testament is the preserved word of God. The Qur’an specifically states that such a promise is made and binding. However, I have read the New Testament and have not found such a statement. As a Muslim, it is a matter of self evidence that the New Testament cannot contain all of Allah’s revelation given to Jesus, as the Qur’an states clearly that Jesus was given such a binding promise.
“And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Taurat and the Injeel” (Qur’an 3:48)
If we look carefully we will note that in the above verse the ‘Book‘, ‘Taurat‘ and the “Injeel‘ are all different.
“Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.”(Matthew 4:23)
Now this piece of information above is interesting. I believe every Christian would readily agree that Jesus was not teaching from a book. Jesus was not teaching from the Gospel of Matthew or Mark. These are writings that came much later. The Gospel that Jesus is teaching is what Muslims call, ‘the Injeel’. What Christians and Muslims dispute about is the contents of this Injeel.
“It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, assessing what went before it; and He sent down the Taurat (of Moses) andthe Injeel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong)”. (Qur’an 3:3)
The verse above in the Qur’an states that Allah gave the Injeel to Jesus and that he sent down Al Furqan (The Filter) that is able to distinguish, and it is one of the names of the Qur’an.
The next verse is also quite interesting.
“People of the Book! Why dispute you about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel Were not revealed Till after him? Have you no understanding?” (Qur’an 3:65)
Now, this is an interesting point the Qur’an is driving home. We know that Abraham was not a Christian because Jesus brought his message after him. We also know that he didn’t follow rabbinical Judaism as the Law also came after him. So here we come full circle.
Some times the Christians will argue as such: “Oh you Muslims are supposed to look to the New Testament for guidance.” However, the Qur’an is calling both the Christians and Jews to look back to that which is primordial, original, and primary.
“Let the people of the Injeel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel”(Qur’an 5:47)
*Note this is nowhere saying that Muslims need to look at the Injeel.
It also not telling the Jews to judge by the Injeel.
This nowhere says that Muslims are to turn to the Injeel for direction and guidance. This statement is made to the people of the Injeel. Whatever they believe that Allah has revealed in it than let them make judgments based upon that. It’s not for Muslims because the following verse makes it clear when it says ‘So judge between them by what Allah hath revealed‘.
By the way, this text is proof that Muslims do not force Islam upon the Christians. The Jews and the Christians as history testifies were able to derive their own marriage, divorce, and other laws based upon what they feel was revealed to them by Allah.
People may ask well what was that ‘Injeel‘ that they were supposed to judge by? Notice that it says by ‘what Allah has revealed therein’.The thoughtful Christian might ask how are we to know what Allah has revealed therein?
Of course, the average Christian is not asked to do redaction criticism. However, when we look at 2 Timothy 3:16 we get the following:
“Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, forreproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.” (English Revised Version)
I have chosen this translation in English because it more accurately reflects the Greek. One must remember that the ‘Catholic’ and ‘Protestant’ factions of Christianity are in conflict over ‘Sola Scriptura’ meaning ‘scripture alone’.
Thus, the Protestant factions have mostly translated 2:Timothy 3:16 as ‘All scripture IS-inspired’.
For example, we have yet to receive a response from Christian apologist of any sect about Paul’s First Corinthian Letter.
In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul said: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.”
While some would argue that Paul is referring to a previous section of 1 Corinthians (perhaps 5:1-8) rather than referring to a previous epistle, he then continued (in verse 10) to explain exactly what he meant by that statement, which is not what is said in 5:1-8. After explaining what the statement from the previous letter meant, Paul continued in 5:11 by showing the contrasting point, “But now I have written to you…”—explaining the difference between the statement from the previous epistle and the one from our 1 Corinthians.
So there are two ways to understand this.
That letter is inspired and thus not everything inspired by Allah is preserved.
Or, That letter is not inspired, and therefore everything written by Paul is not inspired by Allah.
The other matter is this curious statement at the end of John’s Gospel.
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
As a Muslim, I am a bit troubled that for 30 years of his life Jesus didn’t say anything? That as Christian theology would have it that Alah would ‘be in the flesh‘ for 30 years not doing much of anything seems incredulous.
This really should be a matter of reflection for our Christian friends.. Because if you believe that all of it is from Allah then live your life according to it be true and faithful.
However, if you are not sure about what Allah has revealed then it means you have doubts. Many Christians will read (5:47) of the Qur’an and they will totally ignore (5:66) and (5:68) mentioned below because it does not suit their interest.
Let’s look at the verses in context.
“To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and assessing it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you have We prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute.” (Qur’an 5:48)
“And this (He commands): Judge you between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile you from any of that which Allah has sent down to you. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.” (Qur’an 5:49)
“If only they had stood fast by the Taurat, the Injeel, AND ALLthe revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.” (Qur’an 5:66)
This is an admonishing to stand fast by not only the Injeel, and the Taurat, but by all the revelation given by Allah.
Say: “O People of the Book! you have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” It is the revelation that comes to you from your Lord, that increase in most of them their obstinate rebellion and ingratitude. But sorrow you not over anungrateful people.” (Qur’an 5:68)
Again the people of the book, the Jews are told to come to terms with the Christians. This means accepting John and Jesus and prophets sent to other nations. The Christians are told to come to terms with the Zoroastrians, and the other nations on this earth that were sent revelation; including the Qur’an. It says ‘all revelation that has come from your Lord.”
“And dispute you not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it is with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, “We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one, and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).” (Qur’an 29:46)
“We settled the Children of Israel in a beautiful dwelling-place, and provided for them sustenance of the best: it was after knowledge had been granted to them, that they fell into schisms. Verily Allah will judge between them as to the schisms amongst them, on the Day of Judgement.” (Qur’an 10:93)
“If you were in doubt as to what We have revealed unto you, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before you: the Truth hath indeed come to you from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt.”(Qur’an 10:94)
The Christians conveniently love to leave out the context of these verses. Verse 93 clearly states that the children of Israel fell into schisms.
Therefore the understanding that they will give Muhammed (saw) would be very divergent one from the other. This is one of the main reasons why Muhammed (saw) had to be cautious.
When we take verse 94 in context with verse 93 what would we ask ‘those‘?
For example, if we asked about Jesus being Allah. What would rabbinical Judaism say?
If we asked the Kara-rites about hellfire and an afterlife in the Torah what would their understanding be?
If we asked rabbinical Judaism about John the Baptist what would be the response?
What about the followers of Zoroastrianism? They are also ‘those who have been reading the Book from before you ‘.
Notice also that there is a conditional statement placed at the beginning of verse 94 the Christians conveniently look over, the word ‘If’. Could the Christians or anyone claiming that Muhammed (saw) doubted anything in the Qur’an prove that he even once deferred a matter to the Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians?
“Oh, you who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He has sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Anyone who denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messenger., and the Day of Judgement, has gone far, far astray.” (Qur’an 4:136)
It is a dubious claim to equate the word Injeel with the entire New Testament canon. It becomes dubious on many accounts. The word Injeel or Gospel has never come to mean in any dictionary, ‘The entire New Testament’. Any Christian making such a claim is being woefully uninformed. Second, even if the word Injeel would equate to the ‘New Testament’ which one would it be? The New Testament of 22 books or the New Testament of 27 books?
Again who was the body that decided which books were ‘Inspired‘ of Allah and which were not?
Why are Christians still in dispute about 5 books, and in reality 12 books since the ‘Catholic‘, and ‘Orthodox‘ ‘Old Testament‘ canons are different than that accepted by ‘Protestants‘.
I guess there are some other points that I’ll address here.
However, I believe what is given is sufficient for Muslims to give pause to the idea that what Christians today posses is the Word of Allah, in its entirety.
The following text is quite explicit in that not every time that Paul spoke was he being moved upon by the Holy Spirit.
“Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say this: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.” (1 Corinthians 7:12)
“Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord, yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.” (1 Corinthians 7:25)
The above statements are contrasted below where Paul was making decisions while concurring with the Holy Spirit.
“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements.” (Acts 15:28)
“And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,” (Luke 3:23)
I don’t like the fact that whoever is writing this has to guess the age that Jesus began preaching. Saying ‘about‘. Though some may not find this very serious I guess I would hold inspiration from a deity to a different standard.
The next text is also troubling.
“Where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:15)
The above is quoted from Hosea 11:1-2.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son.
But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.” (Hosea 11:1-2)
I do ask pardon from Christians if I see the statement of Matthew 2:15 as a completely fraudulent and a dubious fulfilled prophecy claim.
I do not see the name of Jesus anywhere in the text of Hosea 11:1-2. I see that Israel is whom the text is talking about. Also, I believe that whoever wrote the piece in Matthew 2:15 completely ignored the context. I do not believe the context allows for this to be Jesus in any way shape or form particularly. The reason being is that this statement ‘They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.’
As a Muslim, I would never allow that Jesus sacrificed to false idols and burned incense to graven images!
These teachings are not compatible.
“Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:8-9)
O Prophet! When you divorce women, divorce them for their (legal) period and reckon the period, and keep your duty to Allah, your Lord. Expel them not from their houses nor let them go forth unless they commit open immorality. Such are the limits (imposed by) Allah; and whoever transgresses Allah’s limits, he surely has wronged his soul. You do not: it is possible that Allah will afterward bring about a reunion. Then, when they have reached their term, take them back in kindness or part from them in kindness, and call to witness two just men among you, and keep your testimony upright for Allah. Whoso believes in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to act thus. And whoever keeps his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him.” (Qur’an 65:1-2)
Finally, to those who are utterly blind if this does not make you come to your senses on the matte I am not sure what will.
“They say: “(Allah) Most Gracious has a son!” Indeed you have put forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin, That they should invoke a son (like-kind) for (Allah) Most Gracious. For it is not consonant with the majesty of (Allah) Most Gracious that He should take a (like-kind) son.” (Qur’an 19:88-92)
There are too many verses in the New Testament that say Jesus is the son of God to make it compatible with the Qur’an.
So since the Qur’an nowhere states that the Bible, Taurat, Injeel, Zabur or Suhuf are corrupted; than on what basis in the Qur’an do Muslims have the right to examine, investigate and question the Vedas, Book of Mormon, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Book of Revelation, Talmud, or book of Deuteronomy?
We as Muslims can do this based upon three verses in the Qur’an that tell us to be on our guard.
‘There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, ‘That is from Allah,’ but it is not from Allah: It is they who tell a lie against Allah…’(Qur’an 3:78)
This, of course, is because most people during that time are illiterate (be they Jew, Christian, Zoroastrian, Pagan, or Muslim). They obviously could not read a book for themselves, but were told to be on their guard because of people not being forthcoming in what the text says possibly taking advantage of their ignorance of the original language (that the person did not understand) or the fact that they were illiterate and couldn’t verify it.
We see this happening today and this is why all Muslims are encouraged to learn to read and write Arabic.
Every time you read a translation of the Qur’an you are reading someone’s theological musings as well. Same with any sacred literature that claims to come from Allah.
‘But because of their breach of their Covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard: They change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent…’(Qur’an 5:13)
Now some Christians might act in a very mischievous way by attempting to say that the Qur’an confirms the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, The book of Revelation, The Gospel of Barnabas, The Gospel of Mark 16:9-20, etc will say that the above verse of the Qur’an is only talking about people who change things with their tongues.
Any truthful reader can see obviously and plain as day that the Qur’an says, “that they forget a good portion of what was sent”and they changed the words from their places. This can only happen if there is an oral tradition being passed along and some people willfully pervert this oral tradition before it becomes text/OR it is a reference to those who willfully change the text.
‘Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: “This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.’ (Qur’an 2:79)
No doubt this verse is directly related to the following man made law that is attributed to Allah.
The following says that Jews can give interest to non-Jews but to one another.
“Unto a foreigner you may lend interest; but not unto your brother you shall not lend interest, that Jehovah your God may bless you in all that you put your hand on, in the land wherever you go into possess it. When you shall vow a vow unto Jehovah your God, you shall not be slack to pay it: For Jehovah your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you.” (Deuteronomy 23:20-21)
Allah (swt) says in relationship to those who made such scriptures and attributed to Him:
Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: “This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.’ (Qur’an 2:79)
This is the verse that conveniently is left out of the discussion. This verse does not say Bible, or Injeel, Taurat, Zabur, etc. However, it does say that there are people who are in the habit of writing books and then saying, ‘this is from Allah‘. It is on this basis that Muslims have the right to be skeptical of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, The Book of Mormon, The Vedas, The book of Tobit, Hebrews, The Gospel of Barnabas, The Gospel of Mark 16:9-20, etc.
Another point that the Qur’an categorically rejects is that Solomon (as) was involved in shirk (association of partners with Allah) May Allah (swt) project us from the perverts!
“They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out, in the Mulki Sulaymān (Kingdom of Solomon). Sulaymān did not disbelieve, but the Shayāṭīn disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down upon the two Angels in Babylon, Hārūt and Mārūt, but neither of these two taught anyone, till they had said, “We are only a Fitnah (trial), so do not disbelieve.” And from these, people learn that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by the Leave of Allāh. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Akhirah (Hereafter). And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own selves, if they but knew!” (Qur’an 2:102)
“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.” (1 Kings 11:4)
In the end, I have done my best to give an answer to the detractors of truth. If there are any mistakes surely they are mine. All the praise is due to Allah the Lord of all the worlds!
“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.” (Qur’an 5:83)
“Know than that the life of this world is but amusement, pomp, and mutual boasting among you and rivalry in respect of wealth and children; Here is a similitude: It is like the growth of vegetation after the rain, which delights the planter, but which then withers away, turns yellow and becomes worthless stubble. In the life to come there will be a terrible punishment, or God’s forgiveness and approval: the life of this world is nothing but means of deception.” (Qur’an 57:20)
“Oh Mankind! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, All-Aware.” (Qur’an 49:13)
The Prophet (saw) said:
“Allah, Most High, has removed from you the pride of the pre-Islamic period and its boasting in ancestors. One is only a pious believer or a miserable sinner. You are sons of Adam, and Adam came from dust. Let people cease to boast about their ancestors. They are merely fuel in Jahannam; or they will certainly be of less account with Allah than the beetle which rolls dung with its nose.”
Source: ( Sunan Abi Dawud Book 43 Chapter 121 Hadith 1 )
Many in the Muslim ummah are aware of the weakening of the largest and most powerful Sunni Caliphate in Islamic history due to the Jewish infiltration of the Young Turks. However, one of the big lies circulating usually by those who are opponents of Salafiyyah and those whom they call the “Wahhabi” is that Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab rebelled against the Ottoman Empire.
This is not true. He was never under the Ottoman Empire. Najd area of the Arabian peninsula was ruled by many different Arab tribes. It was not under Ottoman jurisdiction.
The real shocker is that the truth is as follows: The nail in the coffin of the Ottoman Empire, the final blow was dealt to it by a team up of the non believing British Empire and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammed (saw), that man being Hussein bin Ali.
Those who actually did khuruj against their leaders were Ashari’i/Shafi’i/ descendants of the Blessed Messenger (saw) who had the whispering of Shaytan planted in their ears and hearts so that they would rebel against the Maturidi /Hanafi Ottomans.
This super villain team up would consist of The Sharif Hussein Bin Ali and Mr. Lawrence of Arabia.
Just as Ali Ibn Abu Talib went against what Allah (swt) had laid down in the Qur’an at the battle of Siffin so did Hussein Bin Ali not follow what Allah (swt) instructed here:
“O believers! Take neither Jews nor Christians as guardians/protectors/allies—they are guardians/protectors/allies of each other. Whoever does so will be counted as one of them. Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Qur’an 5:51)
Just as Ali fell for the ruse of Muaviyah at the battle of Siffin; which ended up being a catalyst for the Umayyad empire, so to did Hussein Bin Ali fall for the ruse of the British. Which ended up being a catalyst for the chaos we see in many Muslim nations.
Likely, the British made certain promises to Hussein Bin Ali about replacing a Turkish Caliphate with an Arab one. A promise the British had no intention of keeping.
They are guardians/protectors/allies of each other
Secret negotiations between the British and the French that culminated in the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement, which effectively re-portioned between them the entirety of the Ottoman Empire, and later by the Balfour Declaration , which assured British support for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. Basically, the creation of Occupied Palestine also known in some circles as ‘Israel’.
Hussein, however, apparently sufficiently convinced of British support, announced the launch of the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in June 1916. With the British forces backing the Arab forces, they succeeded in dominating the Hejaz region of the Arabian Peninsula, Aqabah and Damascus.
In late 1918 Hussein’s son Faisal entered Damascus and began to set up an administration there in accordance, with what he believed, was his father’s understanding with the British. In March 1920 Greater Syria (Syria, Transjordan, Palestine and Lebanon) was proclaimed independent from rule by foreign powers and was declared a constitutional monarchy with Faisal as king, a move that directly challenged French interests there. At the Conference of San Remo April 1920, it was France’s claims to Syria that were formalized, and Syria was placed under French mandate. The decision (and Faisal’s capitulation to the terms of the agreement) sparked violent unrest that was met in July by French forces, which imposed an easy defeat and forced Faisal into exile.
For more information you can read about the Hussein-McMahon correspondence, the Conference of San Remo, and the Balfour Declaration. You get to read all about how the Muslims get dictated to by the Non Muslims on what land belongs to whom.
Three great great grandsons of the Blessed Prophet (saw). One of them became a proxy of the British.
British Proxy Abd Allāh al-Awwal bin al-HusaynALI BIN HUSSEIN Fayṣal al-Awwal bin al-Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī
Two of these descendants of Prophet Muhammed (saw), Faisal bin Al-Hussein bin Ali Al-Hashemi, and Ali bin Hussein had advised caution in cooperating with the British.
Another descendant of the Prophet Muhammed (saw), Abdullah al-Awwal bin al-Hussein. Instead of helping his brother Faisal – a fellow descendant of the Prophet (saw), against the French, he accepted an invitation from Winston Churchill for a “tea party”. He he convinced Abdullah not to help his brother against the kuffar.
He advised cooperation with the British at the expense of fellow Muslims. He was richly rewarded with the help of the British and assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Peake and John Bagot Glubb.
They of course created the ‘Arab Legion’. For his loyalty to the Non Muslims and staying his hand he was given what appeared to be “independence” in 1946 and proclaimed “King” Abdullah.
King Abdullah also supported the “Peel Commission” which proposed that Palestine be split up into smaller Jewish states. In 1947 when Palestine was split in half the British Proxy “King” Abdullah was the only one in favour of it.
King Talal ibn ‘Abd Allah who was treated for “mental disorders” courtesy of the British in a hospital in Geneva.
The British proxy “King” Abdullah was assassinated and his son, Ṭalāl ibn ʻAbd Allāh was now the new ruler of the British proxy state of Jordan. That is, he was ruler for 13 months until he was forced to resign due to schizophrenia.
The good ‘ol trusty British diplomats assisted in hustling him out of the country for psychiatric treatment and he was in a mental hospital in Geneva when he became king.
Allah (swt) knows best what they might have done to him in that hospital. Allah (swt) knows best what that poor soul went through growing up. The darkness that grips the enemies of Islam knows no boundaries.
Contrary to his wish to live in Saudi-ruled Hejaz after his abdication, Talal was sent to live the latter part of his life at a sanatorium in Istanbul and died there on 7 July 1972.
Al-Hussein ibn Talal “King” Hussein of the British Protectorate of Jordan.
Hussein was married four separate times and fathered eleven children, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and Princess Haya, WHO MARRIED THE RULER OF DUBAI.
1967 Six-Day War, which ended in Jordan’s loss of the West Bank. Some speculate that the war was staged so that Jordan could cede territory to occupied Palestine, known in some circles as “Israel.”
In 1970 Hussein expelled Palestinian fighters (fedayeen) from Jordan after they had threatened the country’s security in what became known as Black September.
The “King” renounced Jordan’s ties to the West Bank in 1988 after the Palestine Liberation Organization was recognized internationally as the sole representative of the Palestinians. Effectively leaving the Palestinians on their own.
“King” Hussein’s Marriage to Lisa Halaby.
It really is a surprise that those who believe that those who are descendants of the Blessed Messenger (saw) that some how their lineage is superior to all other lineages that out of all these Sharifeen women that Al Hussein ibn Talal could marry he set his sights on Toni Avril Gardiner. No one knows for sure how they met or who began the introductions. She went from London officer worker to “Queen” of Jordan.
You will find this anomaly time and time again. The anomaly of a “superior stock” of Sharifeen men setting their sights on non-Muslim women. In South East Asia it often frustrates the Sharifeen women who are not even given a choice to marry non Sharifeen Muslim women. Offering them instead to pursue a life of academics or live a life of spinsters.
Toni with Hussein gave birth to ʿAbd Allāh aṯ-ṯānī ibn al-Ḥusayn also known as “King” Abdullah the second. They ended up getting a divorce in 1971.
Abd Allāh aṯ-ṯānī ibn al-Ḥusayn also known as “King” Abdullah the second.
Moving forward, “King” Abdullah the II had married a third time and that wife died in 1977. Very soon after her death he married American, Lisa Halaby in 1978. No one knows for sure how they met or who began the introductions. She went from regular American girl to “Queen” of Jordan.
One of the major achievements of this fourth “Queen” of “King” Abdullah was her eschewing of the Khimar. Or the garment of piety and righteousness that is common among observant Muslim women. Lisa Halby who know went under the name of “Queen Noor” was successful in showing young Muslim women all over the world that If a descendant of the Blessed Messenger (saw) doesn’t think I need to wear the garment of piety and righteousness than neither do you!
This is a tradition that has carried on with the new “King” of Jordan’s wife “Queen” Rania. The trend of looking sporty and fashionable in anything but the garment of piety and righteousness.
It was certainly the impact it had on many impressionable Muslim youth: “Wow! You mean Muslim women don’t have to wear the scarf!?”
So there you have it. The nail in the coffin of the Ottoman Empire given by the descendants of the Prophet Muhammed (saw). Those descendants in turn helped to parcel out the Muslim lands and territories, made peace with occupied Palestine, known in some corners as “Israel”.
We also know that Princess Haya, is married to the current ruler of Dubai (who has seems amicable towards occupied Palestine).
So let me in closing leave a very clear message to the Shi’i and the followers of Sufi Tariqah.
The descendants of the Blessed Prophet (saw) are normal people just like everyone else. They can attain to great heights of felicity and righteousness. Their acts of piety and goodness can be beyond awe-inspiring. They can also succumb to human frailties, their passions, lust, desires and ambitions like anyone else.
Some of them are saintly, worthy of allegiance and obedience and others are beastly
I will interact with and deal with the descendants of the Blessed Messenger (saw) based upon the apparent. I will not defer to them simply based on lineage. You can count me, and every thinking Muslim who takes the Qur’an and Sunnah as their source of guidance out!”
Say: “O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You give dominion to whom You will, and take away dominion from whom You will, and You exalt whom You will, and abase whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Powerful.” (Qur’an 3:26)
“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Qur’an 20:114)
﷽
I have absolutely been fascinated by those few individuals who have found there to be controversy surrounding the identity of Dhul-al-Qarnayn. The reason why I am fascinated is that historians and orientalist are not actually interacting with the Qur’an per se. They are interacting with commentaries about the Qur’an.
As a Muslim we know that a tafsir is not divine revelation. It scholarly musings about the text. Here at Prima-Qur’an we have been here before. Qur’an 4:157 comes to mind. A fascinating text in which countless scholars, from Sunni Islam, those among Shi’a Nizari Ismaili ( as well as Non Muslims like Professor Todd Lawson, simply come to wild conclusions. They imagine Romans in the text! They imagine that the text speaks about a Patibulum with nails, a Roman cross is in mind and so forth!
1st it should be noted that Dhul Al-Qarnayn like Khidr are simply epitaphs, like Al-Amin. These are not real names they are descriptors.
2nd it should be noted that not much attention is given to the individuals (Khidr & Dhul Al-Qarnayn) beyond their epitaphs. The attention is given to the events that unfold or surround them.
3rd the Qur’an only mentions Dhul Al-Qarnayn thrice.
So let us get into the narrative of Dhul Al-Qarnayn in the Qur’an.
“And they will ask you about Dhul-Al Qarnayn. Say: I will recount to you a remembrance of him.” (Qur’an 18:83)
“We established him on earth, and We gave him from everything a way.” (Qur’an 18:84)
“And he followed a way.” (Qur’an 18:85)
“Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhul-Al Qarnayn! Either punish or show them kindness.” (Qur’an 18:86)
“He responded, “Whoever does wrong will be punished by us, then will be returned to their Lord, Who will punish them with a horrible torment.” (Qur’an 18:87)
“But as for the one who believes and does righteousness, he will have the best of rewards. We shall require him to do only easy things.” (Qur’an 18:88)
“Then he followed a path.” (Qur’an 18:89)
“Until he came to the rising of the sun. He found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shade.” (Qur’an 18:90)
“And so it was, Our knowledge encompassed all that happened to him.” (Qur’an 18:91)
“Then he followed a path.” (Qur’an 18:92)
“Until he reached between a barrier, where he found a people who could hardly understand a word he was saying.” (Qur’an 18:93)
“They said, “O Dhul Al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are corrupting this land. Can we pay you to erect a barrier between us and them?” (Qur’an 18:94)
“He responded, “What my Lord has provided for me is far better. But assist me with resources, and I will build a barrier between you and them.” (Qur’an 18:95)
“Bring me blocks of iron!” Then, when he had filled up ˹the gap˺ between the barriers he ordered, “Blow!” When the iron became red hot, he said, “Bring me molten copper to pour over it.” (Qur’an 18:96)
“And so the enemies could neither scale nor tunnel through it.” (Qur’an 18:97)
“He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.” (Qur’an 18:98)
“On that Day, We will let them surge ˹like waves˺ over one another. Later, the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather all ˹people˺ together.” (Qur’an 18:99)
The first thing that I found highly interesting about this set of text is the use of twos’. Things in contradistinction to one another. Like two different items, two different scenarios two things in contrast.
First being the main focus of the individual in the narrative being Dhul Al-Qarnayn –two horned one, the one of two different epochs. The one with two braids. The one with two peoples.
ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
That exact phrase appears twice.
setting-place of the sun/he came to the rising of the sun (two different scenarios in relation to the sun)
Either punish or show them kindness (two different ways to deal with a particular people).
a people for whom We had provided no shade contrasted with a people who had no protection against tribes.
The tribes in question are two gog/magog.
Met a people who a people who could hardly understand a word contrasted with people with people he could communicate with readily.
a barrier between you and them-a barrier is a separation between at least two different things.
The barrier they were not able to do two things: neither scale nor tunnel through it
The barrier itself is made from two different metals. iron & copper.
If I am looking for clues of a historical vestige (remembrance) I would want to note the following:
A) What is the meaning of Dhul Al-Qarnayn in the Arabic language?
B) They will ask you. Who is the ‘they’?
C)How did they respond to the information?
D) Tribes are identified as Gog and Magog.
E) Blocks of Iron and molten copper are used to seal an apparent gap/breach in a barrier.
Ea) It is assumed that there is a garrison that defends the area. The purpose of the wall is to prevent being over run. *note*
Note: This is an assumption my behalf.
Eb) It is assumed that whoever the Gog and Magog are that they are either
a) raiders b) expansionist
If we assume they are raiders this means they have had foray into these people’s territories before. Though they never established dominion over them.
If we assume that they are expansionist than the people that Dhul Al-Qarnayn encounter are those who presume expansion is heading in their direction and thus, they want to make preparations.
As regard Qur’an 18:98 we do not see that as connected to Qur’an 18:99 as in events that happen at the same time. For more on this please see:
There is nothing that an individual using the historical critical method or an or orientalist has brought that even remotely challenges the narrative of the Qur’an. Nihil ad rem. People having doubts because a tafsir was challenged. That is an absolute nothing burger.
Recall:
“And they will ask you about Dhul-Al Qarnayn. Say: I will recount to you a remembrance of him.” (Qur’an 18:83)
There is nothing in that verse that indicates that the answers to the questions that they posed were matters that concern anyone outside those that asked the questions.
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.”(Qur’an 3:44)
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This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for the righteous. Those who believe in the unseen, and perform the prayers, and give from what We have provided for them. And those who believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and are certain of the Hereafter. (Qur’an 2:3-4)
The Qur’an is a book of which there is no doubt. It is for those who believe in the unseen. It is for those who are certain in the life to come. It is for those who believe in what was revealed before the Blessed Prophet (saw).
Those who are skeptical of any of those points will quite naturally arrive to different conclusions. So that is of no consequence to the believer.
As for those who persist in disbelief, it is the same whether you warn them or not—they will never believe. Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and their sight is covered. They will suffer a tremendous punishment. (Qur’an 2:6-7)
Now, historians and orientalist cannot speak to the supra natural as these are matters of belief. They are beyond their point of investigation. However, I am always thrilled when I find historians and orientalist corroborate the testimony of narratives in the Qur’an by finding manuscripts or parchments of information that though not ad verbatim closely mimics what Allah (swt) has revealed before. This is the understanding of the believer.
Do we find some information from various cultures that preceded the coming of the Blessed Prophet (saw) that seems to corroborate the beliefs of Islam? Yes! That is not scary! That is exciting!
Recall what Allah (swt) himself informed us of:
“We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were destined to stray. So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!” (Qur’an 16:36)
Remember we are not responsible for the conclusions or perceptions of others.
If we look at the above graph. We can see that in block B the apparent (the dhahir) is that there are parchments, manuscripts, scrolls, oral traditions, inscriptions etc. that come before the Qur’an. However, when we look at block B the haqiqah (the reality) is that Allah’s knowledge of what really happened precedes the information in B. Because of that reality, what is in C (The Qur’an) actually precedes the information in B. This is precisely why this hobby horse of orientalist and those who use the historical critical method is of absolutely no consequence to the believing Muslim.
We Muslims have been the first critical of our own sources. The clash of historical narratives between the Ibadi, Sunni and Shi’a are proof positive of this. The grading of the ahadith and the mention of variants in the transmission of the Qur’an have not come from people who lost faith, agnostics or atheist. They came from us, as believers. Subhan’Allah!
These other Johnny Come Lately types welcome to the party I guess! haHA
This is why this particular entry is directed towards Christians in particular. Because it is rather shameful that they have taken the approach that they have on these matters. Given that they too claim to believe in the unseen. They claim to believe in a Creator that can narrate past events that present people were not privy too.
“Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?” He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I will be and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (He) has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”! Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.”(Qur’an 19:27-34)
“When Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission, and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is not but obvious magic.”(Qur’an 5:110)
“And a messenger to the Children of Israel, who will say, ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” (Qur’an 3:49)
Prima Qur’an comments:
In this article, I will give a response to those Christians who use as a polemic against Muslims the claim that the Qur’an contains apocryphal material in it and therefore cannot be a revelation from Allah (swt).
Now, of course they will claim that there are more than the three verses of the Qur’anI quoted above as being from apocryphal material. However; I have chosen to focus on these three, as they are most often used by Christian polemicist in debates with Muslims.
Now personally I find it amusing this particular line of Christian attack against Islam. However: I assume they have to eventually come up with something right?
Now let’s notice and listen carefully to what these Christians are actually disputing with us about.
*Note*
They are not raising issue against “healed the blind“
They are not raising issues against “cure the leper”
They are not raising issues against “give life to the dead”
They are not disputing these points because they are miracles attributed to Christ Jesus that they find in their accepted canonical text. We will come to the term canonical in a moment.
What they are disputing about is:
Jesus speaking as an infant
Jesus creating birds out of clay
Why do they dispute about these miracles?
Because they are not in what they accept to be their canonical text.
So what do the terms apocryphal and canonical mean?
Canonical in relation to Christian scriptures means:
“A biblicalcanon or canon of scripture is a set of texts (or “books”) which a particular religious community regards as authoritative scripture. … Believers consider canonical books as inspired by God or as expressive of the authoritative history of the relationship between God and his people.”
Apocryphal in relation to Christian scriptures means:
“Biblical or related writingsnot forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture; or writings or reports not considered genuine.”
So if a Christian were to come to us as say that these statements in the Qur’an are found in apocryphal sourcesthe first thing you have to keep in mind that what they are actually saying is that it is apocryphal according to their particular sect of Christianity!
The reason that is important is as follows: As I write this to you 11/4/2024 Christendom has still not settled the issue of what is and is not apocryphal for the whole of Christianity.
Glaring examples are the following:
Depending on how you want to word it you could say that the Protestants have 7 fewer books in their version of the Old Testament. Or you could say that the Roman Catholics have 7 extra books in their Old Testament that they accept to be inspired and not apocryphal.
Yet the Orthodox Church has additional Old Testament text (or if you wanted to be neutral the Protestant and Catholic have less). The same can be said for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
The same goes for the New Testament.
What is canonical is an issue that is still not settled among them.
The Chaldean Syrian Church does not accept the following as canon:
In fact, many Protestant Christians have declared Mark 16:8-20, &John 7:53–8:11 to not be canonical.
You have to wonder about the Protestant Christian theologians like John Calvin, Martin Luther, and others who most likely held such passages to be canonical. Yet there are Christians who do not agree with the idea that such passages are non-canonical. These Christians very much believe that Mark 16:8-20, &John 7:53–8:11 are inspired scripture.
So what is the point that is being made?
The point is that when a Christian says to us that those verses in the Qur’an are allegedly taken from apocryphal sources it is important to understand that:
That though it may be apocryphal for that particular Christian we can’t say for certain that it was apocryphal for the other Christians.
To keep in mind that what is and is not apocryphal has been and continues to be an internal dispute among Christians.
If the Christian is to counter by saying, “Can you name for me any Christian denomination today that accepts such and such text as canonical?”
The answer to that is: “No we can’t.” Many Christian sects and denominations over time have long perished. Most often the information we do have about them comes from their opponents.
What is also interesting and I hope Muslims reading this bear in mind is that no Christian committed to a consistent world view in which the supra-natural happens can tell us that:
Jesus did not speak as an infant.
Jesus did not create birds out of clay.
This is assertion is also supported by the text they accept as canon. Namely the following:
“And Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
Prima Qur’an comments:
Now this writer apparently inspired by Allah felt that it was necessary to inform his readers that Jesus did many other miracles that are not contained within this book.
“There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
Prima Qur’an comments: Though, we can all agree this statement is hyperbole, yet it is obvious that the writer knew that there was much more information about Jesus that could be shared.
Now, a possible Christian objection to our understanding of John 20:30-31 is that ‘the many other miracles that are not present in this book‘ could only be a reference to the miracles listed in Matthew, Mark, Luke that are not in the Gospel according to John.
The response to this is that is simply an assumption.
It could be that:
It could be a referenceonly to the miracles present in Matthew, Mark, Luke that are not in the Gospel according to John.
It could be a reference to miracles that are not present in any of those Gospel accounts.
It could be a reference to miracles present in Matthew, Mark, Luke as well as those not present in any Gospel accounts.
Christians could well ask: “Why wouldn’t these accounts of Jesus speaking as an infant or making birds out of clay make it into any of the Four Gospels commonly accepted among all of Christendom?”
Well, we have a clue about that from a text we have already mentioned.
“And Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
Prima Qura’n comments: This Gospel writer is telling us that he is informed about other miracles but the seven particular miracles that he has selected is so that we may believe that Jesus is:
The Christ
The Son of God
Having eternal life through his name.
So, in the example of this Gospel writer we have the reasons plainly stated why some miracles were chosen over others. Whereas for the other Gospels it’s hard to discern why they may have left out certain miracles.
For example: John’s Gospel includes the story of Lazarus rising from the dead. I’m puzzled why such an awesome event is not recorded by the other Gospels. Or Jesus turning water into wine is only included in the Gospel according to John.
Equally puzzling is the following awesome account which is not recorded by any ancient documents outside of Matthew itself.
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’” (Matthew. 27:51-54).
There are no extra-biblical sources that mention this awesome event. Surely witnessing such an event would have been worthy of mention somewhere. In fact, this particular text created controversy even among conservative Christians when New Testament scholar and associate professor of theology Michael Licona raised questions about this text.
You can read about where Christians have done some damage control concerning this at the following:
So again going back to the Christian inquiry on why some awesome and miraculous events are recorded by some sources and not others we can only surmise as to the motives behind this.
Why is it Jesus speaking as an infant is recorded in some sources and not others?
Why is Jesus making birds out of clay is recorded in some sources and not others?
Why is that the Gospel of Mark is now considered not to have a resurrection narrative but other sources have it?
Why is it that Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is some sources and not others?
Why is it that Jesus turning water into wine is in some sources and not others?
Why is that only the Gospel of Matthew has this narrative about the mass resurrections of people appearing to many in the city?
Another interesting point to note is that in the case of the Christian tradition that many of us will encounter today, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants of many types we have 30 years of the life of Christ Jesus that is completely missing altogether!
“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.” (Luke 3:23)
So imagine all the people who needed to be healed, those who needed salvation, and what does the current Christian canon tell us about the early life of Jesus? Its silence about the early life of Jesus is awkward, to say the least.
It is honestly both shocking and disappointing that Christians would use these types of arguments against the Qur’an. It absolutely reeks of atheism, smacks of radical skepticism, and is stepped in a worldview bereft of the supra-natural.
For us, as Muslims, we are informed about what happened concerning Jesus through divine revelation. As Allah (swt) says to the Blessed Messenger (saw):
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.” (Qur’an 3:44)
Also notice that when the Christians make their particular claim about the Qur’an they more often than not do put up the sources which they claim the Qur’an takes the following from:
speaking as an infant.
creating birds out of clay.
I also find it interesting that Muslims don’t ask them for their sources.
The Christian polemicist usually has two sources in mind for this:
Those sources being: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas & The Proevangelian of James
“This little child Jesus when he was five years old was playing at the ford of a brook: and he gathered together the waters that flowed there into pools, and made them straightway clean, and commanded them by his word alone. 2 And having made soft clay, he fashioned thereof twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when he did these things (or made them). And there were also many other little children playing with him.
“And a certain Jew when he saw what Jesus did, playing upon the Sabbath day, departed straightway and told his father Joseph: Lo, your child is at the brook, and he has taken clay and fashioned twelve little birds and has polluted the Sabbath day. 4 And Joseph came to the place and saw: and cried out to him, saying: Why are you doing these things on the Sabbath, which it is not lawful to do? But Jesus clapped his hands together and cried out to the sparrows and said to them: Go! and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping. 5 And when the Jews saw it they were amazed, and departed and told their chief men that which they had seen Jesus do.”
Source: (Infancy Gospel of Thomas Chapter 2:1-5)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
This narrative speaks about Jesus creating 12 birds. The emphasis on the number 12 is there twice. This must relate to the 12 disciples. Whereas in th Qur’an we find no mention of this.
“Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah.” (Qur’an 3:49)
There is no mention of Jesus doing this act on a sabbath day. There is no mention of Jesus creating 12 birds. It is interesting to note that the Qur’andoes not name the number of Jesus disciples. Christians have not addressed this.
It would be interesting to know where the writer(s) of the ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’ got their information from. The earliest possible date of authorship is 80 A.D to 250 A.D. This is also roughly the time that the date of authorship is ascribed to ‘The Epistle to Titus‘, which is considered canonical by Christians today. These scholars date the epistle from the 80 A.D up to the end of the 250 A.D.
Source: (Raymond E Brown An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Anchor Bible, p. 662)
“And when Jesus was five years old, there fell a great rain upon the earth, and the boy Jesus walked up and down through it. And there was a terrible rain, and He collected it into a fish-pond, and ordered it by His word to become clear. And immediately it became so. Again He took of the clay which was of that fish-pond, and made of it to the number of twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when Jesus did this among the boys of the Jews. And the boys of the Jews went away and said to Joseph His father: Behold, thy son was playing along with us, and he took clay and made sparrows, which it was not lawful to do on the Sabbath; and he has broken it. And Joseph went away to the boy Jesus, and said to Him: Why have you done this, which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath? And Jesus opened His hands, and ordered the sparrows, saying: Go up into the air and fly; nobody shall kill you. And they flew, and began to cry out, and praise God Almighty. And the Jews seeing what had happened, wondered, and went away and told the miracles which Jesus had done.”
Source: (Infancy Gospel of James Chapter 4)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
This story is very similar to the one in the ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’. What becomes apparent is that both of these sources are relying upon some oral tradition-one in which does not have the chain of transmission.
Now here is what is interesting about the Protoevangelion Jacobi or Infancy Gospel of James. One of the Christian polemicists that use this type of attack upon the Qur’anwas himself put in a difficult position in relation to this text.
@19:20 Erhman asks: “What other documents are found in P72 as this is a document that resonates with you?”
James responds, “there are some non-canonical documents in P72 …
Erhman replies, “Right so I am just wondering about you resonating with this document do you think that the scribe thought what he was copying was scripture?“
James, “Well I don’t think you can simply jump to conclusion that because scribes included books in a single codex that they believed that everything within that codex was necessarily scripture. There are sorts of works that were considered to be beneficial to people that were included in codices that were not necessarily canonical.”
Erhman, “Yeah I just that it was odd that that particular manuscript was one that you resonated with because its the earliest attestation that we have of the protoevangelium jacobi.” (The Infancy Gospel of James) ..
Prima Qur’an Comments:
In other words, you can’t know for certain if the scribe who was copying this text (obviously from an even earlier source) was transcribing what he thought was divine writ! Especially in light of the fact that it is in the same genre of manuscripts that are generally described as “the most significant” papyrus of the New Testament to be discovered so far.
“Now, when the Lord Jesus had completed seven years from His birth, on a certain day He was occupied with boys of His own age. For they were playing among clay, from which they were making images of asses, oxen, birds, and other animals; and each one boasting of his skill, was praising his own work. Then the Lord Jesus said to the boys: The images that I have made I will order to walk. The boys asked Him whether then he was the son of the Creator, and the Lord Jesus made them walk. And they immediately began to leap; and then, when He had given them leave, they again stood still. And He had made figures of birds and sparrows, which flew when He told them to fly, and stood still when He told them to stand, and ate and drank when He handed them food and drink. After the boys had gone away and told this to their parents, their fathers said to them: My sons, take care not to keep company with him again, for he is a wizard: flee from him, therefore, and avoid him, and do not play with him again after this.”
Source: (The Arabic Infancy Gospel of Jesus)
Prima Qur’an Comments:
This text has Jesus not only making birdsbut apparently donkeys, oxen, and other (undisclosed) animals out of clay. There is an inquiry about him being the son of the Creator. There is no mention of the sabbath or any mention of the animals being of any number.
It’s thought that this Gospel has it’s origins back to Syriac sources in the 5th or 6th century.
“We find what follows in the book of Joseph the high priest, who lived in the time of Christ. Some say that he is Caiaphas. He has said that Jesus spoke, and, indeed, when He was lying in His cradle said to Mary His mother: I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Logos, whom you have brought forth, as the Angel Gabriel announced to you; and my Father has sent me for the salvation of the world.”
Source: (The Arabic Infancy Gospel of Jesus).
Prima Qur’an Comments:
There is no mention of Mary carrying Jesus as a baby. There is no mention of the people asking Mary where this baby came from. This text has Jesus addressing his mother, whereas the Qur’an has him addressing the people. The text above is filled with Christian doctrine, Jesus is the Son of God, he has a ‘Father’ and he was sent for the salvation of the world.
None of this is found in the account of the Qur’an.
Conclusion:
The attacks that Christian polemicists have leveled towards the Qur’anare the kind one would expect from radical skepticism, and a worldview bereft of the supra-natural.
We can see that these sources the Christians point to have important details and radically different theological statements that we do not find at all within the Qur’an.
More telling is that Christians do not even quote these sources, or give the details of the accounts. Many of the people they speak to will not go and double-check the sources for themselves.
The fact that some Christians find these sources as apocryphal is of no concern to us as Muslims. We as Muslims do not rely upon them or accept them as revelation either. Our acceptance of what is stated in theQur’an comes from our faith in it as divine revelation and in what Allah (swt) himself has stated:
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.” (Qur’an 3:44)
Just as our faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Word of Allah, and the Son of Mary are not dependent upon any book of the New Testament (even if the whole of Christendom) accepts it as canonical.
Christians themselves cannot totally rule out the possibility of Jesus having spoken as an infant or from having giving life to the clay birds based upon the following evidence:
“And Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
As well as the fact that the Gospel writers themselves have admitted to leaving out particular miracles that did not suit their desired goals.
“The truth is from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.”(Qur’an 2:147)
“And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.” (Qur’an 5:83)
“And (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks” (Qur’an 2:185)
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Eid Mubarak! May this blessed occasion fill your heart with joy, your home with warmth, and your life with countless blessings. May Allah grant you peace, love, and unity in the company of family and friends. Please forgive my many short comings and faults. While we celebrate let us not forget those who can’t due to war and oppression. Let us not forget the converts, often alone and isolated. Sincerely, Prima-Qur’an.
We want to thank the two donations to Prima-Qur’an. One in the amount of 25.52USD and 63.65USD. Your generous support is greatly appreciated. May Allah reward you both.
What is ahead for 2024? Post Ramadan.
Unfortunately, most likely scaling back publication of articles due to various reasons.
If anything reworking articles which would include: providing links-were none were provided.
You can look forward to articles -Allah-willing, providing more information about the Ibadi school, jurisprudence in particular, some refutation of Mu’tazilah aqidah, articles dealing with challenges and issues that converts to the faith deal with. Articles in relation to the transmission and textual history of the Qur’an, The Battle of Nahrawan (what really happened) long overdue articles that people have asked to be written -again provided we have the time. Do remember that we have a presence on Facebook now.
May Allah (swt) bless your ‘Eid! May Allah (swt) guide this Ummah to what is beloved to Allah (swt).
Please forgive my many short comings and faults. While we celebrate let us not forget those who can’t due to war and oppression. Let us not forget the converts, often alone and isolated. 
Sincerely, Prima-Qur’an.
Prima Quran 